Hotel and Team Update
This far into the lockdown and we thought we’d update you on the team and what’s happening at The Carlton Hotel. The truth, of course is that everything feels very different to normal! Some of our team are furloughed since we shut our doors around the 23rd March. Sadly, we haven’t been able to furlough all our casual team members (due to cash flow), but we have furloughed all our permanent contract team and anyone else that has been with us for over a year.
Michael calls each team member on a Monday just to check in with them. Without exception, all team members are keen to get back to business and look after our customers in a safe and efficient way.
We know that one or two of our team pass by the hotel* and may dip into our superfast wi-fi. also allowing them to stay in touch online with their family and friends.
*as part of their daily exercise routine, and for clarity social distancing is observed!
We have started our chilled summer deli delivery meals, which sees the kitchen in use for just one day and then we can pack, wrap and despatch the meals on subsequent days. Feedback has been positive and it’s certainly nice to be doing a little something foodwise.
And there’s a fair amount of work going into gardening the grounds, painting the building and general tidy up. The same can be said for our website which is getting a good going over (not the most IT technical term I know) in readiness for the future.
We are also working on our re-opening plans. These are all focussed on what steps the business will take in order to safely operate. Paramount is the safety of our team and guests. So we’re thinking about reduced occupancy levels, in room catering for hotel guests, protection for the team, sanitising stations and lots more.
Clearly, we are hoping this emergency resolves itself soon, and then the new normal can begin. But not until it’s safe to do so.
Wishing you all the best, stay safe, stay home.
Here’s a few snaps of the ladies taken last year. They are raising a glass to the VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations this Friday.
Photographed staff are in order: Dawn Walker | Clare Foreman | Dawn Emery
