G Adventures has introduced a new Travel with Confidence policy that includes new social distancing and hygiene procedures across all its future trips to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both travellers and employees.
Focused on reducing risk, the new measures will be in place from the moment travellers join a trip until they depart, encompassing transportation, where travellers eat, accommodation and activities on the ground.
Focused on reducing risk, the Travel with Confidence policy utilises the benefits provided by G Adventures’ small group tours, including staying at smaller hotels with fewer guests, while ensuring travellers can continue to foster great connections and access places often overlooked by larger groups.
As part of the new policy, G Adventures’ tour leaders, also known as chief experience officers, will receive increased training beyond their existing first aid and safety training to keep them up to date with all new safety procedures and to assist any unwell travellers during the tour duration.
Equipment used during activities will be subject to increased cleaning measures, while hand sanitisers will be provided wherever possible throughout trips. Travellers will be encouraged to bring their own face coverings such as buffs, face masks or bandanas, as well as personal hand sanitiser to ensure additional levels of protection.
Increased hygiene protocols will also be included on G Adventures’ fleet of small, private vehicles and boats, with the introduction of daily deep cleaning, compulsory hand sanitiser use before every embarkation, assigned seats for travellers, and facial coverings being recommended while on board.
Additional cleaning will take place in high traffic areas on board boats and, to support physical distancing, travellers will be assigned seating during certain meal times. When local transportation is used, precautions will be followed in adherence to local health and safety regulations to keep travellers safe and sound.
On land itineraries, al fresco dining options and grab and go boxes are two new options being introduced as part of increased food safety. Family style or self-serve buffets will be avoided and separate tables or dining areas will be offered wherever possible in restaurants.
G Adventures will work with accommodation providers to introduce increased daily cleaning, with disinfection of surfaces inside traveller rooms and extra cleaning on high contact areas such as light switches, door handles and TV remotes. In addition, no hotel staff will be permitted to enter guests rooms once it has been cleaned to avoid contamination.
To support social distancing, those travelling solo and sharing a room will have the same roommate assigned for the entire trip wherever possible. Travellers who desire their own space will be able to take advantage of increased availability of solo rooms and more affordable 'My Own Room’ rates.
For traveller feeling unwell in the lead up to their trip, they will be able to take advantage of G Adventures’ Book with Confidence policy, which provides the flexibility and freedom to delay until they are feeling better (terms and conditions apply).