COVID-19 Updates From Roomex

05 January 2021

England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have entered another lockdown to slow the spread of COVID-19 and prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed.

Essential travel is still permitted in the U.K. Here is what Roomex recommends you do prior to travelling:

Review national and local guidelines found below and linked.
Although there is no requirement by the government to provide a 'key worker letter' to accommodation providers, we are recommending it at this time. Some hotels will require you to send this letter to them before arrival. If you need help writing such a letter reach out to your account manager.
Ring the accommodation 24 hours prior to check in to confirm they are open. If staying in an apartment, contact the property to make arrangements for key pick up. We will also confirm bookings at this time on your behalf.
After completing a booking, be on the lookout for a 'pre-arrival check-in' email from the hotel or from Roomex as some hotels are requesting that guests check in online so they can just collect the key upon arrival.
Look for 'RoomexClean' rates in your platform to confirm the accommodation is cleaned to the highest standards.
Before booking a bed and breakfast rate or meal allowance confirm the hotel's restaurant is still offering take-away or room service options.
We are offering vouchers that can be purchased through Roomex that your employees can use for delivery services such as JustEat and Uber Eats. Please reach out to your account manager if this is of interest to you.

England

You must have a reasonable excuse for travel, i.e. you cannot do your job from home, i.e. those that work in critical national infrastructure, construction or manufacturing.
Restaurants will be open only for takeaway, call and collect, and drive through until 11pm.
Review the full government statement here.

Scotland

You must have a reasonable excuse for travel, i.e. you cannot do your job from home, i.e. those that work in critical national infrastructure, forestry, engineering, construction or manufacturing.
Restaurants, cafes, pubs, and bars are closed. Takeaways will remain open and operate as normal, providing food is sold for consumption off premise.
Hotels and other accommodation providers can still serve food to qualifying guests i.e. keyworkers staying in their premises up to 22:00. Room service, including alcohol, is allowed as normal.
Review the full government statement here.

Wales

You must have a reasonable excuse for travel, i.e. you cannot do your job from home, i.e. those that work in critical national infrastructure, forestry, engineering, construction or manufacturing.
Takeaway and delivery will remain open
Review the full government statement here.

Northern Ireland

Accommodation can be provided for work-related purposes
Businesses providing takeaway services must close at 11.00 pm and off-license sales must stop at 8.00 pm. Outdoor areas are not permitted to be used
Review the full government statement here.

02 December 2020

Travel Restrictions Update - England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland

Business travel is still permitted without a note in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

England - To find out what tier you’re in or the location your company is travelling to - type in the postcode here.
Scotland - To find out what section you’re in or the location your company is travelling to - type in the postcode here.
Wales – No tiered system in place. See full COVID-19 restrictions here.
Northern Ireland - No tiered system in place. See full restrictions here.
Republic of Ireland – Ireland has moved into Level 3 on 01 December. Read the most recent COVID update from the Irish Government.

06 November 2020

Hotel restaurant services available by hotel

Premier Inn: All restaurant services closed (in restaurant dining, takeaway breakfast, room service) in England and Wales. Restaurant services will remain open in Scotland for all guests and in Northern Ireland for residents only.

Travelodge: All restaurants closed, no room service, breakfast box available
Dalata (Maldron and Clayton hotels): All restaurants closed, room service available, takeaway breakfast available

Last updated 06 November 19:00

06 November 2020

Premier Inn has closed all hotel restaurants

Premier Inn has announced the closure of all restaurants at their hotels from November 5th to December 2nd. This comes after The U.K. government's most recent statement.

If you have a Roomex booking with a bed and breakfast rate or an in-stay allowance at a Premier Inn between now and 2nd December, we will reach out to you directly and amend the booking.

If you wish to book a Premier Inn room you can still do so via your platform as normal but there will be no option for food.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, reach out to priority@roomex.com

06 November 2020

All restaurants, pubs, bars, and social clubs closed for inside dining

The U.K. government has announced that all restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars, and social clubs will be closed between 5 Nov and 2 December with the exception of take-away (before 10 p.m. and not including alcohol), click-and-collect, drive through, and delivery services. Read the full statement here.

05 November 2020

New U.K. restrictions do not impact business travel

Beginning 05 November, new restrictions and recommendations for travelling both domestically and internationally will be imposed in the U.K.

