Here’s What Hotels and Resorts Are Doing to Enhance Health and Sanitation Standards

Here’s What Hotels and Resorts Are Doing to Enhance Health and Sanitation Standards

Communities across the globe have worked to curb the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve—and some are now beginning to take cautious steps in their preparations to reopen. When it is safe to meet and travel again, it won’t be hard to spot the new normal, especially when it comes to hotel stays and events.

In an effort to create a safer environment for guests and employees when doors are open again, major hotel chains and resorts—including Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt—have unveiled some form of a new health and sanitation plan for their properties.

Nearly all plans from the different companies include increased frequency of cleaning and disinfecting rooms and public areas as well as providing additional safety training and personal protective equipment to employees.They differ in other strategies, including some who are implementing new technologies (thermal cameras, UV light) and one chain who plans to appoint Hygiene Managers at each hotel.

We break down what you need to know about each plan, and we will update this list as more hotels and meeting facilities share their reopening strategies.

Marriott

Marriott created the Marriott Global Cleanliness Council, staffed by some of the company’s senior leaders as well as food science and infectious disease experts. The goal is to “develop the next level of global hospitality cleanliness standards, norms and behaviors that are designed to minimize risk and enhance safety for consumers and Marriott associates alike,” according to a press release.

Changes rolling out in Marriott properties include:

• Guest rooms and public areas will be sanitized with electrostatic sprayers with hospital-grade disinfectant. (Pictured; courtesy of Marriott International)
• Marriott is testing ultraviolet light technology for sanitizing keys for guests and devices shared by employees.
• Furniture will be removed or rearranged to allow more space for physical distancing.
• Hand sanitizer will be placed at entrances, reception, elevator banks and fitness and meeting spaces.
• Marriott is also working to make masks and gloves available to employees.

Hilton

Hilton developed Hilton CleanStay with Lysol protection, a program where the hotel chain will partner with RB, the marker of Lysol and Dettol, and consult with Mayo Clinic to develop its new standards of cleanliness and disinfection in its properties around the world. RB and Mayo Clinic will advise Hilton hotels on cleaning protocols, training and education programs and quality assurance.

The program is still in development, but new standards under consideration include:

• Placing a room seal on doors to let guests know that their room has not been accessed since being thoroughly cleaned.
• Applying extra disinfection of the most frequently touched guest room areas, including light switches, door handles, TV remotes, thermostats, etc.
• Decluttering by removing pen, paper and guest directory — and supplementing with a digital replacement or making items available upon request.
• Possibly limiting the number of guests allowed in fitness centers at one time and closing them for cleaning multiple times a day.
• Providing disinfecting wipes in key high-traffic areas like primary entrances and elevator landings.
• Doubling down on its Digital Key technology for contactless check-in.

Guests can check-in, choose their room and access their room with a digital room key. They can also check-out using their mobile devices through the Hilton Honors mobile app at participating hotels.

Hyatt

Hyatt established a Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment to build on its existing health and safety protocols. It will include an accreditation process by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council — GBAC STAR accreditation — as well as employee training and support resources, and a working group of medical experts and industry professionals.

New plans include:

• By September 2020, appointing trained Hygiene Managers at every Hyatt hotel, an employee who will be responsible for their hotel adhering to the new operational guide and protocols.
• Administering employee surveys to gauge their comfort, the hotel’s cleanliness, working order, customer service, etc.
• Exploring purification and sanitization device installation in an effort to ensure enhanced air quality.
• Implementing physical distancing guidelines in public areas.
• Increased frequency of cleaning with hospital-grade disinfectants on all high-touch surfaces, guestrooms and shared spaces.

Wynn Las Vegas

 

Wynn Resorts’ reopening health and sanitation plan includes:

• Using thermal cameras at entry points to detect if an employee or guest has a temperature of more than 100 degrees F.
• Restaurant tables, slot machines and other physical layouts will be arranged to support physical distancing of no less than six feet apart.

Guests will also be advised to distance themselves no less than six feet from those who are not traveling with them.

• Hand sanitizer will be at entry points and other areas of contact (reception, lobby, casino floor, meeting and convention spaces, pools, elevator landings, etc.).
• Employees will receive COVID-19 training on safety and sanitation protocols.
• No more than four guests per elevator.
• Guests will receive an amenity bag during check-in that will include masks, hand sanitizer and a COVID-19 awareness card.
• Disinfecting wipes and spray sanitizer will be available in each room, subject to availability.

The Venetian Resort

New protocols for the Las Vegas resort include:

• Using thermal cameras at every resort entry point — including at the Congress Center and Sands Expo Convention Center — to discreet temperature checks. Those with a temperature at or over 100.4 degrees F will be subject to a secondary screening.
• Guests will receive a personal care amenity kit with hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, gloves and a personal face mask.
• The resort has a team of 25 EMTs available 24 hours a day. One-third of this EMT staff are on site every day.
• Administering physical distancing guidelines between guests not traveling together as well as restaurant tables and slot machines.
• Exploring UV light to disinfect select shipments arriving at the resort and equipment such as bell service carts and luggage.
• Making hand sanitizer readily available in high-traffic areas throughout the resort as well as in meetings rooms in use at the Congress Center and the

Sands Expo Convention Center.

• Reviewing seating capacities and floor plans on an event-by-event basis.

Stay up to date on the evolving coronavirus situation and its effect on the meetings, events and hospitality industries with this guide displaying the latest news and analysis.

Source:  Meetingstoday.com