Hotel chain moves to ban smoking

The chain will still allow smoking in set areas

A nationwide hotel chain has announced it will ban smoking in at least three-quarters of its rooms.

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.

Some guests will still want to smoke when they attend events or unwind Calum Russell Ramada Jarvis

The chain said it was the first in the country to commit to such a move.

Some pubs have adopted a similar policy, amid the prospect of Britain following Ireland in banning smoking in public places.

A "deep cleaning" process is now under way at the hotels to raise the level of non-smoking rooms from 45% to at least 75% by March.

'Freedom'

Calum Russell, the chain's marketing director, said: "We are keen to set a benchmark for the hotel sector.

"This policy is about freedom of choice and satisfaction and echoes what has happened in many workplaces.

"Yet, whilst we will be primarily smoke-free, we would not introduce an 100% ban until legislation occurs as we recognise that some guests will still want to smoke when they attend events or unwind."

Ramada Jarvis operates 58 hotels throughout the United Kingdom.

On Wednesday, Liverpool became the first city council to vote to introduce a ban on smoking in public places.

Councillors must now petition Parliament by 27 November in order to have anti-smoking legislation passed.

An official report by medical scientists, which emerged on Monday, found that breathing in secondhand smoke massively increased the risk of lung cancer and heart disease.

Campaigners said the report strengthened the case for a nationwide ban on smoking in public places.