Ensuring we are COVID-19 – Secure
In order to protect our guests and minimise risks, we want to assure everyone that a very high standard of care is offered throughout the duration of their stay.
Our Reassurance to guests……
COVID-19 Risk Assessment – A robust and stringent COVID-19 risk assessment for Guiting Guest House has been completed to mitigate risks and ensure we are as COVID-19 safe as we can be possibly be.
Cleaning Standards – We have put in place strict measures to ensure our cleaning standards have been escalated to an exceptionally high standard including deep cleaning of rooms between each occupancy, and regular disinfecting of high hand touch areas such as door handles, bannisters, TV remotes, kettles, clothes hangers etc. We have drafted a detailed daily cleaning plan, that will be signed off daily by our cleaner. This includes using strong, virus killing disinfectant (SurSol disinfectant – kills 99.9% of bacteria. A broad spectrum Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Virus surface spray) throughout the property on both hard and soft furniture.
We currently only employ one cleaner who works at the guest house. If she becomes unwell, or has any signs/symptoms of COVID-19, rooms will then be cleaned by ourselves rather than recruiting other staff in to the guest house.
Hand Sanitiser is provided to all guests, and can also be found in each individual guest bedroom. We also have a hand sanitiser located in the main entrance hall. The Hand Sanitisers we have chosen to use are from a local Gin Distillery in Cheltenham (Sibling Gin Distillery) – this is a luxury, moisturising, beautifully scented, hand sanitiser with 70% alcohol contained in recyclable glass bottles with pump tops. Anti-bacterial liquid soaps are also available to use in each guest room.
Reassurance regards our washing standards – All towels, bedding, and guest bathrobes are washed onsite by ourselves at 60 Degrees, and are tumble dried using a high heat setting.
Guest choice of rooms – Your health and safety are of paramount importance to us. To minimise risks for both guests and staff, we have chosen to currently only open 4 of our 5 rooms for guests– 2 private outside Garden Rooms which are accessed completely separate from the main guest house, and two guest room within the main guest house. This is to ensure guests have the reassurance of minimal contact with one another and staff during their stay, reducing any potential risks of close social contact with others.
Minimum number of nights – We are currently trialling/encouraging a minimum booking of 2-night stays or more, to minimise the possible risks associated with the constant arrival of different guests staying less than 24 hours at the guest house.
Your Room – Once you’re checked in, your room is just for you. We will be offering a minimal daily room tidy such as emptying bins, replacing toilet rolls, removal of breakfast trays etc – but if guests feel they do not want this than this can be discussed further with guests when they check-in – we are happy to work with guests around their individual needs in order to mitigate risks. If we or our cleaner need to enter your room, we will be wearing appropriate PPE such as face masks and gloves.
Strict Check–In times – given the additional time now needed to ensure all guest rooms are deep cleaned to a stringent standard, we kindly request that guests respect this and now understand that the earliest time to check-in is not until 4pm. If you arrive earlier than the check-in time, there are a few lovely places to visit in the village that we recommend where you can get a drink/something to eat. The Old Post Office is a delightful Tearoom serving light snacks, tea, coffee etc as well as some alcoholic beverage, plus has a wonderful antique shop upstairs to browse. There are also 2 great pubs in the village – The Hollow Bottom (open daily) and The Farmers Arms open daily 11.30-2.30pm & 6.30pm-9.30pm for food – closes at 11pm (except currently Mondays and Tuesdays when closed).
Breakfast – Due to current social distancing measures in place guests are offered a choice of a variety of delicious cooked breakfasts which are currently offered to be served in their rooms, (except room 3 Luxury Room) at a time to suit them (breakfast is served between 8am-9.30am). We request that breakfasts are pre-ordered the night before, by completing a breakfast menu found in your room. Dining tables have been placed in each room except one, with seating for two people. If guests are not happy having breakfast within their room, we do have a main Breakfast Room which can accommodate up to four guests from the same group– please advise us upon booking though if you wish to eat in the main Breakfast Room. We have a special Air Purifier system in this room which kill 99% of all known viruses and bacteria.
Food Preparation and Hygiene – Lou carries out all the food preparation here and has a Level 2 Health and Hygiene Certificate. We also hold a 5 out of 5 food hygiene rating.
Payment – We would prefer for the safety of our guests and our staff to take payment via the Online Travel Agent (such as Booking.com, Expedia or Eviivo etc) you may have booked through. Alternatively, you may book directly with us over the phone (where we offer a 10% discount for direct bookings) and pay using any major credit or debit card.
In the event of any COVID-19 Outbreaks– Any COVID-19 outbreak is being supported by NHS Test and Trace. As guests choosing to stay with us, we insist that you should assist this service by completing the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) form which you will find in your room upon arrival. This ensures we will be able assist NHS Test and Trace with requests for that data if needed.
Your responsibilities:
Most importantly – if you feel ill in 7 days before you arrive, you must let us know immediately. We will reschedule your stay or offer you a full refund for when you are feeling better.If you feel ill during your stay with us, you must contact us immediately. We can then ensure you are looked after and other guests and staff are kept safe.In the event of any guest displaying Coronavirus during their stay with us, they will be asked to return to their home address immediately to self-isolate for the appropriate days as specified by the government (and take all appropriate health measures). Other guests staying with us at this time, will be informed of this situation and given the option to either return home if they wish, with a full refund made to them of any nights they are no longer staying, or to continues with their stay (subject to the level of any risk involved – this will be assessed at that time). The room in which the unwell guest has been staying will be closed off for a minimum of three nights, and be given a thorough deep clean throughout.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
High temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
New, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
Most people with coronavirus have at least 1 of these symptoms.
Social Distancing –
Guests will be encouraged to practice distancing of at least 2 meters/6 feet from individuals and groups of people they are not traveling with.
We are available to answer any questions you may have regarding hygiene and safety.
Lounge Area – Our guesthouse does not have a communal guest lounge, but outside we have a beautiful quintessential English garden with seating, where during the summer months guests can safely sit outside and relax, whilst easily maintaining social distancing measures.
Walking from the village – From our doorstep we have some wonderful scenic walks though beautiful peaceful English countryside (please ask us when you arrive and we can suggest many), yet we are just a short drive away are the many tourist villages that the Cotswolds are famous for.
On a final note -please do ask us if you have any specific requirements that will help you stay safe for the duration of your stay with us, or if you have any concerns. Remember, these are challenging times for all of us but if you have any suggestions that may enhance future guests’ comfort, safety etc then please do not hesitate to share these with us – we always appreciate any feedback, and continually strive to improve the standards we have.
Graham and Lou
Guiting Guest House