May 25 (SeeNews) - Croatian hotel operator Valamar Riviera [ZSE:RIVP-R-A] said on Monday it has restarted its business activities following a coronavirus break.
"For the past 90 days, Valamar's focus has been on managing the crisis caused by the COVID-19 epidemic. Business was successfully "paused", all jobs have been preserved and the company has been preparing its restart focusing on ensuring liquidity until business normalization in 2021, modifying products and services to increase guest safety and accelerating digitalization projects," the company said in a statement.
The first to open on May 22 was Valamar's Lanterna Premium Camping Resort in Porec and the La Pentola restaurant in Rabac, both located on the Adriatic coast. The remaining 12 camps in Istria and Kvarner will reopen by the end of May.
At the same time, the opening of Istra Premium Camping Resort is planned for June 15, after the completion of an ongoing investment, while other hotels and resorts are planned to gradually open in June, in accordance with the planned reopening of borders to travellers from the country's main foreign markets, the company sa.
The Croatian tourism ministry has announced that by the end of May and in early June the citizens of Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany and Poland will be allowed to enter without a mandatory quarantine, Valamar said, adding that these countries make up 60% of Croatia's leading source markets.
Valamar also said that in 2020 it will reduce by 20% the accommodation capacities at its hotels, resorts and camps to provide more space for guests in restaurants, at the reception, in swimming pools, on beaches and in other leisure facilities.
"The key innovations that will be implemented at the opening of properties are "V Health & Safety" programme for the safety of guests, "CleanSpace 100% privacy" - an enhanced system for cleaning rooms and mobile homes, "Valfresco Direkt" - an online shopping and food delivery service, "Online reception" and the hotel concept "Bed & Brunch"," the company said.
Valamar Riviera's shares traded up 3.2% at 25.80 kuna ($3.71/3.40 euro) by 15:00 CET on Monday on the Zagreb bourse.
(1 euro = 7.58150 kuna)