As the UK looks to move out of COVID-19 lockdown, we are thrilled to announce that we have received the 'We're Good To Go' stamp of approval from VisitEngland.
Acquiring this industry standard mark acknowledges that we have followed government and industry COVID-19 guidelines, have put a risk assessment in place, and have had our cleaning processes all vetted and approved. Yet again we are one of the only serviced apartment operators in Hertfordshire to have received this Visit England certification, meaning we are once again leading the way.
During this difficult period of time for the hospitality industry it is more important than ever to raise and maintain our standards, in order to protect our guests and staff, as well as giving peace of mind and reassurance to those looking to book accommodation in Hertfordshire.
Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston has said of the scheme: "This new industry standard will show people that tourism businesses, destinations and attractions are adhering to the guidance. It puts safety first and is an important move in getting this industry back up and running."
VisitEngland Director Patricia Yates said: “We want visitors to be able to enjoy themselves and to support businesses to be confident they have the correct procedures in place. Our priority is to make sure tourism rebounds to once again become one of the most successful sectors of the UK economy and this ‘ring of confidence’ is a crucial step on the industry’s road to rebuilding.”
Businesses across the UK are assessed according to their respective national guidance including the social distancing and cleanliness protocols that must be in place. In England businesses align with the UK Government’s official guidance for the sector including ‘Working Safely during COVID-19: Visitor Economy’. An ‘alert’ system ensures that businesses signed up to the standard are notified of any changes to the official guidance. A call-handling service provides support and assessors would also carry-out random spot-checks to ensure adherence.
The scheme has been developed in partnership with Tourism Northern Ireland, VisitScotland and Visit Wales to ensure a standard-led approach across the UK with input from more than 40 industry bodies including UKHospitality, the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, the British Beer and Pub Association and the National Caravan Council as well as destination management organisations across the country. The assessment includes specific guidelines for sectors including serviced apartments and accommodation.
