Along with the rest of the industry, airport lounge services have taken a hit during the Covid-19 pandemic. With this in mind, lounge operator Plaza Premium Group recently conducted a survey titled ‘What’s Next in Airport Hospitality? gathering insights from over 200 travel industry partners on the needs of travelers.
The group said the survey findings reinforce the idea that travelers’ needs and behaviors have shifted, with hygiene and safety measures now a top priority. As part of its response to the ‘new normal’ the group has launched its own ‘We Care for Your Wellbeing’ program to introduce a series of health and safety measures. These include body temperature checks, frequent sanitization of all surfaces, provision of hand sanitizers at different areas, encouraging social distancing and having a tailored, minimalist approach to food options to minimize human contact. Furthermore, Wellbeing Ambassadors will be employed to ensure guests feel comfortable.
The company has started to reopen a number of its lounges worldwide, serving key airlines such as American Airlines, Etihad and BA, from locations in the Middle East and Asia. It said that to further strengthen safety and hygiene protocols, its Plaza Premium Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport, where Plaza Premium Group headquarters is located, has reopened after a renovation to reconfigure zoning and introduce a smart self-ordering system for travelers to choose made-to-order dishes.
“We are committed to continuously enhancing our lounges, which have become an integrated component of a journey especially during and post-pandemic as travelers seek a safe and worry-free environment to relax and enjoy prior to boarding,” explained Song Hoi-see, CEO of Plaza Group. “Guests’ and our staff’s health and well-being is of utmost importance to us.”