Leisure travel will not be permitted
People can, however travel within the U.K. and abroad for work, education or other legally permitted reason. See the full guidelines on travel here.

What actions are Roomex taking?

We are in close contact with our hotel partners and will continue to provide updates via this article on possible closures.
Updated inventory will be displayed in your platform. The RoomexClean tag in your platform ensures we've confirmed that the accommodation is exceeding the cleaning guidelines recommended by the WHO.
Hotels will have more space and likely further discounts as leisure travel is not permitted.
We will be still checking all reservations to confirm the accommodation is open prior to your stay

What we recommend you do prior to travelling

Ensure you have no symptoms of COVID-19, see the latest information and advice from the NHS here.
Confirm the hotel is open by calling them prior to arrival
Check your Duty of Care map regularly to keep track of travelling personnel should you need to get in touch
Note- you do not require a 'Key Worker Letter' to travel as you did in previous phases of the pandemic
Reach out to us via Live Chat in your platform or emailing priorty@roomex.com - we are in this together.

20 October 2020

Covid-19 Alert

Roomex is carrying out reservation confirmations on all forward customer’s bookings within regions where travel restrictions have recently changed. We advise all travellers to make yourselves aware of local travel restrictions within your destination. Please see below for local guidelines. Please note several regions are now allowing essential travel only, and relevant documentation is required for check-in. Roomex is happy to assist if you have any queries on your booking.

Travel Restrictions - Northern Ireland, Wales and Republic of Ireland

In light of the latest restrictions, please see below the latest information and resources regarding travel in Northern Ireland, Wales and Republic of Ireland.

Northern Ireland

Hotels, guesthouses and bed and breakfast establishments will only be able to operate on a restricted basis. Accommodation can be provided for those already resident; for work-related purposes; for vulnerable people; for those in emergency situations; and people unable to return to their main address. Hotels can continue to host blood donation sessions.

Food and non-alcoholic drinks can be provided to residents staying for permitted purposes, but bars will be required to close.

Useful Link:

Wales

Are hotels allowed to open in Wales? No. Hotels are required to be closed.

However, a hotel which is closed can still provide specific services at the request of the Welsh Government or a Local Authority. Such services would primarily be for the provision of emergency accommodation for people who are homeless or key workers provided under contract to the Local Authority or a Health body. Measures must be in place to protect people from coronavirus.

Useful Link:

Republic of Ireland

Hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs may remain open, but only to support provision of essential services.

Hotel restaurants and bars. Take away food or delivery only.

Essential services:

Agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fishing, animal welfare and related services
Manufacturing
Supply, repair and installation of machinery and equipment
Electricity, gas, water, sewage and waste management
Construction and development
Wholesale and retail trade
Transport, storage and communications
Accommodation and food services
Information and communications
Financial and legal activities
Professional, scientific and technical activities
Rental and leasing activities
Administrative and support activities
Public administration, emergency services and defence
Human health and social work activities
Education
Community and voluntary services
Diplomatic missions and consular affairs

11 June 2020

Premier Inn launches CleanProtect, a new, enhanced hygiene promise

To ensure both guest and employee safety, the Premier Inn has teamed up with Diversey, a global leading cleaning and product supplier for the healthcare and hospitality industries to implement a rigorous daily cleaning regime across all their 800 properties in the U.K. and Ireland. All customer support staff at Roomex have been trained on these updates, and are free to chat through these initiatives with you.

This programme that Premier Inn has implemented includes:

Social distancing measures like Prespex screens and minimising contact at reception in place.
More frequent cleaning of high touch areas, and special attention to controls such as air conditioning and TV remotes in rooms.
Since they employ every member of their 9,000 housekeeping team directly, they are able to have better control of the standards. Management will be preforming additional room checks.
Linen will be laundered at over 60 degrees with disinfectant detergent and shower curtains will be replaced after every guest.
All team members have been provided face masks, gloves, aprons and hand sanitiser.

Read the full announcement here.

27 May 2020

Hotels increase cleaning measures to ensure safe stays for guests

Hotel chains large and small are stepping up to create a safer environment for those traveling during the pandemic. All hotels in our platform are abiding by the cleaning guidelines recommended by The WHO. Most have gone above and beyond to give travellers a piece of mind.

