We have a holiday cottage in the Lakes. Obviously all bookings from mid March until now have been cancelled. I am now beginning to get enquiries for 4th July onwards, so light at the end of the tunnel!
Airbnb (who I must say have been excellent during this crisis, issuing clear guidance and giving guests full refunds), have developed a cleaning handbook, and it is very rigorous! Some of the points below:
Cleaners shouldn't enter the cottage until at least 3 hours after the guests have left.
Each room should be thoroughly cleaned, then sanitised, then shut off and not re-entered.
Extra cleaning materials to be left for guests.
Vacuum cleaner to be cleaned and sanitised after every use.
Obviously masks to be worn, and disposable gloves to be changed between cleaning and sanitising.
I am fully supportive of all these measures, and if I was a guest they would give reassurance, but do wonder if they can all be practically achieved. It is fine if you only have one cottage to clean, but what if, like my cleaner, you have two or three to get through? How will hotels manage to comply with these rules (esp. the waiting 3 hours before entering!)
I have changed my check-in time from 3 to 4 and hope that guests will understand. Check-out will have to be a strict 10am.
Annoyingly, I am being contacted by people wanting to get a discount (probably thinking we are desperate!) With all these extra measures, meaning extra time and pay for the cleaners, added to the income lost by holiday home owners over the last few months, I do hope people will be kind when they come back!
