While resorts will be required to follow the rules and regulations set by their own local, regional and national administrations, we hope these tips will provide some practical guidance for those reopening resorts after lockdown.

1. Complete a full risk assessment in consultation with your employees;

2. Use tape or paint to mark social distancing spaces at reception desks, waiting areas, toilets, smoking shelters – bearing in mind those who might struggle with this including those with sight loss, mobility issues and so on;

3. Clear and easy to understand signage should be used to communicate key health and safety points;

4. Limit the number of people allowed into a specific space at any one time;

5. Alter layouts to take into account possible pinch-points and busy areas;

6. Lifts/elevators should only be used by disabled people or limited to one person at a time;

7. If you have multiple access points, introduce a one-way system;

8. Stagger arrival and departure times with a safe distance queuing system in place;

9. Review layouts to let employees/guests to work/stand further apart;

10. Consider appropriate measures to ensure non-counter-based services are conducted safely;

11. Check for new traffic and street management plans from local authorities and adjust your queue management accordingly;

12. Use outside premises for queueing where available such as car parks;

13. Where physical proximity is necessary, measures should be considered as part of the risk assessment (e.g. use of screens, PPE);

14. Check whether changes to licenses are required;

15. Encourage contactless or cashless payments;

16. Use signage, loud-speaker announcements and social media to remind guests about hygiene standards;

17. Provide hand sanitiser at entry and exit points;

18. Replace self-service/buffets with pre-packed goods;

19. Frequent touch points should be identified and disinfected regularly;

20. Workspaces should be kept clear and all waste removed;

21. Provide written and verbal communication of guidelines to staff and guests;

22. Be clear on what actions you must take if you encounter an incidence, or suspected incidence, of Covid-19; and

23. Consider contingency and risk plans for future events such as the re-imposition of lockdown measures or customer behaviour breaks down distancing requirements.

This guidance for reopening resorts comes from the Scottish government’s hospitality safety checklist issued in June 2020.

How is your resort handling the return to business? Will you be bouncing back? Will it take months or even years to return to normal? Tell us by completing our Bouncing Back survey. It takes just five minutes to complete and is anonymous.

If you are reopening your resort in the near future, and require software support, then contact us now for our full list of Merlin WebApps that can support you.