Hotels, Airbnb and guesthouses re-open to help our COVID-19 key workers

In every challenging situation, there is a glimmer of kindness and compassion. With many hotels, guesthouses and holiday homes forced to close amidst the travel bans and lockdown, some have re-opened their doors to help stop the spread of Coronavirus.

As millions of people in the UK and across the globe stay at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, those working on the front line of the NHS continue to care for those in need and put their own health at risk. For many, they are having to isolate away from their own families to ensure they can keep working – a challenging task when you’re all in one house.

This is where the currently redundant hotel and holiday home sector has come into its own, with many voluntarily opening their doors to NHS staff and other key workers to provide a place from them to stay and isolate during these remarkable times.

It’s not just happening in the UK. Airbnb is trailing “Airbnb for Doctors and Nurses” in Italy, where the company will pay for up to two-months of accommodation, and associated fees, to provide suitable housing for medical staff needing to isolate from their own families or housemates.

The initiative started here in the UK with footballers-come-hoteliers Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, who re-opened their Manchester hotels to offer free rooms to NHS staff. Many have followed suit, including Brighton’s iconic seafront Grand Hotel where many members of staff are working voluntarily.

Not every hotel and guesthouse owner is going to be able to do this, nor should they. However, in these uncertain and challenging times, it’s good to see some positive, heart-warming news.

31st March 2020