Mala McAlpin Hotel ‘self-isolation packages’ are a thing .
Over the past year or so, we’ve detailed the growing phenomenon of luxury hotels around the globe demonstrating huge growth in their wellness offerings, incorporating new packages and services into their repertoire to meet the demand for wellness travel. Now sadly, with travel restricted and day spas forced to close, hotels are having to find new innovative ways to continue their wellness offerings despite these huge changes in operations.
While many hotels have closed their doors altogether, many still remain open, and there’s a whole new sector of the market for them to cater to: self-isolation. More and more hotels are now introducing relaxation and wellness-focused ‘self-isolation packages’ for guests opting to conduct any necessary 14 day Covid-19-induced isolation periods in the comfort of a hotel. While these offerings of course can’t compare to the hotel spa, here are some examples we’ve seen so far:
Hyatt Regency Perth wanted to demonstrate care by focusing on wellbeing. Unable to provide their usual guest experience, the hotel quickly put together a thoughtful experience to support guests from a distance, with a package that included:
- A welcome gift of a bottle of wine and complimentary minibar to help guests settle in
- Multiple Care Packages with wellness recommendations, podcast suggestions, puzzles and online activities to help occupy guests time
- Social media competitions to prompt online connection
- Daily allowance of AUD$80 to spend on In-Room Dining with new menus offering varied and healthy choices
- Cleaning supplies, personal crockery and cutlery
- Frequent communications and updates from Guest Services
- Kid Packages with activities, colouring in, pencils, fruit and juice
Ovolo Hotels are offering a 14-day Lock-In Package, where guests receive a free breakfast in their room, free access to the mini bar, plus a very day-spa-esque daily immune-boosting Turmeric shooter.
There have been reports that at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa (designated as a dedicated quarantine facility in Singapore), staff may soon be implementing regular exercise sessions on the hotel’s garden lawn, and guests can join in from the safe distance of their balconies. Currently, staff even check in with guests daily via phone or handwritten notes, providing human connection.
On a smaller scale, some hotels are turning to adding simple aromatherapy solutions, like 57Hotel in Sydney’s Surry Hills, whose quarantine package includes face-masks, hand sanitisers and bottled water, as well as a ‘calm’ room mist.
Want some more hotel news to make you smile? Here are some other random acts of kindness from Aussie hotels:
- Mercure Sunshine Coast Kawana Waters recently put together dozens of meals for medical professionals working at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
- Novotel Brisbane Airport delivered a jungle gym, play mat and baby toys to a family staying there for quarantine isolation purposes, ensuring they could keep their young child occupied for their two-week stay.
- When Grand Mercure Auckland discovered one of their isolation guest was celebrating a birthday, they crafted and hand-delivered his favourite cocktail to celebrate.
These innovative new procedures demonstrate that, even throughout this period in which it is impossible to connect with clients in the spa and wellness industry’s usual way, it is still possible to create a wonderful client experience from afar – all it takes is a little creativity!
How is your business sustaining your clients’ wellbeing journeys or thoughtful customer experiences? We would love to hear from you! Please continue to reach out to us at editorial@3.106.143.225 so we can share your stories and support our industry.
