Puerto Rico To Reopen Businesses, Beaches With New Rules

\Yamirka Marmolejos, owner of a pet grooming business that has been closed since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown, takes a food order from Alfredo Gonzalez while wearing a mask as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus, in Canovanas, Puerto Rico, Thursday, May 21, 2020. Puerto Rico is cautiously reopening beaches, restaurants, churches, malls, and hair salons under strict conditions as the U.S. territory emerges from a two-month lockdown despite dozens of new coronavirus cases reported daily. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico will cautiously reopen beaches, restaurants, churches, hair salons and retail stores next week under strict new rules as the U.S. territory emerges from a two-month lockdown that stifled business activity on an island already beset with economic woes.

Gov. Wanda Vázquez announced Thursday that most businesses will reopen on Tuesday, but a 7 p.m-to-5 a.m. curfew will remain in place until June 15. All people will be required to wear a mask when outside or inside a business, regardless of what they are doing.

“Puerto Rico is facing a new way of life,” she said. “It’s the right time ... We have flattened the curve.”

Many Puerto Ricans, including business owners, cheered the highly anticipated announcement.

Health experts, however, warned that the government has not tested enough people or conducted enough contact tracing and is not prepared for a possible spike in new infections. In addition, most of the re-openings contradict recommendations made by a government-appointed medical task force.

Puerto Rico’s Health Department has reported more than 2,900 confirmed COVID-19 cases and at least 126 deaths, and dozens of additional infections still emerge every day. Officials do not regularly update statistics, including how many people have been tested or how many have recovered. Until recently, the island had a lower per-capita testing rate than any U.S. state.

Mónica Feliú-Mójer, spokeswoman for CienciaPR, a nonprofit group of Puerto Rican scientists who seek widespread testing, said she was concerned that the government’s data did not show that COVID-19 is under control.

Vázquez said the restricted reopenings will protect people but also provide desperately needed economic relief on an island hit by hurricanes and earthquakes. The resumption of some normal activities also comes as the government restructures some of its more than $70 billion public debt load after declaring the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history in 2015.

Restaurants will be allowed to operate at 25% capacity. Hair salons and barber shops will welcome clients by appointment only. People doing exercise, such as surfing, jogging, swimming or kayaking, will be allowed at the beach from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Retail stores will be allowed to reopen but under limited capacity, and people will be prohibited from trying on clothes, among other restrictions. Malls will open June 8.

“You will not be allowed to stroll the halls like before,” the governor said. “There will be lanes ... We have to be disciplined.”

Businesses that will remain closed for now include gyms and movie theaters, and all arriving flights are limited to Puerto Rico’s main international airport.

Economist José Caraballo said that the lockdown, one of the strictest in any U.S. jurisdiction, has caused estimated economic losses ranging from $6 billion to $12 billion. The unemployment rate has spiked to an estimated 40% on an island of 3.2 million people with a poverty rate of more than 40%, higher than any U.S. state.

Unlike in the aftermath of hurricanes Maria and Irma and a recent string of earthquakes, Puerto Ricans cannot move to the U.S. mainland because of the pandemic, Caraballo said in a phone interview.

“They are desperate,” he said. “The usual escape valve, which was migration, is closed.”

Delays in the distribution of local and federal aid have also deepened the financial struggles of many Puerto Ricans affected by the natural disasters and the government’s ongoing bankruptcy-like process, which has led to austerity measures.

“The government’s inefficiency has caused the social crisis we have right now,” Caraballo said.

Public schoolchildren and those seeking pandemic unemployment assistance have been especially hurt by the pandemic.

The government kept school cafeterias shut for almost two months, opting to offload its food to nonprofits and a local food bank, where it quickly ran out. That forced some teachers to buy food for their students with their own money.

In addition, some 90,000 people applied for pandemic unemployment assistance when the funds became available on April 28, but an online system crashed. It was not until Thursday that the government said that the first 50,000 people began receiving payments. It’s unclear when the remaining applicants will receive the money.

Some business owners did not feel like celebrating much.

Hair stylist Anabel Fuentes said she lost up to $8,000 during the lockdown, and worries she will continue to lose money because she can only attend a limited number of clients now.

“The financial problems will persist, and might even worsen and lead to bankruptcy,” she said. “Nothing will be the same.”

