Best Western Great Britain has read public and government concerns saying it can offer its numerous sites across the UK as temporary hospitals. The hotel chain could provide beds to meet potential demand from the NHS during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Best Western said it will discuss the potential move this week and take exceptional measures to provide help.
Best Western is the largest independent hotel group in Britain and has said it had seen significant cancellations over the last month due to the outbreak. The CEO of Best Western Great Britain, Rob Paterson has stated: “We are in unprecedented territory so we would be willing to take unprecedented steps to support the national effort.”
As the UK begins to see the impact from COVID-19 accelerate, doubtless other hotels will be making similar offers.
The move will potentially provide government and the NHS with options to rapidly expand services where required. It also potentially, at least in part, provides a revenue stream when traditional ones are drying up. This potentially keeps more people in work in the hotel sector.