Atlas Hotels (Holiday Inn Express) deep clean hotels daily and sanitize public areas every hour. They've implemented new social distancing screens and mats to ensure guest and staff safety. Learn more about the measures they have taken here.
Penta Hotels have been carefully following safety guidelines as outlined by the WHO and have increased cleaning in common and guest areas. They've run training's for staff on how to protect against transmission, and have implemented procedures in case there is a suspected or confirmed case in one of their properties.
Staycity Aparthotels are cleaning public areas multiple times each day and deep cleaning rooms and public areas. An interesting safety note was that they are leaving rooms empty for 72 hours between guests, then deep cleaning the rooms. For long stay guests, where the normal in-stay cleaning service is not available, they are offering a cleaning pack and room refills as often as required. Learn more about their detailed cleaning strategy here.
Best Western has required all hotels to install protective barriers at reception and will clean the desk after each guest. They have provided a in-room text service to minimise visits to reception and the use of the phone. All key cards will be sanitized prior to check in, and will be handed to guests safely. They are disinfecting busy areas regularly throughout the day and deep cleaning rooms. They have removed unnecessary room elements, like bed scarves and note pads and pencils. If possible, rooms will be left vacant for at least 24 hours in between guests- and over 72 hours if the guest was unwell. The cleaning team has been trained on a detailed and comprehensive new checklist to keep themselves and guests safe.
Leonardo Hotels (Jurys Inn) have gone completely cashless and has added protective screens at reception. They've implemented deep cleaning protocols, frequently clean heavy trafficked areas, increased bedroom checks by senior management, and reduced printed materials in the rooms. Their staff has also taken part in trainings to ensure their safety and the safety of guests. Learn more about what they are doing to keep guests safe here.
Roomzzz Aparthotels has created contact free check ins and conducted specialised training for all employees to increase staff knowledge on infection control and sanitation. They too have increased sanitation and cleaning, wiping down heavy trafficked areas multiple times a day and deep cleaning rooms. Learn more about the measures they have taken here.
IHG Hotels now include visible verification of sanitized items (e.g. glassware, remote control) and reduced room furnishings. They've also implemented touchless transactions, sanitized key cards and promise deep cleaning on high touch surfaces displayed with 'last cleaned' charts. There is hand sanitizer, disinfectant, and wipes available in guest rooms. They are working with external specialist from the Cleveland Clinic to ensure best practices and define even better solutions for cleaning and safety during this time.
Lindner Hotels have installed protective screens at check in and sanitize hotel keys prior to guest arrival. All staff is required to wear masks. All documentation in hotel rooms such as menus and TV programmes will be replaced between guests. All room service ordered will be delivered in single use containers. To increase their social distancing, they've asked guests to select an accurate check in time to avoid crowds at reception. Cash payments are no longer excepted.

Reach out to your account manager for direct queries regarding upcoming stays in any hotel booked through Roomex. We will update this list regularly, so check back to find more information about cleanliness measures in hotels.

28 April 2020

Roomex Key Worker Support Package sees increase in Hotel Partners

Since its launch, our Key Worker Support Package has helped provide relief and accommodation to thousands of key workers traveling during the pandemic. Every day we're adding new hotel partners to the initiative, and as of today we have secured 245 Key Worker rates across hotels in the U.K. and Ireland.

Learn more about our Key Worker Support package here, or get in touch with our team here to get started.

16 April 2020

Hotels now offering boxed and takeaway meals

Hotels around the U.K. and Ireland have adapted to serve Key Workers better with grab and go breakfasts and room service dinners. Travelodge is now opening a breakfast box option available 24 hours a day at all open hotels including a muffin, cereal, a musili bar, and juice.

Note that all Travelodge Key Worker hotels are bookable through Roomex right now, and all the other properties are open for future bookings for stays after 8 May, subject to change if travel restrictions are extended.

Remember that Roomex contacts every traveller and hotel prior to stay to ensure the traveler knows what to expect upon arrival.

31 March 2020

Roomex launches a Key Worker Support Package, offering a customised hotel programme tailored by a dedicated account manager, special hotel rates, and new, free in-trip expense card (RoomexPay)

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, we rely on key workers to keep the country running. These heroes are caring for our families in hospitals, keeping the lights on in our homes, keeping our environments clean and keeping our shops stocked and operational.