LegoLand Florida Resort Reopens To Guests On June 1

 Family Theme Park is Ready to Play in the Safest Way

WINTER HAVEN, FL – LEGOLAND® Florida Resort will officially reopen on June 1. The Resort’s extensive plan of enhanced health and safety measures have been endorsed by the Polk County Commission and Winter Haven Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler and now fully comply with Governor DeSantis’ Executive Order 2020-123.  As the health and safety of guests and employees at LEGOLAND^® Florida Resort continues to be paramount, the plan includes reduced capacity, cashless payments, social distancing practices and enhanced cleaning regimes.

The plan has been developed with measures based on government advice and the requirements of health authorities, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“As part of Merlin Entertainments, our leaders across the globe have been sharing best practices daily, and we’ve been able to apply what we’ve learned from other successful Merlin attraction reopenings to be confident with our Resort’s reopening plan. In addition, we have also sought guidance from our partners at AdventHealth,” said General Manager of LEGOLAND Florida Resort Rex Jackson. “We’re ready to play, and we look forward to reopening LEGOLAND Florida Resort as a safe and memorable place for families to play again.”

Here is a look at what guests can expect with the reopening of LEGOLAND Florida Resort on June 1:

PLANNING

Guests are encouraged to download the LEGOLAND mobile app, and review the website in advance of their arrival, for a full outline of the parks’ new arrival and attractions procedures, as well as details on the enhanced cleaning measures. Tickets and vacations should be booked in advance online, when possible.

Guests should be prepared to make on-site payments using a credit or debit card as cash will no longer be accepted on property. Guests experiencing any symptoms related to COVID-19 should refrain from visiting the Resort.

ARRIVAL

At the time of reopening, the Park will operate at 50 percent of its capacity. If guests are arriving by car, they should expect to leave spaces in between vehicles and follow additional spacing instructions. All park employees and guests will be required to undergo non-invasive temperature checks. Those with a temperature of 100.4 F will not be allowed entry, nor will those in their party.

THROUGH THE RESORT

Every employee at LEGOLAND will wear a facial covering, and we will provide complimentary masks to encourage all our guests, ages three and above, to do the same. Brick-themed spatial markers and kid-friendly, parkwide signage will help remind guests of social distancing recommendations and hygiene practices. More than 200 hand sanitizing stations have been added throughout the park. Guests can view these locations on the LEGOLAND mobile app while traversing the park. Character meet and greets and other select attractions will be suspended at the time of reopening. Enhanced cleaning measures throughout the day will disinfect high frequency touch points, including ride restraints, tables and chairs, service counters, handles and door handles. Guests will also see enhancements in our mobile app over the coming weeks that will allow them to reserve their spot in queue lines for major attractions directly from their own devices.

Along with the park and waterpark’s reopening, the all-new LEGOLAND® Pirate Island Hotel will debut on June 1. Reservations are available for travel dates June 1 or later for both LEGOLAND® Pirate Island Hotel and LEGOLAND® Hotel.

The Resort will initially open with adjusted operating hours. LEGOLAND Theme Park will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and LEGOLAND Waterpark will be open daily from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Guests can stay up-to-date, with operational changes, as well as health and safety enhancements online by visiting: legoland.com/operations-update        

Travelore News: Direct Flights To Greek Tourist Destinations To Begin July 1

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s long-awaited tourist season will begin on June 15 with the opening of seasonal hotels and the arrival of the first foreign visitors, while international flights will begin heading directly for holiday destinations gradually as of July 1, the government said Wednesday.

Speaking in a televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said visitors would be subject to sample coronavirus testing and “our general health protocols will be adhered to, without them, however, overshadowing our bright sun or the natural beauties of Greece.”

Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis said a list of countries from which visitors will be able to arrive in Greece will be announced before the end of May. The selection will be based on “epidemiological criteria” as determined by Greece’s committee of experts dealing with the pandemic.

Balkan and Baltic countries, Germany and regional countries such as Israel and Cyprus are expected to be in the first wave of those whose citizens will be allowed to enter Greece, he said.

Visitors from those countries will be able to fly into Greece initially only through Athens’ international airport as of June 15, Theoharis said. Direct international flights to the rest of the country’s airports will resume July 1.

