Durham's Royal County hotel stayed open through two World Wars - but when the coronavirus shut its historic front doors in March, maintenance manager Will Whelan moved in to help prepare for a new normal.
"To be isolated here for some people would be a blessing. When I first was locked down and staying in the hotel full time it was all sort of a bit exciting, like anyone who goes to a hotel," he says. Hotels everywhere have had to grapple with the task of keeping buildings safe even as revenue stopped practically overnight. Marriott, the global giant which owns the Royal County, has around 650 staff still working across its 60 managed hotels in the UK.
The UK's hotel industry, worth over £20bn in 2018, together with the wider hospitality sector, has so far borne the brunt of the coronavirus. Almost 90% of staff in the sector have been furloughed, according to industry body UK Hospitality, equal to 2.7m people - more than any other. One of the biggest problems for hotels, guest houses and holiday parks, is providing enough notice for guests to begin booking again. In Northern Ireland, businesses have been told they can definitely accept bookings from 20 July - though they may open sooner.
That story certainly was done quite creepy. The choice of wording... Some subconscious work going on their.🤔😟❤️
Govt, please get the hotels open!