It's been a long time coming, but trends show that travel is back and better than ever. With resorts opening their doors with greater capacity for more and more visitors, it's time to address the elephant in the room: Yes, resorts are safe to visit. We don't have to remind you of the trials and tribulations we all went through in 2020 (Zoom burnout was real), but resorts were able to take stock and ultimately prepare themselves for thousands of travelers hankering to visit their favorite tropical destinations.

Because of this, top-tier resorts now offer a hotel experience that delivers both updated safety guidelines and luxury fulfillment at the same time. From check-in to check-out, poolside margaritas to room-service pastries, let's explore a day in the life of all-inclusive resorts and how they’re keeping you safe from COVID.

10:00am: Contactless Check-In and General Hygiene

Good morning, welcome to your tropical getaway. You’ve stepped out of your transportation and into the grand lobby entrance of your dream all-inclusive resort. Immediately, you’re greeted with punctual curbside bell service donning masks and medical-grade gloves. The staff greets you with smiling eyes behind the masks and an upstart attitude behind plexiglass as you check-in digitally with a handy app. Before we head to your flawless suite, let’s take a look at other essential guidelines to expect from your five-star hotel:

  • Contactless payment through keypad or mobile pay
  • Capacity guidelines at elevators and all public spaces
  • Spacing measures and signage
  • Plexiglass partitions at high engagement areas
  • Guests required to wear face masks or coverings in indoor hotel public areas and when moving around in outdoor areas, unless with proof of vaccination

10:15am: Pristine Suites

So, you’re all checked in. Ready to see the suite that’ll be your lavish home for the duration of the trip? Good, let’s take a stroll down the beachside boulevard. As you walk the halls and take in the sights, you might notice a few things: hand sanitizer stations and social distancing markers everywhere. Safety and cleanliness are of the utmost priority.

Here we are. We’ve arrived at your sealed off suite. Now, what does that mean exactly? Well, the sealed tape simply signals that your room has been sanitized and vacant for at least 24 hours. You’re the first one in the room since housekeeping. Throughout your stay, enjoy the following perks and safety standards:

  • Rigorous cleaning with hospital-grade disinfectants
  • Unlock your room with digital key
  • Door secured with a seal to confirm guestroom sanitization
  • Scheduled housekeeping service, twice daily
  • Food and beverage mobile ordering
  • QR codes give guests access to information via mobile
  • Removal of certain high-touch items from guestrooms

11:00am: Pool and Beach Area Guidelines

After admiring the fact that you made the right choice resort-wise (give yourself a pat on the back), change into your swimsuit and hit the pool. Worried about running into large crowds and not enough space between other guests? Let those worries sail down the lazy river. With optimally spaced-out sunbeds and cabanas, you can sip on your mojito poolside away from fellow pool/beachgoers. Of course, pool parties may still be happening, but with multiple pools to choose from, you’ll always have access to your own comfortable space. You'll also notice:

  • Social distancing decals marked on the ground
  • Mask wearing encouraged when not eating or drinking for those not vaccinated

12:00pm: Fine Dining and Bars

Exceptional food and beverage experiences have always been expected. Now, they’re bringing together all the senses to deliver reimagined experiences in unique spaces (like private dining in premium suites and new dynamic outdoor spaces) – all with a focus on cleanliness and safety. You’ll now find:

  • QR code digital menus
  • Enhanced food safety and hygiene protocols
  • Plexiglass partitions between bartenders and guests
  • Grab-and-go meal ordering
  • Knock and go in-room dining
  • Social distancing and capacity protocols

3:00pm: Meetings & Events

Exclusive tools and apps help meeting and wedding planners create safe and effective events. Hybrid meeting solutions provide flexibility regardless of where attendees are located. Resorts have teamed up with medical experts from organizations like the Cleveland Clinic and the Global Biorisk Advisory Council to ensure that meeting planners and attendees alike feel confident that everything they do is with safety in mind. Now, you can expect:

  • Sanitizer stations prominently placed in every meeting room
  • Shielded registration tables
  • Increased utilization of linen less tables whenever possible
  • Care Stations that include PPE, sanitizer, and comfort supplies
  • AV and streaming for hybrid meetings
  • Socially spaced seating in a variety of layouts
  • Sanitized equipment for each speaker

Would you look at that? You don’t have to wear a hazmat suit! Traveling, whether for business or pleasure, should be enjoyed again. You deserve to feel safe while feeling pampered at your all-inclusive resort, and the above protocols and guidelines continue to welcome thousands of guests back to their favorite beaches, complete with new sanitary programs and the same hospitality travelers have come to expect.