Ball in hotels' court as Maharashtra government says 'can open'

Hotels guest houses and other facilities that provide accommodation with attached restaurants and are located outside COVID19 Containment Zones have been allowed to reopen on certain conditions Wednesday onwards Hoteliers although allowed to have only 33 per cent occupancy welcomed the move which is possibly a precursor to further relaxationsThe order and guidelines under Mission Begin Again issued on Monday apply to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and other parts of the state The decision was taken after hospitality associations met Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday via videoconferenceThe ITC Grand Central in Parel PicDatta KumbharWhile restaurants can service only inhouse guests those staying at the hotel takeaway requests will be allowed Hotel managements have been told to encourage room service and takeaway instead of dinein For dinein seating arrangements will have to be reconfigured to ensure social distancingOnly asymptomatic guests will be allowed in hotel rooms and must wear masks throughout their stay and submit selfdeclaration forms along with personal information The guests must have the Aarogya Setu App In case the hotel has a COVID19 suspect or confirmed case the person will be isolated from other guests and local health authorities will be informed The area will be disinfected immediatelySea Palace hotel at Apollo Bunder Colaba PicSuresh KarkeraGaming arcades childrens play area swimming pools and gymnasiums will remain closed The managements have also been given specific instructions for cleaning sanitising and disinfecting the premises and rooms on a regular basis The guidelines also ask for minimising physical contact between guests and hospitality staff by adopting contactless processesAll entities will be subject to the provisions in the unlocking order wherein local authorities have been empowered to enforce generic measures and restrictions in specified local areas on the permitted nonessential activities such as hospitalityRishi ChhabriaThis is not a mandateGurbaxish Singh Kohli president HRAWI Hotel and Restaurant Association Western India was present at the meet with Thackeray the state tourism minister and HRAWI members The agenda was the reopening of hotels and restaurants and SOPs The CM said that he will have a phased reopening so that there is no cause for another lockdown Anywhere in the world no hotels have opened up to 100 per cent capacity on day one Everything is phased out Even if hotels do open up completely they wont get that many guests due to travel restrictions The ball is now in the hoteliers court It is not a mandate they may choose to remain closed said Kohli adding that hotels are already being used for doctors stay requisitioned by the civic body and to quarantine travellersWith air and some road travel allowed people coming in need a place to stay and eat Not everyone has a relative in the city Usually three to fivestar hotels have restaurants Some dont even have a pantry If air travel is allowed where people are sitting two inches next to each other rubbing elbows surely hotels and restaurants can start We are hoping they allow us to sell liquor too For now it is prohibited by the Centre Kohli addedRishi Chhabria owner of Sea Palace in Colaba who attended the meet approved the move We had to open at some point We have 50 rooms So according to 33 per cent occupancy 1013 rooms will be available We are hoping the government allows walkin patrons at restaurants soon Chhabria saidChhabria said they will have all SOPs in place for common areas and the kitchen and expects business to commence in the next three to four weeks We appreciate the move and are confident this will lead to a positive outcome Cafeacute Marina is extremely popular and we are waiting to start servingAtul Bhalla Area ManagerWest ITC Hotels and General ManagerITC Maratha said We are all set to start operations of ITC Maratha and ITC Grand Central by July 8 We will resume allday dining restaurants for inhouse guests As part of the WeAssure initiative we will social distancing through distanced seating emenus and contactless paymentsOn the other end of the spectrum a Juhu hotelier on condition of anonymity said It doesnt make sense We are not planning to open until NovemberDecember The vaccine isnt out yet If we open now we will incur costs and being a midlevel hotel we work on small margins and need to run on fulloccupancyThe order saysHotels other entities lodges guest houses etc providing accommodation outside Containment Zones may operateOperations at 33 capacityHotels being used for quarantine shall continue to do so unless decided otherwise by local administrationPart or whole of the remaining hotel capacity may be used for quarantineHotels will be subject to generic measures restrictions on nonessential activitiesCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai Also download the new midday 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