Some countries, however, might be excluded, depending on the situation with their coronavirus outbreaks, the minister said. Those countries would be closely watched, with a view to re-establishing direct flights when the situation allows.

Those arriving will not be subject to mandatory quarantine or blanket testing of all arrivals, but Greek authorities will have the right to carry out sample testing, he said.

Theoharis outlined an operational plan being set in place to tackle any potential outbreaks at tourist destinations, including a designated doctor for each hotel, special quarantine areas and testing facilities on islands.

Mitsotakis noted that Greece has “managed to restrict the spread of the virus. ... We made our country an example to follow in the handling of the health crisis.”

The government imposed a lockdown very early in Greece’s outbreak, and this has been credited with keeping the number of deaths and critically ill people low. On Wednesday, health authorities announced one new death and 10 new confirmed coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of dead to 166 and the total confirmed cases to 2,850 in the country of nearly 11 million people.

But the lockdown has dealt a severe blow to Greece’s economy, which has barely emerged from a brutal decade-long financial crisis that saw a quarter of gross domestic product wiped out. Tourism is a vital part of the economy, contributing around 20% of GDP, and authorities have been anxious to ensure the entire summer season isn’t lost.

About 33 million visitors traveled to Greece last year, spending 19 billion euros, according to Theoharis.

“Let us face reality with courage: April and May was the nadir of tourism,” Mitsotakis said. “So whatever we achieve this year will be a profit.”

Mitsotakis announced a reduction in consumer taxes on transport from 24% to 13% for five months, which will lead to cheaper boat, plane and bus tickets during the tourist season, as well as a cut on tax on coffee, soft drinks and open-air movie theater tickets.

The government’s priority, he stressed, was on maintaining jobs “and helping the sector’s professionals prepare for their big comeback in 2021.”

By ELENA BECATOROS

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Derek Gatopoulos contributed to this report.

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Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

Travelore News: Puerto Vallarta To Start Re-Opening On May 18th

PUERTO VALLARTA  – The city of Puerto Vallarta will start its reopening process on May 18h as the State of Jalisco enters Phase 0 of its COVID-19 recovery plan on Monday, May 18. Phase 0 will last at least 15 days and allow for the gradual return of some economic activities. It is the first step in preparing protocols for the next phases of the plan. During this time, social distancing, and the use of face masks outside the home will remain mandatory. Stores, public roads, and businesses previously deemed non-essential that are linked to supply chains are allowed to operate at 50 percent of capacity. Select businesses that do not generate crowds and adhere to social distancing guidelines will also be permitted to open.
 
Beaches, public spaces, shopping malls, bars, and nightclubs will remain closed. Restaurants and cafes that commit to applying established sanitation and safety protocols may operate at 50 percent of their capacity.
 
Hotel services such as access to swimming pools, bars, gyms, beach clubs, and private beaches remain suspended at this time. Cleaning, sanitizing, and disease prevention measures are in place at Puerto Vallarta International Airport, the cruise port, on public transportation, in supermarkets, and in government offices which are providing limited services. Local authorities are working closely with the travel sector to progressively implement updated protocols to support the transition to the next phase of recovery.
 
“Tourism is a very important industry in our state, and we are looking forward to welcoming back international visitors when the time is right,” said German Ralis, Minister of Tourism of the State of Jalisco. “However, we remain very cautious with our plans for re-opening Jalisco, including popular tourism destinations like Puerto Vallarta, to ensure that the safest and cleanest conditions await guests upon their return.”  
 
Throughout Phase 0, the government will continue to monitor the number of new cases identified and the ability to isolate and provide contact tracing for individuals who test positive, in order to determine when the state can proceed to the next phase of opening. More information will be available it the coming weeks.

For more details and updates please visit: https://visitpuertovallarta.com/

Puerto Rico's Tourism Takes Lead In Standards To Safeguard Visitors' Health And Safety

The Government of Puerto Rico rolls out a health and safety certification program for tourism related businesses as the destination aims to become a gold standard of modern sanitation

Recognizing the need for new standards of cleaning, disinfection, hygiene, and the competitive advantage that the implementation of additional measures provide for the Island as a tourist destination, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) announced today the creation of a program to grant a gold-star validation seal to tourism-related businesses. This certification (or badge) will be granted to those who are implementing the highest health and safety measures. The program has been developed using the most rigorous standards, best practice cases have been used as reference, as well as guides and recommendations from the agencies and organizations that specialize on the subject.

