Cambria Beach Lodge: a dreamy and safe re-opening

The hotel industry experienced closures and consequent sharp declines in occupancy and revenue due to COVID-19 related restrictions. But as some states are starting to open up again, businesses in the hospitality industry are coming up with creative ways to safely operate under the new reality. 

SeaStrawsCo client PRG Hospitality Group has worked hard on welcoming back their guests this summer. PRG owns and operates seven boutique hotels in California. Kevan Beall, the company’s Central Coast Regional Director, shared with us how PRG Hospitality Group is preparing for travelers while adjusting to the new safety guidelines. 

PRG Hospitality has recently reopened Cambria Beach Lodge for the summer season with their complete, full-time staff and modified operations. “With an intense focus on cleanliness, safety, and genuine hospitality experience, we're excited to be accepting reservations from those traveling under the need for temporary housing solutions at this time,” shared Kevan. He added that it is their mission right now “to ensure safety is the number one priority for all staff, guests and partners alike.” And the PRG Hospitality team is confident in their new procedures to achieve this goal. 

Many tourists had to postpone their international vacation plans and are looking for ways to get the most out of the warm summer weather without international travel. Predictions are that we will see tourism shifting to domestic travel. Kevan shared that PRG Hospitality “expects to see more road trips and staycations as preferred travel experiences this summer.” And he believes “the California Central Coast is a perfect place for new explorations as it remains a somewhat unexplored region of adventure, surf, wine and remarkable sunsets.”

With indoor dining not being the safest option for the near future, restaurants are looking for approaches to enhance the outdoor dining experience.The picturesque landscapes of California’s coast make it a perfect place for accommodating hungry eaters in the fresh air. In addition to providing to-go food and beverage services, PRG Hospitality is offering picnic-style meals for their guests. And according to Kevan, “with an endless supply of scenic overlooks, romantic benches above the water, and coastal pull-outs, there are ample options to have incredible picnic-style meals and create unique memories.” PRG Hospitality’s personal recommendation is filling up a basket on their Linus bicycles and heading out for an adventure along Moonstone Beach. Frankly, this sounds like a perfect social-distancing vacation!

With the expected decrease in the flow of tourists, hotels are relying on vacation-goers from local areas. The PRG Hospitality team believes that they “are fortunate to have a loyal customer base who's eager to return to our property this year.” Practices and procedures adopted by PRG’s restaurants and hotels help to ensure a safe and excellent stay of their guests. “With our enhanced cleaning protocol and other safety modifications, we proudly exceed all local, state and federal recommendations for cleanliness. This is one important advantage we have in reopening with a clean and safe hotel operation,” shared Kevan. 

COVID-19 crisis has created hardships for millions of people, but it has also shown the importance of standing together and showing support to others. PRG Hospitality Group strives to play its part in helping people from local communities during these troubled times. This year they are “proud to offer all staff members a paid volunteer time benefit, enabling the team to serve the community without missing hours in the workplace.” Kevan believes “this is an invaluable opportunity to remain closely connected and serve our local communities through these trying times.”

If you're near the California Central Coast, treat yourself with a weekend getaway to the Cambria Beach Lodge hotel. Enjoy the breeze of the sea while having that picnic that you’ve forever dreamed of on your wishlist. And as a perfect addition to your picnic, don’t forget to bring a stainless steel or silicone SeaStraw. Sip your favorite iced drink sustainably while having a fun summer day outdoors.

written by Kathrine Serebrianski

This article first appeared in our Recurrent email newsletter on July 8, 2020. To subscribe to Recurrent and receive a story from our sustainable hospitality community every Wednesday, click here.