L.A. Hotels Offer 10,000 Rooms as Temporary Shelter

LOS ANGELES—More than 115 hotels throughout Los Angeles County have volunteered their hotels to the county’s public health department, providing access to more than 10,000 rooms as temporary shelter to support the COVID-19 response, according to the Hotel Association of Los Angeles (HALA).

The unprecedented response by the L.A. hotel industry represents approximately 15% of all hotel rooms in the city, which are available to protect and isolate population segments vulnerable to the coronavirus outbreak.

“Our hotel community response is just one more example of the extraordinary men and women behind the hotel business,’’ said Heather Rozman, executive director, HALA. “Hospitality is a people business and in a time like this, we’re going to step up and take care of people; it’s what we do best.”

HALA and member hotels have been working with Mayor Eric Garcetti, city council members, county supervisors and county officials to determine how hotel rooms can best be deployed. Assuring the health of individuals who may occupy hotel rooms is a complicated process that is being addressed by public health officials and a multitude of state and local government leaders.

Priorities and processes continue to evolve for who would be housed in the hotels and how an individual’s health would be monitored while sheltering in a hotel, depending on the specific population served and the ever-changing health needs to keep Angelenos healthy and safe.

“Our hotel rooms are available now and we know our public officials are working hard to assure the well-being of all Angelenos and individuals who may need temporary shelter,’’ Rozman added. “Unprecedented challenges require unprecedented action, and our hope is that by opening up thousands of hotel rooms, we can reduce the spread of this virus at a time Los Angeles needs hospitality the most.”