2020 The Argyll Hotel Iona – The same great welcome but slightly different!

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We are ‘Good to Go’ and Open for your holiday enjoyment

Our priority is to make you feel as safe as can be so that you can relax and enjoy your holiday with us whilst at the same time maintaining the well-being of our staff and small isolated Island community. We feel it is a close-co-operation between us and you for the benefit of all!!

We have embraced The Scotgov advice which gives us very clear operating guidelines. To this end all staff wear face coverings at all times and practice social distancing with each other. As s a guest face coverings are mandatory whilst moving around the hotel but can be removed whilst eating or drinking. We ask you to use the sanitisers (Dew Products) provided on entering the hotel and each time you enter and leave lounges, and you are invited to carry your own sanitiser and use as needed. 

So what will be different about your stay in this new normal?

From your pre-arrival to departure we have given very careful thought to every aspect of your visit. Supporting you starts with safe travel advice, we recommend personal rather than public transport wherever possible and to follow public transport advice to wear a face covering at ll times.  We will ask for your arrival time so that we can welcome you at the front door. We provide you with an envelope containing all the information that you might need during your stay and your room key. We can still help with your luggage if needed and we will direct you to your room. This will become your own ‘bubble’ during your stay and we have a request system for servicing your room. We deliver your items to your door in a sealed zippy bag. For check out we can email your bill and payment can be done via an existing card on the system or via a bank transfer. On departure we ask you to turn off all electrics, open the window to ventilate the room and to lock the door on leaving. Whenever possible rooms remain closed for 72 hours. Cleaning protocols are more complex and time consuming so we advise that check in times may be later than 2pm. On these occasions we can take care of your lugguge untill the room becomes available.

What about the public areas and the dining experience?

Notices on each lounge door will support you in knowing how many households can enjoy the space and cleaning takes place every hour for all doors, frames and touch points. Our dining room has a reduced capacity and prioritises our guests who are given first choice of dining times. We have decided to maintain a 2 metre distance between all tables giving you space to enjoy your meal. We have also provided a service table where all food is delivered to and dishes collected from so that we allow you space to feel safe to really enjoy your meal. With reduced capacity in the dining room we now have to turn the early tables to create 2 sittings. We may also ask you to be patient at lunch time as we have to allocate seating. Take-away is available for soup and sandwiches on request.

What hasn’t changed is the quality of our food! Our menu delivers seasonality to it’s usual high standards and there is a feast for the senses using our organic vegetables and locally sourced meat and fish. This year we have a slightly smaller menu but specials change more regularly.

Breakfast is 100% table service and even the garden tables are socially distanced. During lunch time, if the weather allows, the outside space is managed by a member of staff so that we can collect contact details and offer table service. Afternoon tea is a little more flexible with guests able to order at the bar and the food is delivered outside. On wet days we have a more limited capacity and can only apologise for any limitation of space that may occur and may have to ask you to return in 15 minutes to allow a table to become available.

What hasn’t changed!!

Iona has welcomed visitors and pilgrims for hundreds of years and you will be welcomed warmly.  The Abbey is open for private prayer and the stunning beaches, hills and vistas are just waiting for you to explore and enjoy. Shops are open with more limited opening hours and you can take boat trips to Staffa. Iona is a slow place to breathe deeply and walk a little more slowly. In these challenging times we all need a little uplifting sanctuary where you are taken care of so that you can relax into your time away.