An Auckland Hotel has gotten creative in the COVID-19 economic fall-out to fill their rooms.
Photo: Photo /123RF
With the borders shut to non-New Zealand travellers the tourism and hospitality industry has frequently been singled-out as one sectors most in danger by the global pandemic.
However, Auckland City Hotel have created 'Iso Deals' for those needing somewhere to isolate, to encourage people to use their accommodation during the lockdown.
Jireh Hospitality Group Managing Director Ross Chin said they saw there was a need, especially for tourists who are still stuck in New Zealand and waiting for flights.
"The day before the lockdown we had at least three or four European tour groups who saw our pricing and we had over fifty rooms checked in just on that day," he said.
Chin said because people don't know when they are able to fly out, they have made the packages flexible.
Since Covid-19, the hotel has had to change its day to day operations too.
"We don't do housekeeping anymore, we just give them a pre-pack of towels and amenities and we pass it on to the guests and then they can give us the dirty linen in the bag, we tried to minimise any contact with all guests," he said.
He said staff are also wearing gloves and masks for extra protection.
He said with New Zealanders now coming back from overseas, the hotel has also put its hand up to be one of the Government's approved self-isolation facilities in the hopes of filling more rooms.
Read more about the Covid-19 coronavirus:
- See all RNZ Covid-19 news
- A timeline: How the coronavirus started, spread and stalled life in New Zealand
- Covid-19 symptoms: What they are and how they make you feel
- Touching your Face: Why do we do it and how to stop
- Scientific hand-washing advice to avoid infection
- Coronavirus: A glossary of terms
- The Coronavirus Podcast