The main appeal of staycations, given the current climate, is safety and convenience. In a recent YouGov poll, 58% of respondents said they wouldn’t, or were unsure, whether they would feel safe travelling by airplane. Likewise, 77% said they wouldn’t travel abroad if they had to quarantine upon arrival or return.

Holidaying in the UK removes the risk of coming into contact with the virus in busy airport lounges or tightly packed airplanes.

However, UK destinations must also ensure that health and safety practices are up to new standards to avoid the spread of coronavirus, given outbreaks would undoubtedly diminish confidence in the hospitality sector.

On top of that, hoteliers need to ensure that these changes do not inhibit the sense of escapism and relaxation that guests are looking for.

“We quickly realised that going full out with arrows on the floor, stickers and posters everywhere just wasn’t going to deliver the sense of tranquillity and escapism that our guests were looking for,” Christian Kaberg, group operations director for St Pancras Hotel Group, explains.

Instead, the hotel group has implemented a new ‘ethos’ - Keep Fresh, Keep Clean, Keep Safe, focused on finding discreet solutions to new challenges presented by the pandemic that won’t impact the guest experience.

“Assurances aren’t delivered on a piece of paper, it comes from well-trained team members delivering a safe environment through their actions,” Kaberg explains. “Naturally, we offer full transparency of all measures we have taken, which is reviewed daily by the team and management.”

This sentiment is shared by Flockhart, who agrees that suggestions on how hotels should adapt should come from those who know the establishment best.

“Encourage your teams to think creatively and come up with suggestions as to how your facilities can be adapted to suit new requirements,” Flockhart suggests. “Transform your unused space to create options for your guests, whether that be additional dining or relaxation areas, chill out zones, cinema rooms, indoor play areas or libraries, and make the most of the outdoor space as much as possible whilst weather permits.”

“Britain has so much to offer, from the mountains up north to world-class beaches in the south,” says Kaberg. “We quite often resort to flying to warmer countries and forget to celebrate what is on our doorstep.”

Surveys show that much of the UK population has never visited many of its most iconic sights and attractions. According to research carried out by Hertz and YouGov, just 18% have visited the Giant’s Causeway, and 61% have never visited Loch Ness. Approximately half of Britons have never been to Windsor Castle or Brighton Pier.

Likewise, according to research carried out by Leonardo Hotels, 77% admit that they don’t make the most of where they live. In London, some 61% have never travelled on the Thames, for example, and 57% have never seen a performance at the West End — popular activities among those visiting the city from abroad.

The experiences that the UK offers may greatly differ “especially if comparing a two-week all-inclusive holiday at a beach destination to a weekend break in the British countryside”, Flockhart says, just as a trip to the South of France would offer a different experience to New York.

“However, the end outcome is the same; a feeling of relaxation, away from the everyday stresses, and the positive outcome of having spent quality time with your friends and family,” Flockhart adds.

Given the concerns over international travel, this summer offers an opportunity for UK travellers to tick off many of the attractions close to home and visit parts of the UK that they have yet to explore. In London, for example, David Tucker, owner of leading London walking tour company London Walks, insists that there will “never be another chance to see London like this”, given the expected drop in foreign visitor numbers.

In order to ensure guests make the most of their stay, Flockhart believes that hotels need to work with companies in other areas of the hospitality industry, such as visitor attractions, to create packages that benefit both businesses, as well as guests.

By working with a greater variety of experiences, Tucker believes that hotels can encourage visitors to return, ensuring that staycations remain an attractive option for guests even once the pandemic reaches its conclusion: “By providing information on, or working alongside, a greater variety of experiences in London or their particular city, hotels can encourage repeat visits from their guests.”

The hotel industry has been among the hardest hit by Covid-19. In April, UKHospitality’s quarterly tracker showed that sales in the UK hospitality sector had already declined by 21.3% as a result of coronavirus, despite the lockdown measures having just recently come into effect. While recovery will undoubtedly take time, staycations are extending a lifeline to the industry.

“Remember, Britain is a fantastic destination,” Kaberg insists. “Let’s explore it now.”