Mandatory hotel quarantine to start on 15 February
Around 60 hotels and travel companies are believed to be discussing with the Government plans to quarantine more than 1,000 arrivals to the UK every day from 15 February.
The Government is looking to secure hotel rooms close to 10 UK airports, including London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
UK citizens arriving from countries on the Government’s ‘red list’ – of which there are currently 33 – will have to stay in the hotels for 10 days at a cost of about £80 a night.
They’ll be escorted to the hotels by Government-enlisted security officers, who will also be on patrol inside and outside.
Three meals a day will be provided to guests, who will be allowed to leave their rooms only for fresh air and smoking breaks, both of which will be supervised.
Further details – including how to book a hotel room – will be announced next week.
The mandatory hotel quarantine is being introduced in an effort to limit the spread of new variants of coronavirus first identified in South Africa and Brazil.
UK and Irish residents arriving from these countries, as well as most other countries in South America, southern Africa, the United Arab Emirates and Portugal will be among those forced to stay in the quarantine hotels.
Non-UK and Irish citizens from ‘red list’ countries are currently banned from the UK.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps