A pandemic palace stay
If you’ve been wondering what a stay at a high-end European hotel looks like in the pandemic age, look no further.
If you’ve been wondering what a stay at a high-end European hotel looks like in the pandemic age, consider how one of T+I’s favourites, Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Italy’s Lake Como, is handling the situation. A quick peruse of the opulent property’s website reveals the great lengths management and staff are going, to assure guests they are in safe hands.
Before arriving, they are contacted by the hotel to find out any preferences and concerns regarding COVID safety. Chauffeured transfers are in sanitised vehicles with a maximum of two guests per sedan. Those who arrive by private car can request the valet disinfect their vehicle while luggage is carefully de-germed.
Of the 90 guestrooms, only 30 are occupied at any time, allowing for a 72-hour gap between reservations for cleaning. Guests can specify how many times a day they want housekeeping and are provided with a silk face mask and custom-made hand sanitiser.
Details of the hotel’s airconditioning system reassure travellers that each guestroom has its own climate-control unit so they are not breathing air from other rooms. All restaurants and bars are open but the beloved breakfast buffet has been re-engineered so a personalised selection of dishes are delivered to tables; alternatively, diners can eat in their room. At the award-winning T Spa, clients decide if they want therapists to wear gloves, and the humid zone is open only for private bookings.
Behind the scenes, staff undergo daily temperature checks, use one-way systems to move through the property and have mandatory disinfection stations at key locations. They’re also wearing personalised GHT masks, and have been trained to “use their eyes” to reflect their concealed smile.
And if all that raises stress levels, the hotel is offering daily “Woga” sessions of yoga, stretching and mindfulness while floating on the WOW pool.
