This archive report was first published on 15 June 2020.
Published on June 15, 2020, Swiss-owned Planhotel Hospitality Group has introduced a unique solution to help its Coast-based hotels recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The group is offering pre-paid holiday bonds for its three properties in the Coast region: Diamonds Dream of Africa, Sandies Malindi Dream Garden, and Sandies Tropical Village.
Prospective guests can buy these holiday bonds, which are valid for two years, and pay 50% of the cost to reserve a room.
According to Alexander Zissimatos, the general manager of Planhotel Malindi, the revenue raised from the holiday bonds will be spent on operational costs and keeping the facilities open during downtime caused by the pandemic.
"We are training our 150 employees on World Health Organisation hotel standards for the planned re-opening in August and maintaining post-corona protocols which include a 24-hour vacated room turnaround programme," he said.
Mr Zissimatos added that food and beverage areas had been re-arranged to facilitate social distancing, and buffet service has been stopped.
The holiday bonds are transferable, making it easier for holders to gift or sell them off with flexible booking dates.
PlanHotel owns and operates hotels in Zanzibar, Tanzania, Mozambique, Maldives, Switzerland, and Italy.
