Accor-owned luxury hotel group Fairmont Hotels and Resorts has reopened four hotel and spa destinations in Canada.

Fairmont’s flagship resort, Chateau Lake Louise, is offering limited spa services and treatments while Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Chateau Whistler spas are limited to hair salon appointments and retail services.

According to Accor’s director of spa and fitness for North and Central America, Daniel Poulin, the company is remaining cautious yet flexible in its reopening approach.

“We want to welcome guests back and offer the best experience we can, so we’re working to a phased approach and being extremely careful when we reopen spas."

Speaking in the first episode of ISPA’s Town Meeting Reopening series, Poulin explained that as weeks go by and the industry begins to learn more about what guests want, Accor can gradually start adapting what services they offer and what facilities to reopen.

“Nobody will blame you for being overly cautious when you reopen, so Accor is providing strong basic guidelines to start with – then we’re encouraging spa directors to add in regulations that are specific to their local state regulations.”

He confirmed that the company’s spas don't have any wet or thermal wellness areas open because of the difficulty in social-distancing and wearing PPE.

Poulin revealed that the company is implementing new safety measures in light of COVID-19 and is taking the temperature of all guests when they arrive at spas and hotels, as well as checking employees temperature when they arrive at work.

In addition, Accor is asking all guests to sign a waiver form before having a treatment and has updated its regular spa intake form which has additional questions asking guests about their risk of exposure to COVID.

Poulin said that guests aren’t required to wear masks currently, but they’re given the option to do so, while all employees are required to cover their face with PPE.

Comprehensive hygiene measures are being implemented throughout Accor hotels which have reopened, including physical distancing; mandatory screening for all guests and employees; a 48-hour “settling period” for occupied rooms post-departure; increased frequency of cleaning and disinfecting, with a focus on high-touch points; and continued use of EPA registered disinfecting chemicals.

"The hotels' top priority remains the safety, care and wellbeing of our Fairmont family. Welcoming, safeguarding and taking care of others is at the very heart of what we do and who we are," said David Roberts, Fairmont Banff Spring GM and regional VP, Fairmont Hotels in Canada's Western Mountain Region.

"Today, this means keeping our guests and employees safe by preventing the spread of COVID-19 – partnering with top experts to implement new standards of safety and enhanced operational protocols and procedures."