Easing pressure on the hospital system is behind a decision by Quest Apartment Hotels to offer 80 of its serviced apartment properties to the Federal Government as temporary quarantine and isolation facilities, the company says.
As part of an approach made through the Accommodation Association, the move by Quest is also part of a short-term shift in focus from corporate accommodation to assisting the public health system as occupancies continue their fall to and beyond 10 per cent.
The company is already supporting more than 500 families across Australia with accommodation during periods of self-isolation and is working closely with corporations across the country who are sending employees home before state borders close.
Quest Founder and Executive Chairman, Paul Constantinou, said the offer of its hotels as quarantine facilities will help to take pressure off the hospital system.
“When experts talk about flattening the curve, it’s about making sure hospital beds are available to the people who need it most,” said Constantinou.
“Quarantine facilities can be used to isolate people and open up our hospital beds to more serious cases. The scale of isolation is unlike anything we’ve ever seen, so we must open up our hotels during this emergency.”
Throughout the initiative, Quest Apartment Hotels says it has adopted strict safety and health measures from the World Health Organisation to protect its staff and guests across all 170 locations in which it currently operates.
Accommodation Association CEO, Dean Long, says Quest has proven itself as a leader in this initiative but that other serviced apartment operators were considering similar ideas.
“People need to isolate themselves, but they can’t all occupy the health system and they still need access to amenities and essential services. It makes sense for serviced apartments and the government to work together,” said Long.