PHILIPSBURG:— Flamingo Beach Resort received the Gold SafeSeal emblem in recognition of its practices in protecting its guests and team members against COVID-19.
The emblem was provided to the resort not long after the resort’s official reopening in January 2021. Keith Bielski, Director of Hotel Marketing & Distribution for Diamond Resorts®, shared that Flamingo Beach Resort saw passing of the SafeSeal exam as an extra coronation to its reopening. A press release highlighting the reopening states, “All of the property’s 240 suites have been fully renovated with new furnishings, appliances, bedding, and flooring. With the beach at their doorstep, guests can relish spectacular sunsets, swim in the crystal clear waters of the secluded cove, or take a dip in the resort’s reconstructed swimming pool and two new hot tubs.”
Already on the road to reopening when the global pandemic altered the tourism industry in 2020, Diamond Resorts kept a close eye on the renewed health standards for St. Maarten during the reconstruction period. The company has implemented expanded Diamond Standard of Clean practices at the newly reopened resort and brought in a task force of experienced U.S.-based team members to thoroughly train the recent staff additions at Flamingo Beach Resort prior to the reopening.
In addition to fully reconstructing the resort, Diamond added COVID-19 precautions to the property, including plexiglass partitions at the front desk and utilizing contactless express checkout through the Diamond Resorts App to protect the safety of all team members and guests.
As part of the expanded Diamond Standard of Clean, the resort is frequently sanitized using EPA-recommended disinfectants in all common areas and guest accommodations, with particular attention paid to high-touch surfaces such as door handles and television remotes.
Housekeeping team members are required to wear personal protective equipment, such as masks and gloves, throughout the cleaning process. To minimize contact, mid-week housekeeping is temporary not on offer – but additional bed linens, towels, and toiletries are available upon request. When requested, the items are delivered outside the guest’s door in a package for a no-contact delivery.
SafeSeal is the immediately recognizable emblem for companies that are verified to adhere to strict cleanliness and hygiene guidelines to counter the COVID-19 pandemic. SafeSeal standards have been devised by medical and occupational safety professionals; the methods and practices have been used to grant acknowledgment of best COVID-19 prevention practices to 1,700 companies in the Caribbean. For St. Maarten, the checklists per sector have been validated to befit, among others, the guidelines on stmaartengov.org.
By highlighting best-practice companies and supporting organizations in the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau, the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association, and the occupational health company Medwork want to spread the word that St. Maarten is making its best effort to be a safe destination. More information regarding SafeSeal can be found at www.shta.com/safeseal and travel information updates at www.stmaartenehas.com.
