A hotel chain has announced it will ban smoking in at least three-quarters of its rooms, the first move of its kind in the UK.
Ramada Jarvis also plans to prevent smoking in hotel restaurants and other public areas including corridors and conference rooms. However, each hotel will retain one section where smoking is allowed, such as bars or lounges.
The chain said the move was in response to feedback from guests and staff demanding more non-smoking areas.
A ‘deep cleaning’ process is now under way at the hotels to raise the level of non-smoking rooms from 45 per cent to at least 75 per cent by March.
Ramada Jarvis operates 58 hotels throughout the UK.
On Wednesday, Liverpool became the first city council to vote to introduce a ban on smoking in public places. Councillors must now petition Parliament to have anti-smoking legislation passed.
