Farewell toast to buffet breakfasts as hotels prepare to reopen

As lockdown measures start to ease and hotels are confirmed to reopen from 4th July, a nationwide study has revealed the help-yourself full English breakfast and the feel of crisp lined sheets in a freshly made bed have topped the list of what Brits have missed most about hotels.

The new study of 2,000 British adults by hotel group Accor, who run 270 hotels across the UK including ibis, Mercure and Novotel hotels, reveals as many as 47 percent of Brits simply miss the break from ordinary life and long to be back in a hotel for a break from normality. According to the poll, a base from which to explore (40 percent), the full English breakfast (38 percent) and sleeping in freshly made beds (27 percent) top the list of what Brits has missed as they eagerly prepare to return to hotels for the first time in more than three months.

Almost two in five (38 percent) say loading their plates with bacon, eggs, sausages and mushrooms is their favourite thing about a hotel stay, however as hotels prepare to reopen Brits are seeking reassurance that hotels will be safe spaces, with half (47 percent) of Brits worrying about cleanliness. In fact, almost three quarters of Britons (72 percent) say that a hotel’s protocol and health and safety measures will be considered before making a booking.

Thomas Dubaere, Chief Operating Officer, Accor Northern Europe says: “We have developed and implemented comprehensive health, safety and wellbeing procedures through our global ALLSAFE standards and prioritised independent health & safety audits in all our hotels because we understand people want and deserve reassurance. The health and safety of our staff and guests was our priority prior to Covid-19 and remains so today.

“We know our British guests love their buffet breakfast, but safety is our main priority when it comes to reopening our doors. But even with social distancing and hospital grade cleanliness in place we will still be able to create great experiences and be the perfect base for Brits and tourists to explore the country and reconnect with friends, family and colleagues.”

Whilst hotel cleanliness is rightly cited as a top consideration by half (47 percent) of Brits a third (34 percent) would still happily indulge in a busy breakfast buffet, whilst taking things from hotel rooms may now be a thing of the past as 25 percent of the Brits who used to be light fingered would now think twice about it!

After a third (34 percent) of Brits had to cancel holiday plans as a result of Coronavirus the nation’s thoughts are turning to making new travel plans for the summer. It will come as no surprise that 2020 is expected to be the year of the staycation. In fact, more than half of the country (51 percent) are only willing to book a UK holiday post lockdown, with one in five (21 percent) happy to expand horizons into Europe and just one in ten (12 percent) willing to consider travel beyond Europe.

More than half of Brits (54 percent) can’t wait to get out and explore the UK this summer, seeing the crisis as the best reason ever to discover new parts of the British Isles. 22 percent of Brits are so desperate to get away they would ‘go anywhere right now’, and a quarter of Brits (25 percent) are more inclined than ever to explore the UK. In fact one in one (25 percent) are so keen to get away they expect to check in to a hotel within the first month of reopening.

Thomas Dubaere added: “It’s heartening to see that one result of lockdown seems to be people’s passion for discovery – having spent the last 12 weeks rediscovering their local area, Brits are now primed and ready to rediscover the joys of the UK, relive some nostalgic memories from their childhood and travel beyond their local parks to explore the UK this summer.”

Brits are most looking forward to heading to the coast with half (46 percent) of Brits longing for the seaside and the nostalgia of fish and chips on the beach (38 percent) while a third (32 percent) long to escape to the country.

Top 5 British traditions Brits are most looking forward to experiencing again

1.    Fish and chips at the seaside – 38%

2.    Having a drink at a pub/beer garden – 36%

3.    Having a Roast Dinner at a traditional pub – 27%

4.    Ice creams on the beach – 24%

5.    Discovering a new walk in the countryside – 22%