Sleaford area hotel boss plans reopening days like military operation

Freedom looks set to come to Lincolnshire soon with the announcement of a lifting of lockdown restrictions starting next month and a Sleaford area hotel boss is already making plans for how to welcome baxck locals and visitors.
Belton Woods Hotel. EMN-210403-125040001Belton Woods Hotel. EMN-210403-125040001
Belton Woods Hotel. EMN-210403-125040001

Working on plans is Neal Holloway, the General Manager at Belton Woods Hotel, who has launched an 80 day countdown to ‘Freeday’ - May 17.

Boris Johnson’s announcement provisionally detailing the re-opening of golf courses from March 29, Spa and Leisure facilities from April 12 and a chance to leave home and stay in a hotel overnight from May 17 means that the hotel can finally put their plans in place, although all dates are dependant on coronavirus infections continuing to reduce and vaccine roll-out progressing well.

To get ready for guests’ arrivals across the QHotels Group owned venue will see its housekeeping and maintenance staff deployed like a military operation, cleaning bedrooms, prepping leisure facilities, mowing golf course lawns and cleaning the pool until sparkling.

“The demand is going to be huge,” said Neal. “We are expecting the biggest number of guests, probably ever, as people breathe the sigh of relief after lockdown and plan a ‘going out’, pampering sessions, leisure breaks, overnights and weekends away like never before. So we need to be ready.”

The QHotels Group have been planning for this time for over six months so the scale of the re-opening operation does not phase them. Even though hotels in the group have been open for essential stays for key workers throughout the pandemic, the task is still immense. “There are huge challenges in re-opening a hotel. Most don’t realise the enormity of the task, but thousands of staff across the group have been rehearsing for this moment for some time and we have already swung in to action,” he said.

Already the phones are ringing at the 21 hotels that the group manage and bookings, especially in Lincolnshire are higher than anticipated and way above the normal for this time of year.

“We have seen a huge surge in bookings already and a bigger take up than ever for that first week of ‘unlock’,” said Neal. “Not only is this due to the freedom break, but our special Great British Breakaway deals are also proving irresistible,” he said.

The QHotels Group promise also ensures that dates can be moved and refunds given in full if for some reason bookings cannot go ahead.

Guests can be assured of their safety during their visit and stays as all hotels in the group have been accredited by Shield Safety Group as part of the group’s Clean + Safe programme. This provides staff, customers and suppliers with the confidence that all hotels have been fully assessed for safety measures.

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