The objective of the program is to elevate Puerto Rico's tourism industry and position it as the new gold standard in destination health and safety. The PRTC aims to increase consumer confidence in Puerto Rico as a destination that is prepared and has adjusted to the current situation. The program's rollout began  May 4^th. By the time the tourism commerce reopens and the destination is ready to welcome visitors again, , it is expected that the vast majority of tourism-related businesses will be practicing these measures and safeguarding everyone's safety.

The two-level system was designed based on the guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 established by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization, the OSHA 3990 report, the Puerto Rico Department of Health guidelines, Governor Wanda Vazquez Garced's executive orders, and high-caliber programs such as Singapore's Safety Seal and the National Restaurant Association. The first level is a Tourism Health and Safety Operational Guide, a practical guidance with the mandatory measures to safeguard the health of employees, visitors and local patrons. The second one is the Health and Safety Seal; a certification program for all endorsed tourism industry businesses that meet or have exceeded the implementation and on-going execution of the established measures.

"These operating guides and the certification program are vital for the reopening of the travel and tourism sector in Puerto Rico and are important factors that will place us in a highly competitive position once the travel and tourism market reopens. When making their travel plans, consumers will consider the destinations best prepared to provide them with the necessary measures and resources to protect their health. Collective participation in its implementation, both by companies and customers, will be key to adopting the necessary personal habits and practicing social responsibility. This is the best way to offer our local public and tourists the safety and hygiene standards that they expect and deserve," said the executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Carla Campos.

The guide includes measures such as: creation of wellness checkpoints for employees and guests, new check-in process and completion of the Travel Declaration and Contact Tracing Form, safe and social distancing measures guidance per type of business and activity; restrictions and additional health measures for self-service food systems: augmented cleaning and disinfecting protocols; instructions regarding hand-sanitizing stations; and training on the use of PPE – Personal Protection Equipment.

These new standards of hygiene will be applicable to all tourism businesses island wide including hotels, resorts, paradores, posadas, bed & breakfasts, small inns, guesthouses, time-shared properties, short-term rentals, casinos, tour operators, tourist transportation, experiences management, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and attractions.

SOURCE Puerto Rico Tourism Company

B&Bs And Inns Offer A Great Option For The "New Normal" Getaways

Hundreds of millions of Americans are currently dreaming of travel from the comfort of their home while observing quarantine and social distancing orders. Hoping that someday soon it will be safe to travel, armchair travelers are looking to inns and B&Bs to jump start their vacations once it's safe to dip their toes into travel once again.  A survey of registered bnbfinder.com travelers recently revealed that more than 83-percent of respondents plan to travel again as soon as it is deemed safe. In addition, nearly 70-percent of survey respondents rank B&B lodging as their preferred lodging as soon as they can vacation again, beating out hotels, vacation rentals, and campgrounds by a sizable margin.

Blue Lantern Inn, A Four Sisters Inn located in Dana Point, CA is a member of the bnbfinder Diamond Collection. The bnbfinder Diamond Collection is an exclusive group of professionally inspected and highly rated luxury inns. Each member of the bnbfinder Diamond Collection is required to have passed a professional inspection from a third party industry recognized inspection agency.

Concurrently, innkeepers around the world, accustomed to providing guests with a superior level of high-touch comfort and service, are prepared and poised to provide their guests with a safe and much-needed gateway filled with rest and relaxation. Offering a clean, private and personalized setting once travel resumes, innkeepers are ready for the new normal in travel, filled with personalized service at a safe distance.

Once travel can once again resume, smaller boutique properties such as bed and breakfasts and inns will welcome travelers back with customized, value-filled and romantic settings filled with the hospitality they've missed. Already sticklers for cleanliness and luxury amenities, innkeepers plan to exceed CDC recommended cleaning requirements and prerequisites for food service and social distancing. In the new era of travel, innkeepers have shared with bnbfinder that they will offer touchless check-in and check-out over the phone, breakfast in bed at no additional charge, above-and-beyond cleanliness, and/or private dining options.

