In the aftermath of COVID 19, guests today prioritize their health and safety over all else when selecting a hotel. After over a year of taking extra health precautions, they seek to regain their confidence as they venture out of their homes for leisure and business trips.
“Guest safety and wellness have been the priority of Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corp. (AHRC) in the past 16 months, even more so now that people are desiring to travel again,” assures Javier Hernandez, president and CEO. AHRC is the Ayala Land subsidiary that owns and manages a range of hotel and resort properties catering to all segments of the market – from luxury to affordable and from business to leisure.
AHRC’S biggest brand is its homegrown Seda Hotels which it developed and now operates in 11 strategic locations throughout the country. Since the brand was founded in 2012, it has adhered to the highest levels of hygiene and safety so that both guests and employees alike feel safe, confident, and secure.
With the onset of COVID 19, it organized all its health and safety protocols into the comprehensive “Safe at Seda” program based on government protocols and global industry standards and more. The program is overseen by a Covid-19 Safety Officer in each property to ensure consistent implementation, from prevention to staff training on detection and management of suspect cases.
Digitalization of processes to provide contactless transactions were among the first changes implemented by the brand. This paved the way for the use of QR codes, to online check-in, to e-commerce, and to expanding Seda’s presence in more digital channels.
Seda Hotels continues to receive certifications from other bodies, reiterating its commitment to safety. All its properties accepting leisure stays have qualified for the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels Stamp, attesting to their adherence to health protocols that meet global standards. Several hotels have also received the Clean and Ready Shield from Diversey, one of the world’s leaders in hygiene, certifying that its cleaning products and practices ensure the protection of guests and employees from COVID 19 and other harmful illnesses.
“The pandemic has raised public expectations for safer and healthier environments,” according to Hernandez. Across all its properties, AHRC has strictly complied with national and local guidelines and actively supported government efforts to manage the pandemic as a key step for delivering assurance to guests. All its establishments from Seda to its El Nido islands and Lio Beach resorts, as well as its internationally-branded hotels, display a Safety Seal from the Department of Tourism. This also means they use the country’s official StaySafe.ph application for more efficient contact tracing.
AHRC’s branded hotels enforce their respective chains’ stringent safety programs. Luxury hotels Fairmont Makati and Raffles Makati, both managed by Accor, have received the French chain’s ALL Safe certification. Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, also part of the AHRC portfolio and a member of the prestigious Inter-Continental Hotels Group (IHG), complies with IHG’s “Clean Promise” program.
“We are confident we have systems in place throughout our properties that greatly minimize risks for all our guests and workers,” assures Hernandez. He adds that vaccination of its employees is ongoing in its properties around the country, re-affirming the company’s continued commitment to health and safety, not just within its premises but also to the greater community.
