Hotels Move To Provide On-Site Testing For Guests Under New Travel Restrictions

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to create more problems for the travel industry. Recently, President Joe Biden signed an executive order renewing certain travel restrictions with increased cases. The CDC now requires all international visitors, including returning U.S. citizens, to provide negative COVID-19 results no more than 72 hours prior to their flight. In order to accommodate existing bookings and current guests, many hotels have moved to provide on-site testing so they can abide by the new rules.

Popular destinations in Mexico where many American travelers have flocked to since the lockdown began have already moved to accommodate guests with COVID-19 testing sites. Major chain resorts like the Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta and Hilton Puerto Vallarta Resort will be providing the test for free to hotel guests with others charging a small fee for PCR and antigen tests.

“Throughout the pandemic, Puerto Vallarta’s hotels have gone above and beyond to create a safe and sanitary environment without comprising the overall guest experience,” said Abel Villa on behalf of the Puerto Vallarta Hotel Association in a press statement of Hotel Operations sent to BLACK ENTERPRISE. “On-site testing administered by qualified medical professionals is the next step to ensuring that hotel guests can quickly and easily obtain COVID-19 results with minimal disruption to their trips.”

The Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas, partially reopened in December and is moving to open its luxury accommodations at The Cove back up for guests on Feb. 11 and has implemented new safety measures to protect both guests and employees.

“The guests…have responded favorably to the protocols that we had put in place in terms of wearing the mask and all public areas, sanitizing [grounds] throughout the resort,” said Executive Vice President of Hotel Operations Russell Miller in an interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE. Miller says the resort will also provide guests with on-site testing to fulfill their necessary travel requirements in addition to changing their amenities to fit health guidelines such as secluded dining and socially distanced activities on the grounds.