Meliá Hotels International is training staff on how to be Covid-secure as the Spanish hotel group reopens its properties around the world.

Meliá Hotels International has set up an online training course that all staff members will need to undertake as its hotels reopen. We find out more.

Meliá readies staff for hotel reopenings

As coronavirus restrictions begin to ease in many parts of the world, hotel groups know how important it will be for clients to feel safe and secure while staying at their properties. Many are pioneering innovative strategies, policies and procedures to ensure a smooth transition out of lockdowns; Meliá, for example, has introduced a mandatory training programme for the employees of hotels that are reopening, using its eMeliá e-learning platform.

More than 15,000 staff will be expected to complete the course, which brings them up to speed on what new measures are required following the emergence of Covid19.

Emotional wellbeing training for employees

The programme will also acknowledge the stresses and strains that the pandemic may put on staff themselves, with a section focused on the emotional wellbeing of employees.

Gabriel Cánaves, chief human resources officer at Meliá Hotels International, said: “For more than six decades, the talent and commitment of our team has been our most important asset and the thing that has made all the difference for us as a company. We are now preparing to make sure we come back even stronger than before and, once again, we are positive that it will be our team members who will ensure we have a successful journey along the path towards the new normal.”

What will eMeliá’s training programme entail?

The online training programme has been certified by Bureau Veritas, an independent certification agency that has been working with various hotel groups to come up with health and safety standards for the post-Covid19 landscape. The programme, which is based on the Stay Safe with Meliá initiative, will be provided in eight languages and cover a variety of areas, such as customer service, change-management tools, new operating processes, and health and safety protocols.

An additional programme for certain staff members in critical roles, such as general managers and those working in HR, has also been created in collaboration with the Instituto de Empresa Business School. This training will be provided for 600 employees and will explore leadership skills, wellbeing and stress management, communicating emotionally, and creating safe and caring environments that ensure positive customer experiences.

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