At Roomex, we believe that the risks that these individuals are taking to keep us all safe are worth more than a simple thank you. We are honoured to work with those supporting our country in these trying times - and it’s our turn to support them.

Roomex is working with businesses, non-profits, and governments in some of the most affected areas to ensure that we reach COVID-19 responders who need accommodation away from home.

We have negotiated exclusive Key Worker Rates across the country that are available on your Roomex platform. Please ask us for the full list of hotels
We will work with you to provide a customised hotel programme based on your unique needs
We are dedicating account managers to our customers that have Key Workers to ensure safety and peace of mind
As safety during this time is the most important, we ensure that all hotels that are offering this discount are cleaned to the standards recommended by the WHO
Our team will assist you in drafting the required letter stating permission to travel that is required upon check-in at all hotels
We realise hotel expenses are only part of the overall requirement for you right now- so we are also offering RoomexPay free of charge as part of this Key Worker Rate package

If you're looking for support during this time, get in touch with our team at tryus@roomex.com

30 March 2020
Travelodge to close hotels until 30 April 2020

Abiding by the new instructions by the U.K. government, Travelodge will temporarily close its hotels. However, some locations will remain open for critical and key workers. See the full statement here.

25 March 2020

Premier Inn to close hotels until 30 April 2020

We have just received an update from Premier Inn that they have removed all of their hotels from sale up until 30th April 2020 in response to the government request to close all hotels.

For bookings on stays from 24th March - 31st May 2020

In order to comply with the latest Government guidelines if you have a stay in this period, please request a cancellation in your Roomex Platform. See below

For bookings on stays from 15th April - 31st May 2020

Based on the latest Government advice there is the opportunity to cancel bookings to obtain a full refund in your Roomex platform. The booking must be cancelled by 23.59 the day prior to arrival. See below

Alternatively, you can request to amend your booking. Please click on the ‘I want to amend this booking’ button to make your request to change dates.

How to cancel or amend a booking:

If you need to cancel a refundable booking, please log into Roomex, and click 'Bookings' at the top of your platform. To cancel a booking, click the three dots in the 'Action' column, and select 'Cancel'. Alternatively, cancel with the link on your voucher confirmation which is found just under the Terms and Conditions.
If you need to cancel a non-refundable rate please log into Roomex, and click 'Bookings' at the top of your platform. To cancel a booking, click the three dots in the 'Action' column, and select 'Cancel'. Alternatively, cancel with the link on your voucher confirmation which is found just under the Terms and Conditions. A member of our Customer Success team will confirm your request ASAP. The booking must be cancelled the day prior to arrival.
If you want to amend a refundable booking please click on the ‘I want to amend this booking’ button to make your request
Please note that all refundable terms are set directly by the accommodation provider, Roomex cannot facilitate a refund on non-refundable reservations.

Please be advised that our Priority Support team is experiencing an unprecedented volume of queries and are working as best they can to get to every query as soon as possible.

Login to your platform

23 March 2020

Travelodge to close restaurants

Travelodge has announced also to close their restaurants this morning effective retrospectively from 20 March.

'In line with the government instruction and our commitment to the health and safety of all our customers and hotel team members, we’ve had to temporarily close our restaurants and bars at 22:00 Friday 20th March until further notice.'

20 March 2020

To ensure the fastest support:

To ensure the fastest response from our support team, if you're looking to change the date or cancel a booking please add the RX Number and the departure date in the email subject line with the words Date change or Cancellation. For example,

RX982130 - 23/3/20 - Date change

Premier Inn to close restaurants

In response to government advice regarding social distancing, The Premier Inn has made the difficult decision to close all of their restaurants with effect from 21st March 2020 until further notice. However, their hotels currently remain open so your booking will not be affected and we will adjust the booking value accordingly.

19 March 2020

For all business travel during this time, please be advised to call the hotel in advance to ensure the hotel is fully operational. We are also in close contact with all of our suppliers and will continue to keep you updated.

18 March 2020

Over the last few weeks, both businesses and governments have come together to protect their employees and residents as the Coronavirus situation advances. Our hearts go out to all of our customers and their families that have been impacted by this virus - we’re all in this together.

