{"id":9198,"date":"2020-09-16T17:15:39","date_gmt":"2020-09-16T16:15:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/?p=9198"},"modified":"2021-01-18T16:16:04","modified_gmt":"2021-01-18T16:16:04","slug":"dont-fear-hotels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/blog\/dont-fear-hotels\/","title":{"rendered":"Why you shouldn\u2019t fear the hospitality sector right now."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_heading-5cdacc073e1483003fc5b52647e19f88\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-5cdacc073e1483003fc5b52647e19f88{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-5cdacc073e1483003fc5b52647e19f88 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-av_heading-5cdacc073e1483003fc5b52647e19f88 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-av_heading-5cdacc073e1483003fc5b52647e19f88 av-special-heading-h1 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_image  avia-builder-el-first '><h1 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Why you shouldn\u2019t fear the hospitality sector right now.<\/h1><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-k2xdybux-3fd227802a3c3ad795ed7fba738b9cfd\">\n.avia-image-container.av-k2xdybux-3fd227802a3c3ad795ed7fba738b9cfd img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-k2xdybux-3fd227802a3c3ad795ed7fba738b9cfd .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-k2xdybux-3fd227802a3c3ad795ed7fba738b9cfd av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_textblock '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-9203 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-9203 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/173.jpg\" alt='suitcase with face masks' title=''  height=\"747\" width=\"1121\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/173.jpg 1121w, https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/173-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/173-1030x686.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/173-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/173-705x470.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1121px) 100vw, 1121px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-39j46m-e7528f10bf7a9a6d70731cc7c2eb5a35'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock av_inherit_color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h3>It\u2019s pointless in even trying to predict, at this stage, whether any or all of the country will be in Stage 2 or Stage 3 by the time you\u2019re reading this, but the point to remember is that for couples looking to tie the knot over the coming months, you\u2019ll probably be depending on a hotel as a venue.<\/h3>\n<h3>So, can you trust your venue to protect you as far as is possible on your special day?<\/h3>\n<h3>Well here\u2019s the thing \u2013 I\u2019m just back from a couple of days break in the West of Ireland, and I saw for myself what the hospitality sector are doing to keep us all safe.<\/h3>\n<p>I stayed in the Sligo Park Hotel in Sligo City, and I have to say that from the moment I arrived, I truly believed that I was in a safe setting.<\/p>\n<p>I was only two yards inside the revolving doors when I encountered a compulsory hand sanitising station, and used this before approaching the Reception staff, who were safely ensconced behind a plastic see-through partition.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the stay, I continued to be impressed by the lengths they went to, to keep all their residents safe.<\/p>\n<p>I had to book a time to hit the leisure centre and book a time in the restaurant for dinner.<\/p>\n<p>Every effort was made to ensure that the numbers in any particular setting of the hotel were kept to a reasonable and manageable number.<\/p>\n<p>There was hand sanitiser on every table in the restaurant and bar, and even getting a pint was a very safe experience.<\/p>\n<p>Superb waiting staff hovered around constantly, making sure that I didn\u2019t have to approach a communal bar to order my favourite tipple.<\/p>\n<p>I also had to wear a mask in communal areas of the hotel where I wasn\u2019t eating or drinking.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9201 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/6207.jpg\" alt=\"hotel manager checks staff temperature\" width=\"1152\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/6207.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/6207-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/6207-1030x687.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/6207-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/6207-705x470.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1152px) 100vw, 1152px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>So what\u2019s the point of all this, you might ask.<\/p>\n<p>Well simply this \u2013 I believe that if you booked a wedding reception in this venue or one of countless others throughout the country, you could expect to have the same attention to detail in place.<\/p>\n<p>One of the reasons for this, of course, is that the venues are protecting their own staff as well as protecting their guests.<\/p>\n<p>But you can take it as read that they\u2019re also working flat out to make sure that an outbreak is not started in their particular hotel, which would be devastating for their reputation and for their prospects of continuing to stay open.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m not saying for a moment that you can expect to have your wedding in a hotel and behave as usual.<\/p>\n<p>But what I<strong> am<\/strong> saying is that you can still celebrate your marriage in a joyful and happy environment, where the staff will make every effort to make sure that you and your fellow guests are very well cared for.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9205 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/3488.jpg\" alt=\"bride wearing protective mask\" width=\"1099\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/3488.jpg 1099w, https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/3488-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/3488-1030x687.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/3488-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/3488-705x470.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1099px) 100vw, 1099px\" \/>I have spoken to several couples who have gone ahead with their weddings \u2013 albeit in a pared back format \u2013 and they\u2019ve said the same thing.<\/p>\n<p>You can forget about having a couple of hundred of \u2018your closest friends\u2019 in attendance, but maybe this could be construed as a good thing, as you\u2019ll be forced to consider who are the people who really and truly matter to you.<\/p>\n<p>And remember, too, that if you\u2019re having a \u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"http:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/weddings\/\">wedding entertainer<\/a><\/span> as part of your big day, your favoured entertainer will go to exactly the same lengths to keep you safe and well.<\/p>\n<p>In my own case, I have <a href=\"http:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/virtual\/\">performed virtually<\/a>, and also performed in the flesh.<\/p>\n<p>For the personal appearances, I have totally reworked my act to make sure that I\u2019m not asking guests to touch anything that.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m touching, and also make sure that they don\u2019t need to be closer than two metres to get the full impact of the show.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m also very happy to perform outdoors, where the risks are even lower of spreading or contracting the virus.<\/p>\n<p>The bottom line is that while things are worrying right now, don\u2019t despair in terms of the prospect of having a day that you\u2019ll never, ever forget.<\/p>\n<p>And think about it \u2013 won\u2019t you have a fantastic tale to tell the grandchildren about marriage in the age of Covid?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-ka81djpc-ef4bfa9355c791fa2adbf351a3d0d2ce\">\n.flex_column.av-ka81djpc-ef4bfa9355c791fa2adbf351a3d0d2ce{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:20px 20px 20px 20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-ka81djpc-ef4bfa9355c791fa2adbf351a3d0d2ce av_one_full  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-last  first flex_column_div column-top-margin'     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-kahznbg1-317b7f0418c4a61bf6a4aa1bd985a044'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><span style=\"color: #ff9900;\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-2mz90t-ca7b88bc2f132a7e24eb17f9ac538dc3\">\n.av_font_icon.av-2mz90t-ca7b88bc2f132a7e24eb17f9ac538dc3 .av-icon-char{\nfont-size:30px;\nline-height:30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<span  class='av_font_icon av-2mz90t-ca7b88bc2f132a7e24eb17f9ac538dc3 avia_animate_when_visible av-icon-style- avia-icon-pos-left av-no-color avia-icon-animate'><a href='http:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/blog\/'  class='av-icon-char' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue830' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' ><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"http:\/\/shaneblack.ie\/blog\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Back to blog.<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve booked a hotel for your wedding \u2013 or are planning to do so shortly \u2013 here\u2019s a personal experience of the extraordinary lengths they\u2019re going to in the fight against Covid. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9200,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Why you shouldn\u2019t fear the hospitality 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