SEVERAL hotels nationwide have put aside their core business and have stepped in to assist the country in its efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic by turning their premises into Covid-19 quarantine centres.
Just a month ago, two hotels in Penang decided to operate their premises as quarantine centres. They are Vouk Hotel Suites and Bahang Bay Hotel in George Town.
Vouk Hotel, which was closed recently due to a near standstill in the tourism industry, has been taken over by Blanket Hotel on the mainland in March this year.
Its director Leja Hindon Salleh, 41, said it was important to stay relevant during this Covid-19 and the same applies to hotels that can do their bit to help the state in its fight against the unprecedented situation.
“We have to accept the fact that it is going to take some time before the tourism industry recovers.
“Rather than waiting and hoping for it to end any time soon, why not we from the related industry offer what we can to help put an end to this issue.
“People can laugh at you for doing something out of the norm, something that doesn’t reflect the nature of your business.
“But why bother when you can take pride from doing something that can benefit the lives of others?
“I saw the potential in these two hotels. That is why I decided to turn them into Covid-19 quarantine centres,” said Leja during an exclusive interview via telephone today.
She also added that since a month ago, a total of 300 individuals have been quarantined in both the hotels.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix courtesy of Leja Hindon Salleh