Accor UK and Ireland sites adopt new safety protocols

Accor has announced that every hotel in its 270-strong UK and Ireland estate has signed up to Allsafe, its global cleanliness and prevention programme. The announcement comes ahead of hospitality’s reopening tomorrow (4 July), and Accor confirmed that the programme has been independently audited to “ensure compliance with its rigorous standards”. Allsafe was developed by Accor in partnership with Bureau Veritas, a global group that specialises in testing, inspection and certification. The safety programme requires “incredibly rigorous” hygiene measures and employee protocols to be implemented in a bid to ensure the safety of guests and staff. To comply with these standards, all Accor sites must disinfect rooms to hospital-grade standards, deep clean all upholstery and carpets, and wash and treat bedding at high temperatures. They must also implement appropriate partitioning and sanitary measures, as well as “strictly” observe social distancing procedures. Signatories to the scheme must also show evidence that employees have been through a comprehensive safety and hygiene and training programme. In the UK, the programme will be assessed by Clifton Environmental Services, a specialist health, safety and hygiene auditor. The hotel will then be Allsafe-approved on completion of a virtual audit by Clifton, followed soon after by an on-site audit. Richard Short, health, safety and environment director, Accor Northern Europe, said: “The health, safety and well-being of our staff, guests and partners is our absolute priority as the world progressively relaxes its lockdown measures. “Accor has set appropriate safety standards and cleaning protocols with the Allsafe label, to ensure hotels can be reopened and reassure guests that they can be safely welcomed back.” He added: “With the launch of Allsafe Accor has developed some of the most stringent cleaning standards and operational protocols in the world of hospitality.” Thomas Dubaere, COO Accor Northern Europe, said: “Guests can now be assured that hotels carrying an Accor brand in the UK and Ireland have been rated by an independent auditor as compliant with some of the most exacting standards in the hospitality industry. As our hotels prepare to reopen I am proud to confirm our hotels are Allsafe.”