This is how hotels across Canada are reopening during COVID-19
Hotels across Canada are starting to welcome guests once again, but not without implementing strict new cleaning protocols and physical distancing measures.
Many hotels are sharing the changes they’re making to reassure potential guests who want to spend a night away from home in the near future.
This is how some of the most luxurious accommodations across Canada are reopening and when you can visit.
Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland & Labrador
The Fogo Island Inn is now operating at a reduced occupancy level to manage the number of guests and room bookings are staggered whenever possible to minimize back-to-back stays. Those looking to book a stay will have to fill out a health questionnaire beforehand.
Check-in will also look a lot different. It will now take place in the privacy of the guests' room. A hotel employee will meet you upon arrival and take you to your room where the registration card and sanitized room keys will be found.
As of right now, the gym and sauna remain closed. These facilities will be by appointment only and cleaned after each use once the government guidelines allow for reopening.
When you can visit
As the province moves into Stage 2 of its phased reopening plan, the ban on non-essential visitors, which was in effect since May, has been lifted. Visitors from anywhere in Canada can now enter, if they adhere to a 14-day self-isolation upon arrival.
Residents of other Atlantic Canada provinces can travel to Newfoundland without self-isolating provided they haven’t travelled outside Atlantic Canada in the past two weeks.
Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Ontario
Fairmont Hotels across Canada, including Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Château Frontenac in Quebec City and Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, are following the same strict set of guidelines.
At this historical hotel, expect to see Plexiglas at the front desk and a number of hand sanitation stations around the lobby and public spaces. "Wellness kits" with masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, will also be gifted to guests in each room.
Guests may have to get a temperature check upon check-in. Checkout, on the other hand, will be entirely contactless and keys may be left in the room or in the checkout box in the lobby. The room will be left vacant for a 48-hour buffer period, followed by a deep clean.
When you can visit
There isn't currently a ban on visitors in Ontario, though non-essential travel is still discouraged. Visitors also don’t have to self-isolate upon entering.
Le Germain Hotel, Quebec
Germain Hotels is another five-star chain that has recently released its new health and safety protocols. Those who visit the Montreal location will notice a few changes, including contactless arrival and departure, protective screens at the reception desks, and hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the hotel.
All guest rooms are left vacant for the recommended period before being cleaned and reassigned to another guest. To assure the room is not contaminated during your stay, you'll be the only individual who will enter.
Reservations can now also be cancelled penalty-free until 4 p.m. on the day you’re scheduled to arrive.
When you can visit
There isn't currently a ban on visitors from other provinces in Canada who want to visit Quebec, though non-essential travel is still discouraged. Visitors also aren't required to self-isolate upon entering.
Trout Point Lodge, Nova Scotia
Guests will be screened and their temperatures will be checked upon arrival to this wilderness Lodge. Room seals will be placed on the suite doors to indicate that it hasn't been accessed after the disinfecting and cleaning. And plenty of hand sanitizing stations will be placed throughout the Lodge in easily accessible places.
Though valet service, massage and spa services and culinary classes will be temporarily suspended, the Lodge is expanding its self-guided outdoor activities, such as hiking, canoeing and kayaking. All experiences will be limited to a maximum of four guests at a time and all resort facilities, including the wood-fired hot tub, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards, will be disinfected after each use.
Guests will also now be able to cancel their reservation up to 24 hours before arrival without having to pay a cancellation fee.
When you can visit
Part of the Atlantic travel bubble, residents of other Atlantic Canada provinces can travel to Nova Scotia, without self-isolating, provided they haven’t travelled outside Atlantic Canada in the past two weeks.
Visitors from outside of Atlantic Canada will be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival, with the exception of travellers who have already done so in another province in Atlantic Canada.
Emerald Lake Lodge, British Columbia
Emerald Lake Lodge has also now reopened at a limited capacity and with some new measures in place. Protective screens have been installed at the front desk and strict cleaning and disinfecting protocols will be followed to clean guests’ rooms when occupied, upon departure and prior to guest arrival.
The Lodge facilities, such as the hot tub, fitness studio, game room and Cilantro Café, will remain closed for the time being until further notice.
All current and new reservations through June 30 can also now be cancelled without penalty up to 24 hours in advance of arrival.
When you can visit
There isn't currently a ban on visitors in British Columbia, though non-essential travel is still discouraged. Visitors also don’t have to self-isolate upon entering.
If you are travelling to British Columbia from another province or territory within Canada you're expected to follow the same travel guidelines as everyone else in the province and travel respectfully.
The Rimrock Resort Hotel, Alberta
Every suite at the Rimrock Resort is cleaned with an electrostatic spray between each stay and guestroom keys are sanitized between each use. There are also protective screens at the front desk and multiple accessible hand sanitization stations throughout the Resort.
Checkout will be entirely contactless, done via email, text, phone or television and room keys may be left in the room or in the checkout box in the lobby.
The fitness studio, spa, pool and hotel restaurant are now open, though both the pool and restaurant are operating at limited capacity. Valet service, change rooms, sauna, steam room and hot tub will remain temporarily unavailable phase three of the re-opening launch.
The hotel has also refined its cancellation policy and will now allow changes or cancellation up to 72 hours in advance of arrival without penalty.
When you can visit
There’s no travel ban or mandatory self-isolation rule in place for those travelling from another province in Canada to Alberta, though non-essential travel is discouraged until stage three of the province's economic relaunch.
Fairholm Boutique Inn, Prince Edward Island
This Boutique Inn in downtown Charlottetown just started welcoming guests back, with a few precautionary measures in place. All guest rooms will have fewer amenities, enhanced cleaning services and in-room sanitizers.
Guest contact with reception will be limited to check-ins and the Inn asks that guests call the front desk with their questions to limit traffic and contact between guests and employees. Every room will also remain vacant for at least 24 hours prior to a new check-in.
The outdoor fire pit, lounge, pergola and garden spaces are open for guest use only, though the lobby spaces and espresso machines are suspended until further notice.
When you can visit
PEI has banned out-of-province travellers, but will now allow certain non-essential travel into the province from those who have received approval. The province requires visitors from outside of Atlantic Canada to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival.
Those from one of the four Atlantic Canada provinces can travel to PEI without self-isolating, provided they haven't travelled outside Atlantic Canada in the past two weeks.
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