Dear members,
Whilst it isn’t every member, we are delighted that at least some members are ready to throw open the doors this weekend and get on with what we do best – being the hub of your communities. We at the QHA understand you are all doing your best to stay afloat as viable businesses, and we will continue to work toward getting our whole industry back to more normal circumstances as soon as possible. In this first stage, we know it simply isn’t viable for members to open in most cases, however for those that are, we have the information you will need.
STAGE 1 - 16 MAY
As you should all be aware, STAGE 1 of Queensland’s easing of restrictions allows hotels to open from this Saturday 16 May, with a maximum of 10 patrons for the purpose of dining (and 20 patrons for dining in Outback venues).
Firstly, for those that are considering re-opening this weekend, the QHA has the following advice and information:
- You must complete the Queensland Government COVID SAFE Checklist
- You must sign and display the Queensland Government COVID SAFE Checklist at your venue.
- Within 2 weeks of opening, you must complete COVID SAFE mandatory training. (This will be a free online training course, and will provide the safety skills to equip your staff and patrons).
Please refer to the detailed QHA venue re-opening information below.
The Queensland Government COVID SAFE Checklist gives you an indication of the health risks and measures you should implement in your venues prior to opening. Much of it is easily adaptable to venues, however, I would highlight a couple of elements that should be made prominent in any venue:
- Advise any staff that are unwell, whether they show COVID-19 symptoms or not TO STAY AT HOME
- Social Distancing between patrons / groups of patrons should be maintained at 1.5m. Make it obvious and keep it maintained as best you can. This doesn’t mean groups who arrive together can’t sit together, it means that there must be space between unrelated groups.
- Wipe down and clean high touch areas with sanitiser/disinfectant on a regular basis (after each customer).
- Keep a record of each customer (or one from a group) that enters – this can be as easy as a notebook – with contact details and date. Keep this for 28 days.
- Any staff on duty will need to be re-trained in the cleaning/social distancing processes
- The reopening is for patrons that are dining and seated, not just opening up the front bar.
My staff and I at the QHA are ready to give all the advice that we can, however, much of this will be about the layout of your hotels. Think about where you can minimise physical contact with doors/bars/handles/toilets etc.
TAG US
For members that are re-opening, if you can, take pictures and send them through to us. We would love to be included in your social media posts as well. (@qldhotels is how you usually find us!)
STAGE 2
Secondly, for some good news for the entire industry, we are continuing to work closely with Government Departments regarding the trading conditions for STAGE 2 trading from Saturday 13 June. The QHA has submitted to government our QHA COVID SAFE Plan for hospitality industry. We are now awaiting feedback to be an ‘Approved Industry COVID SAFE plan by health authorities’. This will form the basis for venues to develop plans on how each one can operate with increased patron numbers and in separate areas of a venue where capacity and size permits. QHA will provide members with Plans and Templates to assist with the re-opening requirements for STAGE 2. This has not been approved yet and we know that time is short.
‘KEEP ‘EM SEATED, SEPARATED AND SERVICED’.
Lastly, I like the motto ‘KEEP ‘EM SEATED, SEPARATED AND SERVICED’.
Seated dining and drinking; separated with social distancing and patron control; and serviced via waiter service, contactless ordering and payments systems.
This gives our members the best opportunity to keep hygiene standards at a superior level and ensure staff and patrons are as safe as possible.
MEMBERS ZOOM MEETING
The QHA will be holding a Members ZOOM Meeting next Wednesday 20 May at 10.00am and I look forward to seeing you then. Please click HERE to register.
Bernie
Bernie Hogan
QHA Chief Executive
