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Heathrow hotel launches ‘test and rest’ accommodation offer
Arora Group is launching a ‘Test and Rest’ accommodation package at its Sofitel London Heathrow hotel, with the aim of rolling the service out to other properties at the airport.
Guests will be able to book a package comprising of an overnight stay at the hotel, which is directly connected to Terminal 5, together with a self-administered saliva-based PCR Covid-19 test kit.
The Covid-19 screening system behind Arora’s ‘Test and Rest’ programme is HALO, a UK-based biotech firm.
Guests at the hotel download the HALO app, scan their test kit, spit in a tube and put it back in the Halo pack.
The sample is then whisked off to HALO’s state of the art facility for testing. As soon as the results are through, they come up on the guest’s app along with a certificate and, providing the test is negative, they’re ready to travel on as soon as they wake.
Test and Rest packages prices at Sofitel London Heathrow will start from £179.00 inclusive of VAT and includes accommodation and testing.
Surinder Arora, Founder and CEO of Arora Group, commented: "Our beloved hospitality, airline and the wider tourism industry has been devasted by the pandemic and we felt the need to do something to give both business and leisure travellers the confidence to travel.
"The ability to stay in a hotel the night before a flight and get a recognised PCR saliva based Covid-19 test and subsequent result before the flight the following day – just made sense".
Dr Nigel Kellow, Chief Medical Officer at HALO said, " We believe that in HALO we have created a system that offers hotel guests and many others a safe, secure and simple way to travel and enjoy life again in confidence. We hope more organisations in the travel industry will follow Surinder Arora’s example."
By Lisa James, Deputy Editor (UK)
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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