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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Travel
Rosaleen Fenton

TUI announces dramatic holiday plans which will transform buffets and kids' club

Buffets are set to be "reduced to a minimum" while childcare could be organised by countries, TUI has warned.

As the popular holiday firm gears up to welcome travellers back to its hotels, it has issued a detailed 10-point plan outlining how it will operate.

For many set to travel abroad this summer, many of the attractions may no longer be available.

We take a look at TUI's new plans for holidays post-pandemic.

The hotel buffet will be reduced to a minimum (Getty Images)

Entertainment

Only events, sports and entertainment involving small numbers of guests will be possible across its 400 hotels.

No night clubs will be open and an evening programme of events will take place in outdoor areas only.

Team sports will replaced by other activities such as golf and tennis, whilst football tournaments will be scrapped.

And they will have less participants but run more frequently.

TUI has made several changes to its hotels in order to keep guests safe (TUI)

Spas will also have to be adapted in line with health requirements, meaning less treatments on offer and no saunas.

More outdoor activities will be made available but with smaller groups.

And more private tours will also be on offer.

And Kids' Clubs "will be organised according to new standards in line with the requirements of the destinations and guests' countries of origin."

This could mean clubs could be limited by size or organised according to nationality.

Exercise will have to be carried out with social distancing rules in place (TUI)

Restaurants

In public areas such as restaurants, tables will be set 1.5 metres apart and will only be cleaned after guests have left them.

They will have limited capacity to ensure social distancing rules are followed, but the opening hours will be extended.

And the hugely popular buffets will have to be served to you by a member of staff with no self-service option.

Guests will be staggered in restaurants and staff will wear masks (TUI)

Staff will have to wear masks when serving food and drinks to guests.

Hotel organisation

Holidaymakers will be encouraged to check-in online via the hotel's website or their smartphone.

More digital services to reduce unnecessary touchpoints.

More private transfers will be offered and vehicles will be cleaned for every journey.

In public areas such as in the restaurants, corridors or gyms, all staff members will be required to keep a distance of 1.5 to two metres between them and the guests.

Guests will be reminded to keep their hands clean (TUI)

The number of disinfectant dispensers will be significantly increased.

All rooms will be thoroughly deep cleaned before the arrival of guests.

The most frequently used areas, such as bathrooms, and most used devices and appliances like TV remote controls "will receive particular attention".

And staff will "work together in fixed teams to reconstruct possible infection chains."

The holiday chain says it will train all employees in its own hotels.

Staff will be trained on how to keep rooms clean (TUI)

Flights

All tickets will be electronic and passengers will have to undergo temperature checks.

Travellers will be required to maintain an adequate distance from each other in the airport, at passport control and luggage collection .

Passengers will have to wear face masks.

Boarding  and leaving the plane will be staggered to avoid queues in jet bridges and aisles.

More staff will be available to speed up the process.

TUI says its aircraft are fitted with an highly effective filtering systems to ensure air quality.

Passengers will have to wear face masks (The Boeing Company)

More transfer buses will be made available to carry smaller groups.

Food and beverages should be preordered and all sales must be cashless to prevent physical contact.

If the plane isn't full, seats will be assigned apart.

Cruises

Guests must complete health questionnaires and will be screened before boarding, along with crew. This is likely to include a temperature scan.

No self-service restaurants on cruise ships and guests will undergo health checks (TUI)

Until August 31, cruise ships will run with with maximum 1,000 guests, allowing for more distance on board.

There will be no self-service restaurants and every third seat will be occupied in theatres in order to maintain distance.

A maximum of ten children in Kids' Club.

The number of people in the spa or gym will also be limited.

Frequently touched surfaces will be cleaned every 30 minutes.

There will be more medical staff on board and the ship will maintain a supply of Covid-19 testing devices.

Each port will have procedures in place for handling possible positive cases of coronavirus.

The travel operator has said the plan will be introduced across TUI Blue, Robinson and TUI Magic Life and its hotel partners. 

Tour operator TUI has released a 10-point plan that outlines how it will operate safely (WalesOnline/ WS)

In a statement on its website, the UK firm said: "It is part of a more comprehensive package of measures that covers all of the tour operator's service components, from retail , flights and transfers to hotel stays, local excursions and cruises."

Sebastian Ebel, the member of Tui's group executive board responsible for holiday experiences, said: “Customer surveys clearly indicate that safety and hygiene will be of paramount importance for holidaymakers after the lockdown”,

"With our group-wide, integrated health and safety management system, we can ensure that our hotels meet guests’ high expectations and offer the best possible protection against infections during these unusual times.

'We are laying the foundations for an agile and safe return to business so we can be ready to offer our unique holiday experiences again as soon as possible".

The UK tour operator was forced to halt the majority of their flights due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

At the end of last month the company cancelled all beach holidays involving travel on or before 11 June.

And cruises have also been affected as the has company postponed the launch of Tui River Cruises sailings until 26 November.

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