All hotels around the world are grappling with what their procedures will be as tourism resumes. And hotel workers and guests have been asking the same question–what will be done–will they be safe if they stay at a hotel or resort? A few hotels have stayed open during the COVID-19 shutdowns, but several others are getting ready to reopen. Castle Resorts, which has 6 properties on the Big Island, has shared information about how it plans to keep its employees and guests safe once Hawaii tourism resumes.
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| Leila Kim, Reservations Manager at one of the Castle properties on the Big Island–the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel– says they are already following all the protocols mentioned. The hotel has never closed, and has been housing essential workers such as the National Guard. They have also had non-essential travelers, subject to the 14-day mandatory quarantine, and the front desk issues them a one-time electronic key so they know if the guest has violated the curfew if they ask to get back into the room. Kim said they’ve not had to call the police on anybody. The hotel has also closed the swimming pool, to avoid having guests gather.
Kim also said the hotel has plexiglass barriers at the front desk, and that workers wear masks. She said one of the most significant things they explain to hotel guests is that no worker will enter their room during the stay, so if they need new towels or linens, the hotel will pick up the old ones and deliver the new ones, but not go into the rooms. And once a guest vacates a room, nobody from the hotel enters the room for 3 days. Once the room is cleaned and sanitized, it is sealed pending the arrival of a new guest. Another safety procedure has been placing travelers from similar places on the same floor, specifically, people who normally reside on the Big Island are on one floor, interisland residents on another floor, and travelers from outside the state on a separate floor. She says the hotel is doing everything it can think of to provide safety for everybody. Kim says the two restaurants in the hotel (Queen’s Court and Wai’oli Lounge) are closed for now. Other Castle properties on the Big Island include Kanaloa at Kona, Kona Bali Kai, Kona Reef Resort, Waimea Country Lodge, and Hili’i Kai at Waikoloa.
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