Hotels need to protect their owner's investment and cash flows and, at the same time, safeguard the team from the virus and ensure they are prepared, supported and trained effectively to work in a new environment as hospitality experts.

All management teams need to establish an action plan to ensure the safe opening of the hotel and make sufficient resources available to ensure that the plan, once developed, can be implemented effectively and quickly.

The Re-Opening Hotel Plan is a workstream tool that should be used in conjunction with local and national health authority guidance and other relevant stakeholders. It has been designed as a fluid working document that can and must be updated as circumstances change and tailored to the individual needs of the Hotel as the macro environment changes and develops. The implementation of this action plan and the effectiveness of the implementation should be frequently reviewed and revised if required.

Hotel management techniques have to change. There's going to be a new normal, a 'revised' hotel etiquette where hotel teams will adopt a new method and measure of operational practice and efficiency to protect their own heath and the health of their team colleagues and guests alike.

Communication between the above-unit team, hotel executive team and hotel associates is now more critical than ever as we all navigate this new-look operation.

Michels & Taylor is one of Europe's leading hotel management, advisory and asset management businesses. Run by Sir David Michels and Hugh Taylor OBE, the company supports hotel owners, investors and lenders in enhancing value from their assets and is currently involved in around 100 hotels across Europe, including 25 hotels which it operates for its clients under full management contracts.