The Accommodation Association highlights the important role hotels play in quarantine program

Peak industry body, the Accommodation Association has highlighted the important frontline role of hotels and hotel teams which voluntarily support returning Australians through the Hotel Quarantine Program and has called for greater recognition.

The call follows confirmation that the Federal Government will fund construction of a 500-bed purpose-built quarantine hub in Victoria.  

In a statement released, the Accommodation Association advises “when COVID-19 measures were implemented in March 2020, Australia’s hotel operators in every state and territory immediately stepped up and handed over their properties in capital cities for use as isolation properties. More than 220,000 people have successfully returned to Australia through hotel quarantine thanks to the availability of these rooms. Hotel networks have and will continue to support the program and Australians needing to isolate.”  

Accommodation Association CEO Dean Long notes “Australia and Australians owe a great deal to those hotels and teams who stepped up from Day One in March 2020 to hand over their properties in sup-port of the mandated quarantine program. Australia’s hotels have continued to support the program sometimes at great brand damage and this support has meant Australians have been able to get back home.

 “The proposed purpose-built quarantine hub will provide a solution for those returning from high COVID-risk environments but the reality is that we will still need hotels to play a role given the volume of travellers involved. Government and community recognition of the significant contribution that our hotels and our people have made during COVID is important.”

The Accommodation Association represents over 80% of all known accommodation providers from small regional parks, caravan parks, serviced apartments and resorts through to the largest hotel groups in the world including Accor, Hilton, Wyndam Destinations and IHG.

Image: Hilton Sydney was one of the 31 hotels used by the government to quarantine arrivals.