For travelers seeking value, inns and B&Bs provide all the extras, often including multi-course breakfasts, free snacks such as home-made cookies, fresh fruit, and in some cases, wine and cheese amenities.  Most also provide free parking, free wi-fi, free bottled waters and soft drinks, and no "resort fees", "daily surcharges" or "cleaning fees", making B&Bs and inns an excellent value for travelers.

Best of all, with gas prices the lowest they have been in decades, travelers surveyed have told bnbfinder that off-the-beaten-path and drive-to destinations will top the list once they are able to travel once again. Tens of thousands of B&Bs and inns throughout the country await travelers with a perfect one-tank getaway.

Travelers seeking to vacation beyond the walls of their homes will find thousands of inns and B&Bs at bnbfinder.com Look for special offers and ideal drive-to accommodations throughout North America on bnbfinder.com, offering the most comprehensive list of B&B lodging in one place on the web. As travel resumes, travelers seeking value, bespoke and safe vacation destinations can turn to bnbfinder for ideas.

Cruise Industry Prepares New Health Framework For Future Of Cruising

Cruise lines have started preparations to welcome people back on board by working on a "health framework" to uphold the safety of passengers after the COVID-19 crisis.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and its cruise line members are consulting medical experts and health authorities to establish a new foundation for the cruise sector's future operations, according CLIA Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz.

"While cruise operations are suspended, we are using this time to define the new landscape we will work within and make sure we're ready when the time comes to sail again," Katz said. "Many teams of people around the world are working in tandem with experts to ensure we learn as much as possible from these unprecedented events and exceed community expectations in our response."

The maritime policy work underway within CLIA would define the specific screening, cleansing and medical protocols that cruise lines would adopt globally, in addition to those already in place.

While it was too early to discuss specific procedures or the timing, Katz said the industry's priority would be to ensure the safety and security of passengers, crew and the communities that cruise lines visit.

"The challenges before us are great and there is no quick fix, which is why we have embarked on a process that will be extremely thorough and will address the concerns that communities and authorities expect to see us confront,"he said.

Once finalized, the new protocols would provide further opportunity to communicate with industry stakeholders, government and the wider public to provide reassurance on future cruise operations.

"Our thoughts are with all those who have been impacted by COVID-19," Katz said. “The cruise industry is not alone in having to confront this disease, but we will aim to set standards that other sectors may follow when it comes to our response."

Source: https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/5294/ 

So Long, Minibar: How The Coronavirus Will Change Hotel Stays

The entrance to the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City.Four Seasons Hotel

By Mary Pflum

A hotel stay that doesn't include a breakfast buffet, an in-room minibar and a coffee station would have been inconceivable to many Americans three months ago. But the onset of the coronavirus has prompted a sea change that could alter everything from how guests check in and eat to how rooms are cleaned.

Hotel experts predict that the pandemic will drastically alter hotel stays in coming months, prompting many properties to embrace a host of new practices, up to and including temperature checks upon guests' arrivals.

"Hotels tend to be a reactive business," said Chekitan Dev, a professor of marketing and branding at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration. "It's taken COVID-19 for a lot of hotels to take a harder look at safety procedures and to up their game."

Dev points to safety-conscious procedures enacted in recent days at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City as a prime example of the changes that could be coming soon to hotels across the country.

Nurses who conduct temperature checks at the entrance to the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City.Four Seasons Hotel

The Four Seasons' guinea pig journey began last month, when H. Ty Warner, the property's owner, said he would open his hotel's doors to medical professionals working on the COVID-19 battlefront. The announcement set into motion a series of moves that have overhauled the hotel's standard operating procedure.

"We now have almost no touch points in the entire hotel, which is completely against a hotel's nature of being hands-on and kind," Tauscher said. "We used to be known for the human touch — but now we're all about no touch at all."

Check-ins and check-outs are performed virtually, with no human-to-human contact. Elevator rides are limited to one guest per car. Room service has been discontinued, and the hotel's restaurant, bar and complimentary coffee station are closed indefinitely.

The hotel's new dining option: pre-made boxed meals, available in an industrial refrigerator in the lobby.

"I think it's safe to say that breakfast buffets and communal tables and the kinds of things that had been traditions at many hotels are going away, for who knows how long," Tauscher said.

The new procedures at Four Seasons New York were adopted out of the hotel's awareness that many of the medical professionals it is lodging have been exposed to COVID-19. According to Tauscher, 125 guest rooms in the hotel — about half — have been reserved for medical personnel. But many of the hotel's new safety protocols are now being sought by hotels around the world for all guests, not just properties housing medical professionals.

