Quarantine CSR: Sheraton GM on Volunteering the Hotel as a Lockdown Facility
As part of our facebook series GT LIVE INTERVIEWS, we had a chat with Fred Smits, General Manager of the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace, one of the 60 plus hotels throughout Georgia which kindly opened its otherwise tourist-bare rooms to the healthcare service as quarantine facilities. There are around 5000 people in 14-day quarantine in Georgia right now, and 180 of those are being hosted by Sheraton Tbilisi. Last Friday, the Sheraton team treated these guests to a free concert in the Sheraton Open Space Yard, featuring singer Elene Kalandaze, and served them a special meal made by Top Master Chef Guram Baghdoshvili.
What first inspired Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace to volunteer its space and services to the state for quarantine purposes?
Since opening the hotel in 1991, we have never closed our doors; except when we did the renovation a few years ago. During any crisis, our hotel was always a safe haven in the city. During this crisis too, we were determined to not close our doors, to remain open for our guests. And now, when the country needed assistance in a time of crisis, we were all set in terms of our mindset and facilities to provide accommodation for persons in need.
How were the staff trained and how are they coping with the change of circumstance?
From the very onset of the coronavirus crisis, we were training our staff to follow all official recommendations, including personal hygiene and wearing masks. The company also ensured their local and online training. The Ministry of Health provided them with training too. As to how they're coping- those here are working voluntarily. They are very motivated to help!
What is it like to be quarantined in Sheraton?
When you arrive at the hotel, you enter your room and the door is closed for 14 days. Your temperature is measured three times a day, and meals are delivered three times a day in disposable boxes and plastic bags. Thus, it’s a very different experience from what you would normally get during a stay at a five-star hotel.
However, we still try to make the guests’ stay a pleasure. If someone has a birthday, we make them a birthday cake. Children get toys…There are still plenty of things you can do to entertain people in quarantine. We try our best to bring a little bit of joy to the everyday lives of our guests.
Tell us about the special event you planned for quarantined "guests" last week.
In order to amuse our guests, we try to fill every day with something. The first event we did was cooking with Guram. He’s a very passionate chef, and was very well received by the guests. We also do yoga classes, and quizzes where people win prizes. Elene was also very passionate about singing for our guests. We were excited about the event, and it was challenging to move the equipment around the hotel so that people on each side would all hear the performance from their balconies.
The best compliment for us was a gentleman who was dancing on the balcony and drew a big heart on the window; he was one of the many happy guests who were delighted with the performance of a renowned local artist. Overall, I think Elene’s performance was one of the things our guests will remember long after their quarantine experience with us.
When do you see Sheraton getting back to "business as usual"? How will it do so?
It’s difficult to say. In Georgia, we have six phases of gradually relaxing the restrictions. The hotel will be officially empty as of May 25. Then we’ll conduct disinfection works throughout the building.
When do we expect our first guests after this? We’ll open the terrace on June 8; if we’re allowed to open earlier, we’ll do so. Inside restaurant facilities will probably be open by June 23. Rooms- in the first week of July.
Nobody knows exactly what awaits us, so people are hesitant to book their stays now. However, we do see requests coming in for September, October, November.
It’s all very tentative and slow. However, if you look at China, the majority of the hotels that were closed a few months ago are operating now.
Business will surely be back, but very, very slowly.
What do you foresee for the future of the country, and HoReCa sector, in terms of post-COVID recovery?
In Georgia, the tourism sector was flourishing before the pandemic. That’s not gone; it’s not that suddenly that the country is not attractive anymore. It’s more about how the worldwide tourism industry will regain its strength; how the restrictions from country to country will pull back; this will take time. We shouldn’t expect a boom of tourists this summer, but we will see it coming back slowly.
The great thing about Georgia is that it has a very low number of infected persons compared to other countries around the world; this I think is due to the effective measures taken by the government. I also think this is a good message for future tourists- that Georgia is a country that takes things seriously and can take care of its citizens. I think the success in tackling the coronavirus pandemic is going to be a big, big help for the country’s future.
Do you think there is anything else that could be done to get the economy back on track faster?
I know there is a lot of interest from abroad concerning Georgia as a country to invest in. It’s an attractive country for many foreign companies due to a myriad of factors. I do think that once the global restrictions are lifted, Georgia will attract many investors. The main thing is to stay positive; if we fail to do so, we won’t get anywhere.
What’s your biggest take-away from your #StayHome time?
I think there are a lot of take-aways from this period. How our staff has approached the situation has been one of the greatest take-aways for me. They have stood up and done whatever had to be done with sincerity and passion. And they did this totally voluntarily.
Transcribed by Elene Dzebisashvili
GT LIVE INTERVIEWS is a weekly series of live interviews hosted by our Editor-in-Chief Katie Ruth Davies on the @GeorgiaToday facebook page, where we meet ambassadors, celebrities and businesspersons to discuss the latest hot topics and hot projects.