DOHA, QATAR—Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) recently marked a milestone in its Qatar Clean program, with 100 percent of QNTC-licensed hotels now “Qatar Clean” certified. Launched in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in June 2020, QNTC’s Qatar Clean program ensures the highest standards in hygiene and cleanliness, with rigorous procedures in place to ensure the safety of customers. QNTC’s Secretary General, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, as well as COO Mr. Berthold Trenkel, marked the anniversary with a visit to the W Doha, which was the first hotel to be certified Qatar Clean. With 100 percent of hotels now fully certified, the program is now being expanded to restaurants and can be rolled out to other sectors including transport, retail and culture.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive and Secretary General of Qatar National Tourism Council, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, stated: “As we mark one year of our Qatar Clean program, we are very pleased with its successful implementation. All QNTC-licensed hotels have now been certified Qatar Clean, and the program illustrates how together we are with our stakeholders and therefore have been able to innovate and adapt to the challenges of the past year. Qatar Clean is a key component of our proposition; those in Qatar can enjoy our award-winning hospitality and world-class offerings with their safety assured, and we look forward to welcoming visitors from both near and far.”
Fully Vaccinated Served
As Qatar begins to ease restrictions, Qatar Clean-certified hotels and restaurants can operate at limited capacity and serve fully vaccinated individuals. And with visitors from the GCC now able to enter Qatar, both visitors and residents can rest assured that the highest standards of health and hygiene are being maintained at Qatar Clean certified venues. Qatar responded quickly to control the spread of COVID-19, instituting a series of measures prioritizing the health and safety of its residents. The mandatory track and trace app, Ehteraz, as well as measures such as the compulsory wearing of face masks and social distancing, have enabled the country to open domestically and to visitors from the GCC, and prepare for the return of inbound tourism.
Residents and visitors can enjoy Qatar’s award-winning hospitality, assured that the Qatar Clean program provides safeguards in line with global health and safety standards.
To maintain a Qatar Clean certification, hotels must adhere to the following:
- Each hotel facility must appoint its own Qatar Clean Program Manager responsible for overseeing employee training and overall compliance with program requirements.
- Hotels must sterilize their facilities daily, conduct frequent and thorough cleaning, use disinfectant in all rooms, air conditioning systems, water tanks, toilets, and ensure stringent sterilization of designated guest areas, especially reception halls and lobbies.
- To reduce contact with guests, hotels must adopt mobile or other contactless procedures for check-in and check-out, while optimizing spaces to maintain a distance of at least two meters between individuals.
- Hotels must carry out daily temperature checks on all employees at the start of their shifts, as well as on suppliers and guests. Anyone exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus must immediately be placed in isolation, and MOPH would be contacted.
Joint committees from QNTC and MOPH continue to inspect hotels and their facilities to ensure program standards are being applied and adhered to, with penalties imposed for non-compliance. With the successful rollout of Qatar Clean across hospitality, the program is being considered for other sectors such as transport, retail and culture.
For more information, head to https://www.visitqatar.qa.