"Here in New York we're leading the charge, but now the phone is ringing off the hook with calls from hotels from all over the place," said Dr. Robert Quigley, senior vice president of International SOS, the group the Four Seasons tapped to make sure its pandemic-era property follows health and safety guidelines as set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Now, more than ever, safety is important to hotels," Quigley said.

The Four Seasons also considerably downsized the contents of guest rooms, so there are fewer opportunities for germs to spread.

"We removed minibars, excess hangers, excess linens," Tauscher said. "We took extra pillows out, so there are four per room, instead of six."

Quigley also oversaw the complex system by which guest rooms are cleaned.

"Currently, there is no in-room housekeeping per se during a guest's stay," Quigley said.

Upon arrival at the Four Seasons, guests are given three bags: one for soiled towels, one for soiled bedding and one for trash. When towels and bedding need to be cleaned and when garbage needs to be removed, guests are asked to place bags near the entrances to their rooms and to contact housekeeping, which picks up the bags without ever fully entering the rooms.

The deep cleaning of the rooms takes place after guests leave.

"The room is left vacant for a full 24 hours after a guest checks out," Quigley said. "Then a cleaning crew comes in with hazmat suits and does a deep cleaning, after which the room is left empty for 24 more hours. Then housekeeping enters to prepare the room for the next guests while wearing appropriate PPE," or personal protective equipment.

The careful cleaning procedures ensure a room remains empty a full two to three days between guests.

The careful cleaning procedures ensure a room remains empty a full two to three days between guests.

Hilton, which recently pledged to provide up to 1 million medical workers with hotel rooms, is requiring that rooms previously occupied by medical workers remain vacant for three days before any cleaning staff enters.

"We want to protect team members," said Phil Cordell, Hilton's global head of new brand development.

Cordell and Tauscher said deep cleaning techniques are specifically designed for rooms in which medical personnel exposed to COVID-19 have stayed — not rooms that were occupied by general guests. Still, all hotel rooms in the age of COVID-19 are likely to undergo more extensive cleaning than in the pre-pandemic era.

Like Four Seasons' Manhattan property, Hilton — which owns 4,900 hotels in the U.S., including Hampton Inn properties and the Waldorf Astoria — is taking new measures to ensure that all of its guests feel safe in the age of the coronavirus.

To minimize human contact, Cordell said, Hilton is encouraging guests to take advantage of its digital key program, which enables guests to check in virtually.

"Once registered, guests have the ability to check in, select their room and use their phone as their room key, without ever having to interact with the front desk," he said.

Cordell said his management teams are working to minimize human contact when it comes to breakfast, which means reinventing crowd-pleasing breakfast buffets.

"We're looking at single-serve options instead of buffets and having a team member serving guests at buffets instead of allowing guests to help themselves," Cordell said.

Only one guest is permitted per elevator car at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City.Four Seasons Hotel

Then there are the hotel gyms.

"In order to keep guests socially distanced, we're looking at offering guests the opportunity to sign up for a specific gym time slot and exploring in-room exercise equipment options," Cordell said.

Perhaps the most telling sign of the times at the Four Seasons are the two nurses who now staff the single entrance to the hotel, armed with thermometers. Everyone who enters has their temperature taken, employees and guests alike. Anyone with a fever is denied entry.

Quigley said that in the short time the nurses have been posted, they have identified "several" guests and employees with fevers.

"The system is working," Quigley said.

While the Four Seasons does not intend the temperature-checking to be permanent, Dev said temperature checks upon arrival may be a part of the new normal at more hotels as business and leisure travel resumes.

Some reservation agents may begin asking guests about their health and travel histories before a room can be booked.

"Temperature checks are already being done at hotels in Asia," he said. "I would not be surprised if it's done at hotels in the U.S. I also expect some U.S. reservation agents may begin asking guests about their health and travel histories before they book rooms."

Dev said he sees a silver lining to the dark cloud COVID-19 has brought to a battered hotel industry, in which many properties have been forced to temporarily close and furlough thousands of employees.

"Hotels have not taken cleanliness seriously enough in the past," he said. "Duvets should always have been washed between guests. Minibars were always sources of germs. Sneeze guards [at breakfast buffets] were always very old-school. These things needed to be changed."

