May 25, 2020 · Team HG
MWith just one week to go until the partial reopening of the hospitality industry, these are tense times for hospitality entrepreneurs, staff, and their guests. Terraces are being rebuilt, businesses reorganized, and systems started up, all in accordance with the new 1.5-meter guidelines. Much has changed for the hospitality industry in Groningen over the past few months, and the question is how guests will experience this starting Monday, June 1st.
Hospitality businesses are allowed to open both indoors and outdoors from 12 noon on June 1st, although special rules apply. Ensure that everyone can maintain a distance of 1.5 meters from one another. This applies both inside and outside the establishment and applies to employees, guests, as well as takeaways, delivery drivers, and suppliers. From June 1st to July 1st, 2020, a maximum of 30 guests are allowed inside per hospitality establishment. On terraces, the number of visitors is unrestricted within the number of available seats.
At a (terrace) table, a maximum of 2 people or a single household consisting of more than two people may sit within 1.5 meters of each other, and at the bar, a maximum of 2 people or a single household consisting of more than two people may sit within 1.5 meters of each other. Additionally, you may only sit on a terrace and not stand. Upon entry to a hospitality establishment or terrace, a brief screening interview takes place before guests are allowed inside or may take a seat on a terrace, and after every visit, everything must be cleaned extra thoroughly for the next guests.
The coronavirus regulations for the hospitality industry naturally require a great deal of effort and creativity from entrepreneurs towards their guests. The hospitality landscape is changing drastically, and the time for spontaneous visits seems to be over for now. Reservations are becoming the ‘new normal’, for cafes as well. In addition, most restaurants are introducing time slots for dining, something that was already common practice at ‘all you can eat’ concepts.
After 2.5 months of closure, the doors are slowly opening again, and everyone is yearning for a new start.
