Volunteer Initiative Rooms Against Covid Mobilizes Properties to Support Relocated Healthcare Professionals
With Covid-19 on the rise in Europe, tech startups and lodging associations have joined forces to launch the non-profit Rooms Against Covid initiative. The team of over 3000 volunteers from across multiple companies have mobilized properties to support relocated healthcare professionals with complimentary accommodation.
"While many have the privilege to self-isolate from COVID-19, healthcare professionals continue to put their lives on the line to protect the health of the general population worldwide," said Pedro Colaco, CEO at Guestcentric Systems, partnering company in the project.
"The increased risk of catching COVID-19 means that thousands of healthcare professionals are focused on protecting their families from exposure. The increased demand on healthcare services combined with extended periods of separation from loved ones can make an already stressful situation even more challenging," he continued.
"The truth is that we cannot stop COVID-19 if we don't look after our healthcare professionals who are in the front line fighting the virus, first". added Tiago Araujo, Co-Founder of HiJiffy, partnering company in the initiative.
"The goal of Rooms Against Covid is to support healthcare professionals with convenient access to accommodation during this pandemic. Thus, alleviating the burden of them having to share accommodation with families and friends and risk exposing their loved ones to COVID-19," he added.
"Demand is high, as is to be expected, and we have already received high volumes of reservations within hours of launching the platform. Therefore we need more properties to open their doors," Colaco added. "We can only accept hotels licensed apartments due to insurance and liability issues. We will need full hotels for this use, as we cannot risk cross-contamination from healthcare professionals and guests."
"We are starting in Portugal where our largest team sits. Our goal is to expand to other countries quickly, as we see that this is a global issue."
If you are a licensed property owner that would like to participate in the project or a travel industry professional that wants to help launch this project in your country please, please visit our website here.
About Rooms Against Covid
The Rooms Against Covid partnership is central to the wider TechForCovid19 initiative, launched by 120 different tech startups and companies across Portugal in less than 48 hours. The team of over 3,000 volunteers has mobilized under one common goal: to unite in the development of technological solutions that help the population to overcome the challenge of COVID-19. Find out more about how to get involved here.
About GuestCentric
GuestCentric is a leading provider of cloud-based digital marketing software and services that help extraordinary hoteliers promote their brand, drive direct bookings and connect with customers on all digital platforms. GuestCentric's all-in-one platform provides hotels with the only unified solution for managing their guests' online journey: award-winning, high impact websites; an integrated, easy-to-use booking engine; social media marketing and publishing tools; a GDS chain code and a channel manager to offer rooms on Amadeus, Booking.com, Expedia, Galileo, Google, Sabre, TripAdvisor and hundreds of other channels. GuestCentric is a proud provider of solutions that maximize direct bookings to hotel groups and independent hotels from collections such as Design Hotels, Great Hotels of the World, Leading Hotels of the World, Relais & Chateaux, Small Luxury Hotels and Small Danish Hotels. GuestCentric is featured on Skift Travel Tech 250, a list of the top 250 travel tech companies shaping the modern-day travel experience.
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