Life is slowly but steadily moving back to normal, now that the talks of vaccine have become mainstream, with the hope that these gloomy days are about to end. I’ve missed travel so much this year, it was a sad lifestyle change spending weekends at home instead of exploring new places. I hope 2020 is soon forgotten and the next year brings life, as we knew it, back to track. With the hope of a better year, I took a leap of faith last week when Fortune Park BBD, Lucknow invited me for staycation.
I was a bit skeptical at first to accept the invite, but when I found that Fortune Park BBD is a member of ITC Group of Hotels I knew that there’s nothing to worry. My previous stays with different ITC Hotels across India have been amazing, so I decided to go ahead and check out the property in my home-town as well and I came back home happy and satisfied. It was first time after March that I was stepping out of home, armed with a mask and a sanitizer, this trip was much different from the ones I am used to.
The staff at Fortune Park BBD welcomed me with a briefing about the security measures they are taking for the safety of guests as well as the staff. It is a commendable effort that each member of the staff is doing, every day since the property opened after the lockdown in August. Even though with less number of guests to manage, the day to day effort to keep everyone safe is not an easy task, and I came back in awe of the employees who are working tirelessly to achieve that.
Instead of a welcome drink, now a temperature check and sanitization is the new norm to welcome guests at Fortune Park. I was escorted to my room after a contact-less check-in. The keys were sanitized before handing it over to me, to be collected from a tray.
A sanitization unit is provided at the reception area where any person coming in can sanitize their belongings before heading to other floors of the hotel. The things Covid-19 is making us do is endless. Luggage can also go through this unit, so the staff who might have to carry the luggage is safe too.
With only two people allowed at a time in the lift, all social distancing norms were strictly followed everywhere in the property. Though I preferred stairs, because my room was on the second floor. The room was already sanitized and sealed, and I had to break the paper-seal to enter the room. This ensures that no one (including staff) goes inside once the room is sanitized. It seemed to be a tremendous effort, but still is the need of the hour.
The room was equipped with all amenities, as expected but what caught my attention was a contact-less menu for room-service. One can order food just by using a QR code placed in the room, without having to install a hotel app. I really liked this concept, just scan and order instead of being forced to install an app.
The in-house restaurant at Fortune BBD was a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting too much, since I feel the essence of Lucknow’s food is not in exotic fine dine restaurants but in its markers and streets. Though they are not doing a buffet any longer because of safety reasons ( many people touching the same silver-ware is a valid concern) , the chef spruced up a great Avadhi meal which I will remember for a long long time. I was eating out after eight months, and the food was extraordinary to say the least.
I got an opportunity to visit the kitchen and meet the chef as well. He explained about the security measures and quarantine procedures for food/vegetables that is being followed. What was surprising was just four staff members in a big kitchen, all thanks to Social Distancing in 2020.
This visit was all about safety measures, that started from the parking area itself. Masks were mandatory in all common areas of the property, both for guests as well as staff members. I noticed that all staff members were taking these safety measures quite seriously, which was a welcome change in a place like Lucknow. Full marks to Fortune Park BBD for being extra cautious and taking all necessary steps to safeguard the staff and guests from the deadly virus.
Signing off today with the hope that we will soon be free to travel and explore the world. I have taken a baby step in that direction with Fortune Park BBD, and I hope to visit again, once this madness is over and enjoy everything else(especially, the rooftop pool) the property has to offer.