The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has issued the City Lodge Hotel Group (CLHG) its “Safe Travels” stamp of approval, in recognition of the international standards of health and hygiene upheld at its hotels.

The Group has started to reopen selected properties across South Africa to business travellers, as is now allowed under alert level 3 of lockdown. As part of this process, stringent new measures have been put in place to protect the safety of all guests.

“As more people leave their homes to resume their work and travel commitments, we want them to know that staying at a City Lodge Hotel Group property – whether at a Courtyard Hotel, City Lodge Hotel, Town Lodge or Road Lodge – they can look forward to a safe accommodation experience,” says Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo, chief operating officer. “We implemented our own stringent safety and hygiene protocols in line with the World Health Organization several months ago, and are pleased to have these further benchmarked against international standards as approved by WTTC. As we embrace the ‘new normal’ of life in the time of COVID-19, guests are reassured that they have made a safe and smart choice booking with us.”

“We implemented our own stringent safety and hygiene protocols in line with the World Health Organization several months ago, and are pleased to have these further benchmarked against international standards as approved by WTTC. As we embrace the ‘new normal’ of life in the time of COVID-19, guests are reassured that they have made a safe and smart choice booking with us.”

WTTC’s “Safe Travels” stamp is a way for travellers to recognise governments and companies around the world that have adopted health and hygiene protocols of a global standard to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Eligible companies – such as hotels, restaurants, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, attractions, short-term rentals, car rentals, outdoor shopping, transportation and airports – are allowed to display the stamp on their marketing materials once WTTC’s health and hygiene protocols have been implemented.

The successful implementation of these protocols were verified at City Lodge Hotel Bryanston recently, when Food Consulting Services (FCS), an independent company, carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment audit and reported a 98% score on hygiene and 100% on the microbiological index.