Hotel boss David Mason has lifted the lid on the ’strict protocols’ he has in place for key workers who stay there.

Mr Mason says they are told that failure to adhere to the rules ’in any degree’ will result in them being reported to the authorities ’which can lead to a court fine or, in some cases a term of imprisonment’.

But the general manager of the 104-room Empress, which includes 27 sea view rooms, stressed that it is still ’business as usual’ at the hotel on Central Promenade, Douglas.

In an interview with Business News Mr Mason spoke about how the hotel was refurbished to the tune of just under £2million two years ago little knowing then about coronavirus.

The continuing work outside on the prom has also led to issues of inconvenience and problems, says Mr Mason.

He estimates around 20 key workers have stayed at the hotel since it reopened after lockdown in the middle of July.

Speaking last Thursday he said: ’We don’t have any in at the moment but I must stress we do follow strict guidelines. We are duty bound to report them if they fail to adhere to the requirements.’

He is keen to talk about the arrangements following recent publicity about key workers who have ended up in court after flouting the emergency laws. In the most recent case five Yorkshire welders were imprisoned after going to Tesco. It is stressed they were not due to stay at the Empress but at another hotel.

Key workers are handed a form, which they have to sign, upon arrival at the hotel

It stipulates that:

During the stay they must remain in their appointed room at all times

The hotel will ’endeavour to facilitate your needs as far as possible by way of free room service for the provision of meals, snacks and drinks’

They ’are not permitted to utilise the facilities of the building, nor exit the hotel for any purpose other than that relating to your approved visit to the Isle of Man’

’At all times when outside of your designated room within the hotel you must adhere to the strictest standards, including the wearing of face masks and observe appropriate social distancing from all other persons, including staff; you are not permitted to visit other bedrooms’.

Mr Mason says key workers stay in allocated bedrooms away from the other guests.

’We have two allocated housekeepers who only work on those bedrooms wearing PPE and we also have a disinfectant fogger machine which is used in the rooms after departure.’

Also when key workers arrive at the hotel, from the bottom of the stairs right up to the bedrooms they are followed behind by staff who sanitise everywhere they have been.

Mr Mason said he was keen to get the message out to readers that the Empress ’does take key workers but only under strict guidelines’.

He remains optimistic about the future for the island’s tourism and that it will eventually bounce back.

Mr Mason who is originally from Belfast, and has been at the Empress for around 18 years having originally come to work in the kitchens, said the decision on next year’s TT Festival was being eagerly awaited.

In the meantime he spoke to Business News to relay the message it is ’business as usual’ at the hotel on the promenade and bookings are looking good for the Christmas period.

Mr Mason surveyed the empty lounge area of the Empress and said the place holds a special place in his heart.

He said: ’This place is so much more than a place of work.’