For those that are still travelling, these times can be filled with uncertainty and fear. Like you - we’re constantly monitoring the situation and working with our customers to ensure that those who are travelling are safe. We’re here for you - no matter where you are, and no matter where this situation brings us.

We will be continuously updating this page as a source of information on the current COVID-19 outbreak. Whether you need it now or later, it could be worth bookmarking.

General Advice

As this situation develops on an hourly basis - it can be difficult to keep up. We are following the recommendations and guidance from the World Health Organization, (WHO) as well as the local governments of countries that customers are booking in.

Useful links:

Travel FAQ’s

How to stay safe while travelling:

According to the WHO, hand washing (with soap and water or an alcohol-based gel) and social distancing are the keys to stopping the spread of Coronavirus. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth - and stay at least a metre away from others. When staying in hotels, keep the air conditioning to a minimum.

We also recommend calling hotels in advance of check-in to ensure the hotel is fully operational.

What are hotels doing to keep guests safe?

Hotels, of course, are playing their part - and a large number of our accommodation providers are following these steps:

Along with our usual cleaning protocols, Hotels are carrying out regular deep cleaning.
Providing hand sanitizers.
Holding thorough briefings with their customer-facing teams to ensure they are informed, ready for unfolding scenarios and taking preventative measure to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Roomex Platform FAQ’s

Support Queries and Longer Wait Times

Our Priority Support team is experiencing an increase in the volume of queries. They are working as best they can to get to every query as soon as possible. Please note that our accommodation providers and suppliers are also experiencing a larger volume of queries, impacting the time it takes us to best serve you.

The response time is naturally slower, but we want to assure you that we have increased the number of staff in Support to manage these queries and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

If your trip is not within the next 7 days, please hold off contacting customer service so we can help those travelling immediately. We will get back to you as soon as possible after weighing the urgency.

RX982130 - 23/3/20 - Date change

Amending Bookings

If you are making a booking or changing the date of your reservation we recommend booking a refundable rate.

If you need to cancel a refundable booking, please log into Roomex, and click 'Bookings' at the top of your platform. To cancel a booking, click the three dots in the 'Action' column, and select 'Cancel'. Alternatively, cancel with the link on your voucher confirmation which is found just under the Terms and Conditions.
If you want to amend a refundable booking please rebook with the new details on your platform, then cancel the original booking free of charge.
Please note that all refundable terms are set directly by the accommodation provider, Roomex cannot facilitate a refund on non-refundable reservations.

Hotel updates

Premiere Inn to close restaurants from 21 March

Best practices

Focus on Duty of Care

If an employee has a problem while travelling, a lot of factors quickly come into play - from medical costs to repatriation. The first thing you’ll need to know is exactly where they are. Remember, in Roomex Analytics, you can quickly see where every employee is with our Duty of Care feature. You’ll find their contacts, location, and hotel, as well as any historical stays. Act fast, and stay calm - and know our customer care teams are also at the other end of the phone should you need us.

Remain flexible in the coming weeks

During these times more than ever, it’s important to read the terms and conditions of your bookings both on Roomex and on any other site that you use to book air and train travel. Sometimes the fine print can leave you without a refund or an alternative flight or train. As we’ve mentioned earlier this month, we’ve recently released hundreds of exclusive Roomex Rates into your platform. These rates are refundable and extremely flexible, with late check-ins and last-minute cancellations. Learn more about these exclusive Roomex Rates here.

Based on our tracking, we’ve seen the price of hotels dropping at the moment, so if you are willing to take the risk, you could also focus on organising trips later in the year. Also, always check your Roomex platform if the room your booking is refundable if you’re unsure the project will proceed.

Get in touch with our support team at:

In your platform - by clicking on the blue chat icon on bottom left of the screen
Email: priority@roomex.com
U.K.: +44 20 7183 7737
Ireland: +353 1 2966275
Germany: 0800-0003899

Tags:

Roomex News, Duty of Care, Travel Policy, Travel Safety

Post by Hannah Harrington
January 5, 2021

Hannah focuses on all things product and content marketing for Roomex. When she's not writing, find this Dublin transplant uncovering all that Ireland has to offer.

COVID-19 Updates From Roomex