How Hotels are Ensuring Health and Safety in Response to COVID-19

There’s no question the hotel industry has been dealt a huge blow by COVID-19. Hotels are changing their cleanliness standards and implementing new hospitality norms to ensure the health and safety of their associates and guests. When people start staying in hotels again, there are some changes they’ll notice as new hygiene measures are executed in the coming weeks and months. Across the board, housekeepers will be more present, hand sanitizer will be everywhere, and furniture will be more spaced out. Here’s a further look at what the different hotel brands are doing to take extra precautions.

Hilton

·    Hilton has developed a global program (Hilton CleanStay with Lysol Protection) that will introduce a new standard of hotel cleanliness and disinfection to ensure  an even cleaner and safer stay

·    Contactless check-in and check-out with Digital Key

·    Evaluation of new technologies like electrostatic sprayers with disinfecting mist and ultraviolet light to sanitize surfaces more thoroughly

·    Hilton CleanStay Room Seal to denote that guest rooms have not been accessed since being cleaned

·    Extra disinfection of top 10 high touch areas in guest rooms including light switches and door handles

·    More frequent cleaning of common areas

·    Enhanced cleaning of fitness centers

·    Enhanced training and protocols for staff

·    The removal of directories, notepads and pens in guest rooms

·    Breakfasts will have more grab-and-go items

InterContinental

·    Increasing the frequency of cleaning public areas and high-touch points in guest rooms

·    Dedicated response teams to provide around-the-clock assistance to hotels

·    Advising all properties of cleaning products and protocols that are effective against viruses

·    Reviewing food and beverage service in accordance with current food safety recommendations

Marriott

·    Implementing electrostatic sprayers which allow for touchless disinfecting capabilities

·    Disinfectant wipes will be added to each guest room

·    Adding partitions to front desks and hand sanitizing stations near the entrances, elevators, front desk and meeting spaces

·    Begin using the highest classification of disinfectants recommended by the CDC and WHO

·    Creating signage in the lobbies to remind guests to maintain social distancing protocols

·    Remove or re-arrange furniture to allow more space for distancing

Omni

·    Increased efforts of cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces throughout the properties

·    Providing hand sanitizer stations at front desks, on meeting room levels and in restaurants

·    Providing disposable wipes to all associates

·    Using cleaning materials that meet or exceed industry standards