Global hospitality firm Accor and Bureau Veritas, a provider
in testing, inspection and certification, have developed a label designed to
certify that the appropriate safety standards and cleaning protocols have been
achieved to allow hotels and restaurants to reopen post Covid-19.
The label will cover both accommodation and catering, and
will set the sanitary standards applicable to all of Accor’s hotels as well as
other chains and independent properties, according to the firms. The project
was carried out in partnership with doctors and epidemiologists and was
developed in collaboration with Accor owners and trade associations.
According to Accor, the project will be shared next week
within Alliance France Tourisme as well as with the French Ministries of
Tourism, Health and Labor so they can be actively involved and validate the
recommended standards. Concrete proposals will then be submitted to governments
in France and subsequently throughout Europe for the easing of lockdown
measures and a return to business for the hospitality and restaurant sectors.
Franck Gervais, Europe CEO at Accor, said: “As the European
leader in hospitality, it is our duty to anticipate needs and respond to health
and safety requirements by adhering to the highest standards. We are pleased to
be pioneering this drive with Bureau Veritas and to extend it to all stakeholders.”
Jacques Pommeraud, CEO of Bureau Veritas Africa and France,
added: “With this label, today we have the ability to meet the new expectations
of our society in terms of health and safety. This label will contribute to the
hospitality and restaurant industry reopening with confidence. We are proud to
work with Accor, at first in France and subsequently in all European countries.
This approach will benefit the entire industry as every company could request
to be certified by Bureau Veritas.”
The project will include an operational guide made available
to the industry that will enable them to apply the health and safety
recommendations of authorities such as the World Health Organization, both in
guest services and in back office and catering spaces. European customers will
be able to check on a dedicated Bureau Veritas website to find out whether any
hotel or restaurant has been certified under the new label.