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Center Parcs to reopen UK holiday villages next month
Center Parcs has confirmed it will start reopening its UK holiday villages next month.
Its five villages shut on 20 March in response to the coronavirus crisis.
However, they will begin reopening from 13 July, the operator revealed on Thursday (25 June).
Locations will enforce new social distancing and safety measures to protect guests and the firm’s 8,500 employees.
Center Parcs’ Longford Forest village in Ireland will also reopen on 13 July.
It comes after prime minister Boris Johnson earlier this week gave a swathe of the UK leisure and hospitality sector the green light to reopen from 4 July, including holiday parks, campsites, hotels and B&Bs.
Chief executive Martin Dalby said Center Parcs would only reopen once the business was "100% satisfied" it was safe to do so.
"We’ve had our teams working around the clock to review everything we do, right down to the smallest detail, and we‘re now ready to open our doors again," said Dalby.
“We know a lot of families were looking forward to Center Parcs breaks, and we can’t wait to welcome you back to the forest.
"Those families who have visited us before will notice some changes to the way we’re doing things, but the essence of a Center Parcs break will remain the same, offering a fantastic short break experience with plenty of space within our 400 acres of natural woodland.”
New safety measures include: reduced numbers on each break; changes to some activities to maintain social distancing; enhanced cleaning for accommodation and central areas; changes to arrival and departure times to allow for enhanced cleaning; cashless payment only across the villages; online-only bookings and payment for activities; and nw takeaway service offering contactless delivery to lodges.
In line with government guidance, villages will reopen without their Subtropical Swimming Paradise and Aqua Sana Spa, which Dalby admitted would come as a disappointment to some families.
"We have been planning the changes needed to maintain social distancing, and we look forward to reopening these facilities as soon as we are able to do so," said Dalby.
Center Parcs has introduced a "book with confidence" guarantee, allowing guests to cancel their break up to six days prior to arrival and still receive a full refund.
The company has also acknowledged, with some changes to facilities, some guests may prefer to reschedule their break or cancel and receive a full refund, and is providing full flexibility with no charges.
Thousands of the business’s 8,500 employees have been placed on furlough, and are now being brought back; they will undergo "comprehensive" new training on new working practices and safety procedures.
“The ongoing maintenance of our villages is real testament to the commitment and adaptability of the teams," Dalby added. "Closure has been a huge undertaking, and something of this scale has never been done in the history of our business.
"We’ve all been impressed by the way people have quickly got used to new ways of working and I know the whole Center Parcs family are so excited to welcome our guests back to the forest."
James Chapple
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