Avani reopens to chic safety
Hospitality in the age of COVID-19 is all about detail
Yochanaan Coetzee
As travellers are embracing the new normal of travel and hotels are preparing to welcome guests back, Avani Hotels & Resorts is rolling out new health and safety measures across its portfolio. These will see Avani Windhoek Hotel & Casino gradually adopting a range of heightened hygiene and sanitising standards to ensure the health and safety of guests and team members.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the way one has to go about one’s operations, from strict adherence to sanitising and social distancing protocols, to the economic impact that not only influences your decisions as a business, but also type of products that are in demand, due to the widespread suppression of disposable income,” said Rudi Putter, general manager of Avani Windhoek, in a recent interview.
With the hotel officially resuming operations this week, the heart of Windhoek’s hospitality offerings is absolutely abuzz, with final touches being made, sanitation, disinfection and social distancing protocols being streamlined and the chefs hard at work crafting new menus and dining modalities, to not only suit the “new normal”, but also entice new and existing clientele to once again experience the culinary flair and finesse that Avani Windhoek Hotel and Casino is known for.
Dining as an experience
”While we do regularly update our menus, the unique set of circumstances that Covid-19 has presented us with have forced us to become more innovative and experimental with our menus, while focusing on the dining experience, whether that be in socially distanced sit-ins, gourmet take-aways, or our new à la minute buffet concept, where guests are able to browse the menu on their smart devices, and then be served by a waitron to minimise contact with surfaces and utensils. We really want our guest to be able to enjoy the one-of-a-kind Avani experience in a safe and convenient way.
“These new menus boast firm favourites, alongside unique new dishes that will cater for both the high-end diner to the person who’d like something small, but special, on the go,” Putter added.
Brave new world
While concerns about the potential for exposure to possible contaminants will certainly linger over the tourism and hospitality sector for at least the rest of the year, even local travellers are seeking surety that every precaution will be taken to ensure their safety while visiting establishments.
Being part of the world-renowned Minor Group of Hotels and in the interest of protecting their hotel and gaming guests’ health, and livelihood of the nearly their nearly 300 local staff members, no expense has been spared and no detail overlooked to ensure a safe environment for all.
These initiatives will primarily be driven by the adoption of new technology, such as digital menus, to reduce the use of shared items and HEPA-grade air purifiers, which can remove airborne viruses, bacteria and allergens of 0.01 micron (10 nanometres) in size with 99.99% effectiveness.
In addition to these passive measures, all incoming persons, luggage, boxes and supplies will undergo screening disinfection and sanitization processes.
Digital pre-arrival check-in and check-out will allow guests to fill out registration cards on their mobile devices on the way to the hotel, and guests will find their room key waiting for them at reception. Prior to check-out, guests will be able to settle their bill via a secure online payment system and receive the receipt via email, a secure as well as environmentally-friendly solution.
Additional measures include that after cleaning, each guest room will be sealed for 24 hours, during which time the housekeeping team cannot enter. This waiting period will become mandatory prior to allocating rooms to guests.
When dining, guests will be asked to sanitise their hands, maintain social distancing and will receive sealed cutlery and sanitised table settings.
The casino has also seen major restructuring, with social distancing being implemented at both the slot machines and table games. There are also private breakaway rooms, where small group can play enjoy their gaming safely. All chips will be sterilized regularly during play and cards will be discarded after each shift, as a measure to ensure as little exposure to contaminants, as possible.
All these measures are in compliance with the guidelines issued by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), and are in line with the highest levels of health and safety in global hospitality.
So the next time you feel up for a night on top of the world at Avani Windhoek Hotel and Casino's Stratos Rooftop Restaurant and Bar, have a hearty breakfast at The Pantry, or conduct a conference where the space for social distancing is key, you can count on Avani Windhoek Hotel and Casino to cater for your every need, and in great style, one must add.
As travellers are embracing the new normal of travel and hotels are preparing to welcome guests back, Avani Hotels & Resorts is rolling out new health and safety measures across its portfolio. These will see Avani Windhoek Hotel & Casino gradually adopting a range of heightened hygiene and sanitising standards to ensure the health and safety of guests and team members.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the way one has to go about one’s operations, from strict adherence to sanitising and social distancing protocols, to the economic impact that not only influences your decisions as a business, but also type of products that are in demand, due to the widespread suppression of disposable income,” said Rudi Putter, general manager of Avani Windhoek, in a recent interview.
With the hotel officially resuming operations this week, the heart of Windhoek’s hospitality offerings is absolutely abuzz, with final touches being made, sanitation, disinfection and social distancing protocols being streamlined and the chefs hard at work crafting new menus and dining modalities, to not only suit the “new normal”, but also entice new and existing clientele to once again experience the culinary flair and finesse that Avani Windhoek Hotel and Casino is known for.
Dining as an experience
”While we do regularly update our menus, the unique set of circumstances that Covid-19 has presented us with have forced us to become more innovative and experimental with our menus, while focusing on the dining experience, whether that be in socially distanced sit-ins, gourmet take-aways, or our new à la minute buffet concept, where guests are able to browse the menu on their smart devices, and then be served by a waitron to minimise contact with surfaces and utensils. We really want our guest to be able to enjoy the one-of-a-kind Avani experience in a safe and convenient way.
“These new menus boast firm favourites, alongside unique new dishes that will cater for both the high-end diner to the person who’d like something small, but special, on the go,” Putter added.
Brave new world
While concerns about the potential for exposure to possible contaminants will certainly linger over the tourism and hospitality sector for at least the rest of the year, even local travellers are seeking surety that every precaution will be taken to ensure their safety while visiting establishments.
Being part of the world-renowned Minor Group of Hotels and in the interest of protecting their hotel and gaming guests’ health, and livelihood of the nearly their nearly 300 local staff members, no expense has been spared and no detail overlooked to ensure a safe environment for all.
These initiatives will primarily be driven by the adoption of new technology, such as digital menus, to reduce the use of shared items and HEPA-grade air purifiers, which can remove airborne viruses, bacteria and allergens of 0.01 micron (10 nanometres) in size with 99.99% effectiveness.
In addition to these passive measures, all incoming persons, luggage, boxes and supplies will undergo screening disinfection and sanitization processes.
Digital pre-arrival check-in and check-out will allow guests to fill out registration cards on their mobile devices on the way to the hotel, and guests will find their room key waiting for them at reception. Prior to check-out, guests will be able to settle their bill via a secure online payment system and receive the receipt via email, a secure as well as environmentally-friendly solution.
Additional measures include that after cleaning, each guest room will be sealed for 24 hours, during which time the housekeeping team cannot enter. This waiting period will become mandatory prior to allocating rooms to guests.
When dining, guests will be asked to sanitise their hands, maintain social distancing and will receive sealed cutlery and sanitised table settings.
The casino has also seen major restructuring, with social distancing being implemented at both the slot machines and table games. There are also private breakaway rooms, where small group can play enjoy their gaming safely. All chips will be sterilized regularly during play and cards will be discarded after each shift, as a measure to ensure as little exposure to contaminants, as possible.
All these measures are in compliance with the guidelines issued by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), and are in line with the highest levels of health and safety in global hospitality.
So the next time you feel up for a night on top of the world at Avani Windhoek Hotel and Casino's Stratos Rooftop Restaurant and Bar, have a hearty breakfast at The Pantry, or conduct a conference where the space for social distancing is key, you can count on Avani Windhoek Hotel and Casino to cater for your every need, and in great style, one must add.
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