The biggest adjustment to hotel culture in coming months, Tauscher predicted, will be for hotel workers, who are by nature "people pleasers."

Now, he anticipates a hotel experience that's far less hands-on.

"Like in an Apple store, there will be less human interaction. Virtual check-ins. Virtual checkouts. No direct contact. We'll do with technology a lot of things we used to do in person."

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/so-long-minibar-how-coronavirus-changing-your-hotel-stay-n1180226

For Your Post Coronaviris Travels: New Henequén Cultural Experience with Private Helicopter to Merida Available this Summer & Beyond at Grand Velas Riviera Maya

   Guests staying at the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya this summer and beyond can embark on a journey back in time by exploring a historic Yucatan landmark with the resort’s new Henequén Experience.

The adventure begins with a private helicopter ride to the Hacienda Sotuta de Peon, a revived hacienda built in the late 1800s located just outside of the Yucatan’s vibrant capital, Merida. Over the course of three and a half hours, guests will dive into the deep-rooted history behind the henequen plant, known for transforming the Yucatan economy and cultural landscape in the 19^th century. While on property, guests will also tour the hacienda’s surrounding plantation on a carriage pulled by mules, stop and swim in the Dzul Ha, a Yucatan freshwater cenote, and more.

Upon return to Grand Velas Riviera Maya, travelers will partake in the resort’s signature ancestral beverage tasting featuring Mexico’s ancient liquors like bacanora, sotol, tuxca, and pox. Following, guests will enjoy a private dinner in the resort’s Mayan restaurant, Chaká, which offers modern Yucatecan dishes inspired by the region’s traditional cuisine. Standout menu items include tender leaves on papaya with piloncillo honey, toasted seeds, fresh tomatoes, sour orange vinaigrette with Xtabentun, short rib "Pibil Style," sausage Risotto from Valladolid, Huitlacoche Salbute, Cochinita juice, cream cheese "Gallo Azul", semi-bitter cocoa crumble, caramel ice cream, and more.

Accommodations are offered in the resort’s tranquil Zen Grand Suites, which boast private terraces and overlooking the sacred jungle landscape, fully stocked mini-bars, Jacuzzi tubs, Nespresso coffee makers, 24-hour concierge service, and more.

The four-night Henequen Tour Experience costs $3,488 USD per person for 2 people. Rates are per person based on double occupancy and include luxury suite accommodations, à la carte gourmet meals at a variety of specialty restaurants, premium branded beverages, 24-hour in-suite service, fitness center, taxes, gratuity and more.  The experience is available from April 26 until December 18, 2020. Blackout dates are from Nov 21 to 28, 2020. For reservations or additional information, call 1-888-407-4869, or visit https://rivieramaya.grandvelas.com.

About Grand Velas Riviera Maya:

A member of the Virtuoso Hotels & Resorts Program and Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya in Mexico is an ultra-luxury all-inclusive. Guests can choose accommodations among oceanfront, ocean view and a Zen-like setting, embraced by the flora and fauna of the Yucatan Peninsula’s jungle and mangroves. All 539 suites are more than 1,100 sq. ft., with balconies and some with private plunge pools. Eight restaurants, including five gourmet offerings, present a tour through Mexico, Europe and Asia. Cocina de Autor, at the hands of world-renowned celebrity chefs Bruno Oteiza and Mikel Alonso, holds the AAA Five Diamond Award, the first all-inclusive restaurant in the world to win this prestigious distinction. Included on Forbes Travel Guide’s list of The World’s Most Luxurious Spas, SE Spa is known for its authentic Mexican treatments, offerings from around world and signature seven-step Water Ceremony. Other features include 24-hour Personal Concierge; 24/7 in-suite service; three swimming pools; two fitness centers; water sports; innovative Kids’ Clubs and Teens’ Club; and Baby Concierge. The resort offers more than 46,660 square feet of indoor meeting space plus outdoor areas for events. Eduardo Vela Ruiz, founder and president of Velas Resorts, operates Velas Resorts with brother Juan Vela, vice president of Velas Resorts, by his side. Explore tips, recipes, lifestyle and travel trends, and the latest news about Velas Resorts on the digital mag: www.velasmagazine.com.