HALO COVID-19 TESTING CENTRE RELAUNCHES AT SOFITEL LONDON HEATHROW HOTEL FOR UK ARRIVALS
![](https://press.accor.com/europe-north-africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1575-01.jpg)
In addition to the existing ‘Test & Rest’ package whereby hotel guests can book an overnight stay at the Sofitel London Heathrow Hotel and use HALO’s saliva-based PCR test, HALO will now provide Day 2 tests at just £59 (available on the HALO website here), enabling customers to carry out and submit their tests seamlessly on arrival at Terminal 5, helping to bring added peace of mind, ease and simplicity at excellent value for those returning from their travels. Customers can also collect Day 5 and 8 tests to take home and complete as normal. Rapid pre-departure PCR testing will also be available from the Sofitel London Heathrow Hotel, where samples can be processed within 3 hours of taking the test.
In light of recent travel updates and the news that the USA is opening up to fully vaccinated travellers, customers travelling to and from the USA will be able to take advantage of HALO’s pre-departure tests as well as its express LAMP PCR service which provide quicker, cheaper and accurate results ahead of travel, with results available within 90 minutes.
Ryan Nicholls, General Manager at Sofitel London Heathrow Hotel, said “We are excited and proud to have our onsite testing centre back up and running. This facility offers a convenient, easy and stress-free way of getting tested and staying COVID-safe and we are happy to be able to offer this service to our guests and business travellers. It is vital we do everything we can to ensure we all continue to stay safe. I hope through our partnership with HALO, many more will have access to the tools, information and tests they need in their journey back to normality.”
Alistair Ruffett, Head of Operations at HALO, said: “The reopening of our COVID-19 testing centre at the Sofitel London Heathrow Hotel is a proud achievement. We know that returning from travels can be a busy and stressful experience, which is only heightened with the need for testing. We hope that by providing greater and easier access to our saliva-based PCR tests, we are putting our customers at ease whilst also doing our part to help keep the virus at bay. We want to thank the Sofitel London Heathrow Hotel for partnering with us again and supporting us to launch this important service.”
In addition to the partnership with Sofitel, HALO regularly collaborates with leaders in the UK travel sector, including British Airways, Cathay Pacific and other major airlines. HALO’s saliva-based PCR tests are discounted as part of the ongoing commitment to keep travellers on the go and COVID-safe with fast, accurate and reliable tests.
HALO’s PCR tests use saliva samples, making the testing process easier, quicker and allows people to travel freely without the need for uncomfortable swab procedures or appointments with medical professionals. It is the only saliva-based COVID-19 provider to receive UKAS ISO15189 accreditation (which independently verifies the laboratory’s integrity, impartiality, and competence). HALO offers outstanding customer service with a Trustpilot score of 4.3.
The UK Government fully approves HALO to provide COVID-19 tests and is one of the only testing services to partner with University College London (UCL) and the Francis Crick Institute to analyse positive test samples to detect new variants.
About Sofitel
Sofitel Hotels & Resorts is an ambassador of modern French style, culture and art-de-vivre around the world. Established in 1964, Sofitel is the first international luxury hotel brand to originate from France with more than 120 chic and remarkable hotels in the world’s most sought-after destinations. Sofitel exudes a refined and understated sense of modern luxury, always blending a touch of French decadence with the very best of the locale. The Sofitel collection includes such notable hotels as Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg, Sofitel London St James, Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk, Sofitel Munich Bayerpost, Sofitel Rio de Janeiro Ipanema, Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour and Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort. Sofitel is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,100 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries.
sofitel.accor.com | all.accor.com | group.accor.com
About HALO
HALO is a UK-based biotechnology company combining the skills of world-class science, technology and logistical experts to provide an almost 100% accurate testing system. It is based at the Imperial College i-Hub in West London with full UK Government approvals including from the MHRA (Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency).
For more information, please visit www.haloverify.com.
HALO’s test is one of the lowest priced available to the public with door-to-door courier and pick-up, 24-hour test analysis from arrival at lab, and app-based results and verification all included.
HALO’s saliva-based RT-qPCR test allows the travelling public to leave and enter the UK without the need for an uncomfortable swab procedure or appointment with a medical professional. For speed and accuracy, HALO tests are analysed using state-of-the-art robotics to extract RNA from a saliva sample and test for genes that are only present in COVID-19.
Following the test, users can track its progress via the HALO app and results are directly uploaded to the app. Users also receive a secure verification certificate which can be downloaded, printed or stored for proof of test. All of which removes the potential uncertainty surrounding COVID testing and adds a level of reassurance to returning to the UK.
HALO provides RT- qPCR (polymerase chain reaction) – generally required by national law to cross borders - and LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) tests. Both types of tests are almost 100% accurate and affordable.
HALO is currently the only saliva-based COVID-19 test provider and first laboratory originally setup for the purpose of identifying the virus to receive UKAS accreditation to ISO 15189 standard, representing the highest standard a Medical Laboratory can reach in the UK.
Press contacts
Sarah Wilson
Vice President PR & Media Relations, Accor Northern Europe
sarah.wilson@accor.com
Kristen Roman
PR & Media Relations Manager, Accor UKI and Nordics
kristen.roman@accor.com
Nathan McGlone
Aurora Healthcare Communications
nathan.mcglone@auroracomms.com
Read also
-
ibis MUSIC and ALL return to Europe with strong line-up of summer festivals
United Kingdom & Ireland
-
Embrace wanderlust with the newly opened ibis Styles London Gatwick Airport
United Kingdom & Ireland
-
Accor Expands TRIBE Brand in Europe with New Openings and Strong Pipeline
United Kingdom & Ireland