We’re Good to Go

We’re Good to Go information – Graig Wen Camping and Glamping

What new measures have you introduced to your business process as a result of completing your risk assessment?

We have been closely following the Wales Government COVID-19 guidance and assorted links to guidance from the BH&HPA, Wales Tourism Alliance and PASC.

Actions taken as a result of our risk assessment

• Reduced touring pitch capacity by 50% from 10 to 5

• Touring vans asked to use their own on board facilities

• Reduced tent pitch capacity from 17 to 13 pitches with at least 10 – 20 metres minimum between pitches

• Reduced glamping accommodation from 6 to 5 units

• No new group bookings accepted and no more than 2 households in existing group bookings.

• Pre-booked campers only

• All bookings made online with full contact details

• Removed pedestrian gates around the site

• Social distancing signs sprayed onto tracks and posters put up

• Installed hand sanitising stations at key locations around the site e.g. by water taps, chemical disposal point, bins, doors

• Introduced unisex, one household/bubble at time system for our shared showers and toilets

• Increased the frequency of cleaning shared facilities and touch points. The team works to a check list and scheduled cleaning times which are recorded. As usual, paper towels and antibacterial soap or sanitiser provided.

• Closed one communal washing up area due to social distancing concerns and built a new one just for glampers

• Changed area where guests access free wifi to enable social distancing outside only

• Closed Honesty Shop.  Contactless payment for a reduced number of misc items from shop.

• Created en suite facilities for 2 yurts and our shepherd’s hut (all have private kitchens). We clean and disinfect these for guest arrival then do not service them again until the next changeover. We provide guests with cleaning materials.

• Removed extraneous soft furnishings etc from our yurts and shepherds hut

• Cleaning plans and checklists have been developed for for Glamping accommodation which are followed by cleaners on each changeover, checked by supervisors (who also check accommodation) and kept on file.

• Our staff including cleaning staff have been trained in procedures for arriving at work (including checking/reporting on fitness for work), hygiene, social distancing, use of PPE, new cleaning procedures and products

• Staff have allocated toilet, changing areas and tea coffee making facilities in separate designated rooms

• Team Whats App group set up to aid communication

• Access to office and storeroom restricted to enable social distancing

• Staff using office equipment have different work stations and where some equipment is shared, reminders to use disinfectant wipes before use

• Staff instructed in disinfecting shared vehicles and keys in between uses.

• Staff have allocated walkie talkies

• Campers luggage lift on service amended so only campers touch their luggage and do not ride in off road vehicle.

• We have reassessed our cleaning products and are using anti-viral cleaning and disinfecting products and disposable cloths

• Where bed linen or beds are provided, guests are asked to strip bed linen and place in a black plastic bag on check out. Plastic bags are sprayed with anti-viral spray and left for 72 hours before being placed in laundry bags for professional laundering by Cambrian Cleaners. We change and wash pillow protectors and mattress protectors each change over.  We use duvet protectors and change duvets on each weekly changeover and spray with anti-viral spray or wash if required. Mattresses are sprayed with anti-viral spray.

• Soft furnishings which cannot be removed e.g. curtains, are treated with antiviral product. Other cushions/throws are are treated and swapped with a second set each change over

• We have two sets of kitchen crockery, cutlery etc for Glamping accommodation. We provide this ready to use inside a large plastic box which guests unpack themselves. Guests are asked to return all their equipment to this box on check out.  This is left for 72 hours before either put through the dishwasher or washed in hot soapy water ready for the next guests

• Keys are disinfected and left in accommodation for guests

• Guests are emailed a new App with instructions for Contactless check in and much more.  The App also encourages guests to explore beyond the honeypots, support local businesses, visit and park responsibly etc with links to the Snowdondia National Park parking information and much much more!

• Antiviral disinfectant cleaning materials and antibacterial soap are left as part of the guest welcome pack.

• Glamping guests are asked to check in an hour later at 4pm. When they check out, they are asked to leave doors and windows open.  Our cleaners start cleaning the accommodation about an hour after check out. 

• Guests cannot come into Reception, but we are operating a pop-up, outdoor reception, backed up by lots of local information in our new Guest App.

• The welcome folders, leaflets and Visitor’s book usually provided in have been removed and replaced by the App.

How are you communicating these to your guests?

In May, we published general information about our plans on our web site News page, and we emailed all our existing bookers and our general mailing list with a news update containing a link to this: https://www.graigwen.co.uk/planning-safe-snowdonia-holidays/

In June, we published a further update on our web site which was again emailed to existing bookings and our wider customer list: https://www.graigwen.co.uk/planning-safe-snowdonia-holidays/

From July, we have emailed a Guest App to all bookers, 4 days before their arrival.  The App contains detailed information including

• asking guests to confirm they are fit to travel and none of their household have COVID-19 symptoms or have recently been tested.
• Packing list including mask, sanitiser and gloves
• Contact-less check in procedure
• What to do if any of their party develops symptoms on holiday here
• Behaviour we expect in terms of hygiene and social distancing
• Information about local takeaways, places to eat/drink, food deliveries, activities and attractions to pre-book, walks etc
• Troubleshooting information so they can sort out any issues themselves and procedure if staff need to access accommodation
• Check Out Procedure
• Reminder to inform us if they develop symptoms within 7 days of checking out

The Guest App is also now emailed to all bookers as part of their booking confirmation, as well as 3/54 days prior to arrival, as part of an email checking they are fit to travel.  Reaction from guests to the App has been really positive. 

