Popular Gold Coast family resort mandates vaccines for all staff

One of Australia’s most popular family resorts, Paradise Resort Gold Coast, will mandate COVID vaccines for hotel staff.

It is the first non-quarantine hotel in Australia to do so.

Medical doctor and resort owner Dr Jerry Schwartz says the step will ensure staff and guests, particularly children, are protected.

He warns “vaccinate staff or hotel industry will perish”.  

Dr Schwartz says that with so many unvaccinated children at the resort it is essential for staff to be fully vaccinated.

“We know that children under-12 cannot be vaccinated, and so to ensure the welfare of both our guests and our staff, we need to insist on mandatory vaccination.”

He would like to see his staff fully vaccinated by November in preparation for a busy Christmas peak.

“The hotel industry has been devastated by Covid and policies of governments,” he said.

“It’s essential we equip ourselves with the tools to drive a recovery once the country reaches 80 per cent vaccination and travel returns to relative normality.”

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Dr Schwartz wrote to staff explaining the reasons for the mandatory vaccination. Initial feedback from staff showed most were in full agreement with most either already fully vaccinated or in the process.

The vaccine mandate will not extend to hotel guests. However, the resort says feedback from guests is in favour of compulsory jabs for staff.

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Lead image Paradise Resort Gold Coast to mandate vaccines for staff © Canva