Mini-bars and breakfast buffets will be a thing of the past when hotels begin to reopen around Ireland at the end of the month.

Fáilte Ireland this morning published its guidelines for hotels, restaurants and tourism attractions preparing to reopen around the country.

Mini-bars will be locked up and room service will be delivered no further than the doorway, while saunas and steam rooms will be banned.

Hotels will be allowed to open their swimming pools – but access will be limited and they must be pressure washed and disinfected every night.

Meanwhile, buffets will be banned and the level of seating in bars and restaurants will be reduced.

Sharing plates will no longer be allowed and there can be no shared items on any table – with butter dishes and salt and paper shakers only available on request.

Staff members must also wash their hands before serving and after clearing each table.

The Derrynane coastline on the Ring of Kerry on the Wild Atlantic Way, 21-02-2018. Image: Trish Punch/Design Pics via ZUMA Wire

CEO of the Irish Hotel Federation Tim Fenn is hopeful people will consider a 'staycation' this year – despite the new measures in place.

“When they walk into a hotel, they will notice things like the further spacing of furniture in the reception area and in the common area,” he said. “Furniture will be spaced to facilitate physical social distancing.

“Breakfast buffets, in terms of the way buffets are managed, will have to change very significantly.”

Safety

He said the health and safety of staff and guests remains the top priority for Ireland’s hotels.

“Hotels have already begun to adapt their services and facilities in anticipation of reopening under COVID-19 guidelines and the publication of these standards gives them further clarity on what they must do, while providing important reassurance for guests,” he said.

“Ireland’s hotels have a well-earned reputation globally for their high service standards and we will be applying that same commitment to the implementation of these new standards.”

One-metre

The Failte Ireland research also found that reducing the two-metre rule to one-metre would allow more businesses to reopen and save 80,000 jobs.

It comes after the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) said nine-in-ten restaurants will not reopen if the rule is not reduced.

Business groups IBEC and ISME have also called for the guideline to be updated.

Reopening

Fáilte Ireland CEO Paul Kelly said research suggests people are still reluctant to travel with the industry due to reopen on July 29^th.

“We are seeing a big increase in traffic on the websites,” he said.

“The bookings are beginning to take off a people recognise that maybe there is a different world out there now.

“International travel is not as attractive and there is a great option in the hotel and guesthouse market.”

Fáilte Ireland said the new guidelines will be regularly updated in line with public health advice.