The Accent Inns in Kamloops is accepting frontline workers who need a safe place to stay during the COVID-19 pandemic (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

COVID-19

Frontline workers starting to take advantage of Accent Inns’ discounted rates during pandemic

Mar 31, 2020 | 3:49 PM

KAMLOOPS — Julie Pullen gets a heartwarming feeling when she thinks about what her hotel chain, Accent Inns, is doing to provide frontline workers with accommodations during this pandemic.

This week, since word got out about the hotel offering discounted rates, healthcare workers have been slowly coming to stay at the Kamloops location.

“We had one nurse who checked in last night who is a grandma and has her kids living with her,” noted Pullen, the general manager of the Accent Inns in Kamloops. “She was just so thankful to have a safe place to stay. We have a couple more checking in today. We have a paramedic checking in tomorrow who’s starting his shifts and can’t go home.”

The idea all came about two weeks ago when the Accent Inns’ front office in the Lower Mainland got a concerned call from a health-care worker who had nowhere to go.

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“A nurse who was on the verge of tears, telling us that some nurses have taken to sleeping in their cars because they don’t want to risk bringing the virus home to their family. As soon as we got that call, we jumped into action,” said VP of Marketing and Communications at Accent Inns Trina Notman.

The five Accent Inns locations in B.C., including Kamloops, are offering $59-per-night rates to the workers needing a place to stay. The hotel has since partnered with the United Way to build the Hotels for Frontline Workers Fund.

“We have been inundated, absolutely flooded with calls of people who want to donate money to pay for the stay of a frontline worker,” noted Notman.

Upon learning their stays are being covered, the workers housed in Kamloops have been overwhelmed by the support.

“Last night when I phoned the lady that we have in-house and told her that her 14 nights were covered here, she started to cry, which made me cry,” said Pullen. “Just hearing how thankful she was, and she’s out there risking her life for us.”

The accommodations aren’t just for healthcare workers. They’re welcoming grocery store workers who are also on the frontlines of this COVID-19 crisis.