Deutsche Hospitality is taking its comprehensive hygiene concept to a new level in order to allow safe travel in coronavirus-affected times. Guest registration using the Luca app will be introduced, and special nano coatings will be applied to surfaces. The hotel group is also planing to vaccinate all its staff as quickly as possible in order to minimise risk. "The health and safety of our guests and employees are our number one priority at all times," stated Marcus Bernhardt, CEO of Deutsche Hospitality. "We are seeking to deliver our performance commitments, even during the coronavirus crisis. Our aim is to offer an outstanding hospitality experience. For this reason, we have had a holistic safety concept in place since the onset of the pandemic. This is scrutinised and further improved on an ongoing basis." And Mr. Bernhardt went on: "We are ready to welcome all our guests back at last."

The Luca app – convenient, anonymous and secure

The Luca app will be used in numerous Deutsche Hospitality hotels in Germany in future. Luca facilitates the digital entry of contact details and permits health authorities to carry out a tracing process. This backtracking of contacts enables chains of infection to be interrupted rapidly. Guests visiting hotels and restaurants use their smart phones to check in and check out via a single click. Their visit is documented anonymously, because data is uploaded to the Luca app system in encrypted form and can only be subsequently decoded by the relevant local health authorities. The hotel or restaurant provides an individual QR code via which guests can register their presence. There is no need for the app to be installed for this check-in procedure to take place. The QR code can simply be scanned, and guests are then directed to a web interface where they enter their own details.

Nano coatings for "touch points" that are in frequent use

A group-wide project to apply special nano coatings to common "touch points" is expected to be rolled out during the course of May. These include surfaces such as the Front Office counter, door handles, lift buttons, coffee machines, tables and chairs. The anti-microbial nano coating eliminates viruses and bacteria and will also boost Deutsche Hospitality's hygiene standards yet further.

Staff vaccination programme

Deutsche Hospitality will also offer vaccinations to its employees. Staff will be able to receive their jabs once works doctors are able to take part in vaccinations and as soon as vaccines are available. The company has registered for this scheme and has already reserved the doses which will be needed. The vaccinations themselves will be carried out by a team of company physicians.

In March, Deutsche Hospitality became the first major hotel company in Germany to instigate free rapid testing for all its front-line staff. The tests used are certified by the Paul Ehrlich Institute and may also be purchased by guests staying at the hotels. The Luca app, the nano coatings and the staff vaccination scheme all provide a valuable enhancement to the existing safety concept, which already encompasses the very highest hygiene standards and protective measures for guests and staff alike.

About H World International

H World International combines the strengths of seasoned brands with international hotel expertise. The company is represented in Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa, as well as in the Asia-Pacific region, and is advancing expansion with a balanced blend of lease, management, and franchise hotels. Nine unique brands are united under the umbrella of H Rewards – the consumer-focused and simple booking platform and unique loyalty program with more than 218 million members worldwide. H World International is part of H World, one of the world's largest and fastest growing hotel groups. Further information is available at int.hworld.com.

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