Campers are given printed information on arrival reminding them about use of shared facilities. They are also verbally reminded when the team sees people around site. 

There are chains restricting access to the shared showers and toilets and posters reminding campers that entry is on a unisex, one household/bubble in one out basis.  Posters encourage campers to wash their hands and use cleaning materials provided.

Glamping guests are emailed a day after check in to see how they are settling in

We have posters, signage and floor markings encouraging people to wash their hands and observe social distancing.

Glamping guests are emailed a reminder of check out procedure the day before they check out

Guests are sent a follow up email a couple of days after check out asking them about their experience of staying with us.  Reaction so far has been very positive!

We’re Good to Go information – Graig Wen cottages

What new measures have you introduced to your business process as a result of competing your risk assessment?

We have been closely following the Wales Government COVID-19 guidance and assorted links to guidance from Wales Tourism Alliance and PASC.

We manage 3 of our holiday cottages on site at Graig Wen on behalf of their owners.  The owners were all directed to the above guidance too.

• Risk assessments have been completed for each cottage here on site

• Cottage owners have visited their cottages to action measures such as removing extraneous soft furnishings, kitchen equipment etc

• Cleaning plans and checklists have been developed for each cottage which are followed by cleaners on each changeover, checked by supervisors (who also check cottages) and kept on file.

• Our staff including cleaning staff have been trained in procedures for arriving at work (including checking/reporting on fitness for work), hygiene, social distancing, use of PPE, new cleaning procedures and products

• Staff have allocated toilet, changing areas and tea coffee making facilities in separate designated rooms

• We have reassessed our cleaning products and are using anti-viral cleaning and disinfecting products and disposable cloths

• Guests are asked to strip bed linen and place in a black plastic bag on check out. Plastic bags are sprayed with anti-viral spray and left for 72 hours before being placed in laundry bags for professional laundering by Cambrian Cleaners. We change and wash pillow protectors and mattress protectors each change over.  We use duvet protectors and change duvets on each weekly changeover and spray with anti-viral spray or wash if required. Mattresses are sprayed with anti-viral spray.

• Towels are washed on a hot cycle.  Customers are asked to put one load on to wash when they check out and place others in a black plastic bag for us to wash.

• Soft furnishings which cannot be removed e.g. curtains, are treated with antiviral product. Where cushions or throws are provided they are treated or changed between guest use.

• All kitchen crockery, cutlery etc is either put through the dishwasher or washed in hot soapy water

• Keys are disinfected and put in a disinfected key safe
• Guests are emailed a new App with instructions for self-check and  much more 
• Antiviral disinfectant cleaning materials and antibacterial soap are left as part of the guest welcome pack

• Guests are asked to check in an hour later at 5pm and check out an hour earlier at 9am. When they check out, they are asked to leave doors and windows open.  Our cleaners go into the cottage from 10am to clean.

• Guests cannot come into Reception, but we are operating a pop-up, outdoor reception, backed up by lots of local information in our new Guest App.

• The welcome folder, leaflets and Visitor’s book usually provided in cottages have been removed and replaced by the App.

How are you communicating these to your guests?

In May, we published general information about our plans on our web site News page, and we emailed all our existing bookers and our general mailing list with a news update containing a link to this: https://www.graigwen.co.uk/planning-safe-snowdonia-holidays/

In June, we published a further update on our web site which was again emailed to existing bookings and our wider customer list: https://www.graigwen.co.uk/planning-safe-snowdonia-holidays/

From July, we have emailed a Guest App to all bookers, 4 days before their arrival.  The App contains detailed information including

• asking guests to confirm they are fit to travel and none of their household have COVID-19 symptoms or have recently been tested.
• Packing list including mask, sanitiser and gloves
• Contact-less check in procedure
• What to do if any of their party develops symptoms on holiday here
• Behaviour we expect in terms of hygiene and social distancing
• Information about local takeaways, places to eat/drink, food deliveries, activities and attractions to pre-book, walks etc
• Troubleshooting information so they can sort out any issues themselves and procedure if staff need to access accommodation
• Check Out Procedure
• Reminder to inform us if they develop symptoms within 7 days of checking out

The Guest App is also now emailed to all bookers as part of their booking confirmation, as well as 4 days prior to arrival, as part of an email checking they are fit to travel.

Guests are emailed a day after check in to see how they are settling in

We have posters, signage and floor markings encouraging people to wash their hands and observe social distancing.

Guest are emailed a reminder of check out procedure the day before they check out

Guests are sent a follow up email a couple of days after check out asking them about their experience of staying with us.  Reaction so far has been very positive!