Proudly South African hotel group, Newmark, is on track to have 100% of staff fully vaccinated by the holiday season.
The group launched its own vaccination campaign for employees, and reports that it has been hugely successful.
“Looking after people is our business and we just didn’t see how to fulfil this responsibility without taking decisive action, and so implemented our ‘I Am Vaccinated’ campaign. We also feel that vaccines are crucial to restoring confidence in the safety of South Africa as a destination and by vaccinating all of our staff we can instil confidence amongst out guests in all the Newmark hotels, reserves and lodges,” said Neil Markovitz, Group CEO, in a media release.
Markovitz said, like all hospitality establishments in South Africa, Newmark had been hit with crippling cancellations following the news of the new COVID variant. “We have already seen many booking cancellations for the upcoming season. We are saddened by the recent news and reactionary stance that certain countries have taken to ban travel to and from South Africa, based on the discovery of a new COVID-19 variant.
“Like we did last year, our focus must remain on the domestic travel market and we would like to assure our current and future guests that Newmark are doing everything within our power to keep them safe during their time with us,” he said.
Newmark is partnering with Rowbotics Pty Ltd to offer on-site COVID testing (both PCR and antigen tests) at its Cape Town Hotels (The Onyx, Victoria & Alfred Hotel, The Rockefeller, The Winchester Hotel, Queen Victoria, and Dock House Boutique Hotel), for guests as well as staff members. Guests will be able to easily book their tests before departing for their next destination at a cost of R900 per PCR and R450 per antigen test.
