Vaccinate staff or hotel industry will perish
Dr Jerry Schwartz does it again and leads the way for operators as he makes more resorts COVID safe havens
Having received universal praise for his initiative to make vaccinations mandatory for all staff at his Paradise Resort Gold Coast property, owner Dr Jerry Schwartz is planning to go one step forward. Only vaccinated staff, suppliers, and guests will be allowed at his two NSW resorts, the Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains and Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley.
Dr Schwartz said: “We have a duty of care to our guests, workers and visitors. whether they are staying at the resorts or playing on the golf courses.
“Both resorts will become effectively gated communities, effective October 11, with a guard at the front gate of the properties who will check vaccination certificates before people are allowed to enter.
“Only double vaccinated people will be able to enter the resorts.”
“It is something that both our guests and staff have demanded. At Paradise Resort we have achieved a 100 percent vaccination rate, and with so much notice and plentiful supply of vaccines, that same result can be achieved at the two NSW resorts.
“Airlines have taken a leadership role when it comes to insisting on vaccinations for travellers, and it is now time for the hotel industry to follow suit. That is the only way the hotel industry will recover.
“Given that both of these resorts are very prominent in the meetings, functions and events space, we believe this positive step will provide massive assurance for event organisers to book these hotels because they can then assure their delegates.
“Tourism is all about confidence and certainty, and so by taking a pro-active stance on the vaccination issue, I believe that we can accelerate the recovery process after what’s been a brutal 18 months for tourism and hotels.”
Last month we reported Dr Schwartz, the largest private owner of hotels in Australia had made vaccinations mandatory for all staff at Paradise Resort Gold Coast, one of Australia’s most popular family resorts, explaining he made this decision to ensure both staff and guests, and particularly children, are protected at his resort
Paradise Resort Gold Coast was the first non-quarantine hotel in the group to mandate staff vaccinations.
Paradise Resort Gold Coast has been consistently rated Australia’s premier family resort over the past decade, and Dr Schwartz said that with so many unvaccinated children staying at the hotel, it was essential that staff be fully vaccinated.
Ideally, he said, he would like to see all staff fully vaccinated by the end of November so that they are ready for the peak Christmas family holiday season.
Dr Schwartz said his preference was actually for an earlier date, but with so many staff under 40, he has had to take into account restricted Pfizer supplies.
“Any face-to-face business such as hospitality, and especially if it involves children, needs to have fully vaccinated staff,” said Dr Schwartz.
“The hotel industry has been devastated by Covid-19 and government policies, so it is essential we equip ourselves with the tools to drive a recovery once the country reaches 80 percent vaccination and travel returns to relative normality.”
Dr Schwartz said he had written to the hotel staff outlining the reasons for the mandatory vaccination.
“From initial feedback, we believe that most staff are in full agreement, with many already vaccinated and others in the process of getting vaccinated,” he said.
“After the disruptions to employment over the past 18 months, most can understand the need to take this initiative.
“It’s a case of vaccinate staff or the hotel industry could perish.”
Read more:
Mike Parker-Brown is a UK-trained and qualified journalist and an award-winning travel communicator with more than 30 years experience.
Since 2002, Mike has worked as a freelance writer and PR consultant providing his services to major organisations in Australia and internationally in the tourism, aviation, hospitality, recruitment and export marketing sectors.
