INTERNATIONAL REPORT—As the hotel industry readies for its reopening from the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of companies are implementing new cleanliness protocols so that they will be ready for the return of employees and staff. Here are some of them:
Red Roof
As the country gradually reopens for travel as restrictions ease, Red Roof has launched Red Roof RediClean, an initiative that includes rigorous enhanced cleaning protocols that address the new normal.
“Red Roof is ready to welcome guests back who have been sheltering in place,” said Andrew Alexander, president, Red Roof. “The Red Roof RediClean program is our commitment to enhanced cleaning, providing guests with the confidence they deserve as they once again begin to road trip throughout the country.”
Red Roof is following all government guidelines and best practice policies to protect guests and employees, in alignment with American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AHLA) Safe Stay initiative, an industry-wide enhanced standard of health and safety protocols. Red Roof properties and their staff members are armed with the cleaning protocols to keep themselves and their guests safe.
G6 Hospitality
G6 Hospitality, the parent company for the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands, has launched Clean@6, a comprehensive initiative designed to ensure that guests feel confident when staying at any of the brands’ nearly 1,400 locations across the U.S. and Canada.
The company has undertaken a comprehensive approach to protect against the spread of viruses by partnering with a combination of medical advisors, industrial cleaning providers and housekeeping specialists.
“We want Motel 6 and Studio 6 guests to know that we prioritize their health,” said Rob Palleschi, CEO of G6 Hospitality. “The majority of our properties have remained open during this crisis, enabling us to gather real-time intelligence to guide our decisions and best practices. Together with our trusted advisors and franchise partners, we adopted a thoughtful and proactive approach to serving guests in this new environment. I am proud our efforts have resulted in this new standard of care. Together, we have ‘left a light on’ for travelers.”
The “Clean@6” initiative focuses on three critical touchpoints. They include the following highlights: enhanced cleaning and sanitization; physical and social distancing; and safe behavior practices.
Rosen Hotels & Resorts
Rosen Hotels & Resorts has revealed its COVID-19 response plan. Experts from the company’s RosenCare healthcare program partnered with a specially appointed task force and created a comprehensive plan that applies specifically to the Rosen Hotels’ eight Orlando hotels.
Owner Harris Rosen created RosenCare in 1991 as his own self-funded associate healthcare program in response to rising healthcare insurance premiums for employers. The program includes the 12,000-sq.-ft. on-site Rosen Medical Center, with a 60-member staff including full-time doctors and nurses and various ancillary specialists to service the more than 6,000 associates and dependents on the plan.
The Rosen task force includes Dr. Ronald Ryan, the seven-year medical director of the Rosen Medical Center, as advisor. New procedures will be implemented at all eight properties and feature enhanced processes such as the cleaning of guest-centric public and back-of-house private areas with quick-acting hydrogen peroxide-based disinfectants considered effective by the CDC.
Meliá Hotels International
Meliá Hotels International has developed a program for the gradual reopening of its hotels in the post-COVID-19 recovery phase, and is working together with certification organization Bureau Veritas to ensure that it complies with the most rigorous health and safety standards and rigorously applies the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).
In addition to detailing the protocols and measures to optimize hygiene, the disinfection of facilities and the most important operational processes, the program also aims to prioritize a positive customer experience. To achieve this, the “Stay Safe with Meliá” program foresees the appointment in each hotel of a person responsible for the “emotional well-being” of guests and the verification of appropriate compliance with the processes designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Stonebridge Companies
In accordance with AHLA’s recently released Safe Stay cleaning standards, Stonebridge Companies will roll out enhanced cleaning practices at its portfolio of hotels nationwide.
This industry-wide initiative launched by the AHLA in accordance with guidance issued by public health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), is focused on enhanced hotel cleaning practices, social interactions, and workplace protocols to meet the new health and safety challenges and expectations presented by COVID-19.
“Stonebridge Companies is committed to delivering a clean and safe space to our guests while delivering our unique brand of Distinguished Hospitality,” said Navin Dimond, president/CEO. “Safe Stay will change hotel industry norms, behaviors and standards across all brands to ensure our hotel guests and team members are confident in the cleanliness and safety of hotels as travel increases. This initiative represents a new level of focus and transparency for an industry already built on cleanliness. With Safe Stay, our already rigorous standards will be further enhanced to boost consumer confidence and ensure travelers that hotels will be cleaner and safer than ever before.”
Wyndham Destinations
Wyndham Destinations has updated the cleaning protocols and preventative measures for its 230 vacation club resorts and sales centers. The company’s Vacation Ready program standards were developed in partnership with cleaning industry expert Ecolab.
The rigorous standards of the program include implementing enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures, and social distancing measures that cover every aspect of the guest experience. This includes the use of Ecolab’s hospital-grade, disinfectant products approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The new procedures build upon the company’s existing cleaning program that met CDC guidelines, and go a step further to exceed recommendations for complete associate, owner and guest confidence as resorts reopen in accordance with local and state regulations.
“The Ecolab service team is our expert partner, providing the resources and products needed to meet the highest cleaning standards to ensure peace of mind for our valued owners, members, guests and associates,” said Geoff Richards, COO of Wyndham Vacation Clubs. “We are committed to maintaining these exceptionally high standards so that our owners, who look forward to vacationing with us year after year, can feel confident that their resorts are Vacation Ready.”
Wynn Resorts
Wynn Resorts and University Medical Center (UMC) have partnered so that all employees of Wynn Las Vegas have access to testing for the COVID-19 virus at no cost to the employee.
UMC’s investment in a new lab has increased the capacity to perform thousands of tests per day. Wynn employees have direct access to COVID-19 testing at UMC-designated locations in Las Vegas.
“The sense of shared responsibility among partners such as University Medical Center and the Southern Nevada Health District to create a safe environment for our community, and in turn the tourists who will return to Las Vegas, has been absolutely remarkable,” said Matt Maddox, CEO of Wynn Resorts. “This enhanced testing capability and expanded contact tracing, combined with newly available tracking of benchmarks, are exactly the tools we need to keep our employees safe, our community secure and eventually welcome tourists back to Las Vegas.”
