Holiday Inn Express & Suites providing hot shower and meals for truck drivers. (supplied photo/Jenni Wuttunee)

By Keaton Brown

Hot Shower And A Meal

Local hotel doing what they can to help support commercial trucking industry during COVID-19

Apr 2, 2020 | 2:00 PM

A local hotel is doing what they can to help essential workers during the COVID-19 situation.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites North Battleford have announced that they will be providing support for the commercial trucking industry.

They will be offering all commercial truck drivers a free place to stop and have a hot shower, a free breakfast between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., a free supper from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. or a hot coffee and muffin.

Jenni Wuttunee, director of sales, said the commercial trucking industry is an often overlooked essential service.

“It is a struggle for all industries right now, but an industry that tends to be underappreciated is our truck driving industry. So we wanted do what we can to step up and help in any small or large way that we could,” she said.

Helping hand

Big red sleigh brings holiday spirit to kick off Battlefords Empty Stocking Fund

12h ago

Battlefords North Stars

Big performance from Maric ends Red Wings win streak

14h ago

Riderville

Shades of 2007

Nov 15, 2024

Wuttunee said with a few truck stops and rest areas shutting down due to COVID-19, truckers were left with very limited resources.

“Some truck stops and different resources that they had have been closed down or are being very limited,” she said. “A lot of truck drivers stay in the cabs of their trucks in those instances and lose out on a place to freshen up or grab a bite to eat.”

With the increased focus on social distancing and hygiene, Wuttunee said they have one employee preparing individually packaged meals.

“We have one employee, who is extremely sanitized, individually packaging any breakfast or lunch for our hotel guests and now for the truck drivers,” she said.

Free breakfast of supper for truck drivers (supplied photo/Jenni Wuttunee)

“They can’t eat in the lobby because of social distancing so we’ve individually packaged them so they can take them with them on their way,” she added.

Wuttunee said it was important for them to support the trucking industry during this time because of how much impact they have on not only the hotel industry, but almost every industry in the country.

“I think that every industry that we host is absolutely connected to the trucking industry in one way or another,” she said. “Right now our truck drivers, for weeks on end, have been on the road trying to keep our grocery stores stocked, our restaurants stocked and our hotel stocked.”

The hotel posted their offer to truck drivers on their Facebook page on Monday and said they have been receiving a lot of positive feedback from the trucking industry.

“Different trucking company’s owners have been reaching out just to say a simple thank you,” she said. “We have had companies from across Canada message us and saying they wished they came through there to take advantage of that offer and we hope other hotels and industries step up with us and help provide support for the trucking industry.”

—

Keaton.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow