STAY SAFE

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Hotels adopt pandemic protocols to keep travelers healthy

By Julia Thompson

S TRAVELERS SLOWLY BEGIN

Ato get back on the road and in the air amid the coronavirus pandemic, they may be wondering if it’s safe to stay in a hotel.

Hotels have rolled out a slew of cleaning and safety programs, and in July, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the industry’s major trade group, released a checklist for guests who plan to stay in hotels.

“Utilizing these best practices, including requiring face coverings and practicing social distancing in public spaces, will create an even safer environment for all our guests and employees,” Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA, said in a statement.

Dr. Keith Armitage , medical director of the University Hospitals Roe Green Center for Travel Medicine & Global Health in Cleveland , commends hotels’ efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19.

“A lot of hotels are really taking steps to mitigate risk — having online check-in, cleaning the rooms, keeping people out of the lobby — but again, it’s indoors with strangers,” he says. “If you’re walking through a hotel lobby, you want to have a mask on.”

Some hotels require that masks are worn and provide them to guests who need them.

Another thing to consider in public spaces: Armitage suggests not eating in a breakfast buffet area. “Take a mask, get your food and eat it in your room.”

Once you get to your room, be aware of high-touch surfaces.

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The AHLA traveler checklist includes these tips: ▶ Wear face coverings in all indoor public spaces and practice social distancing in all common areas.

▶ Choose contactless options, where available, including online reservations, check-in and payment. ▶ Consider daily room cleaning only if necessary. Ask the hotel about options. ▶ Request contactless room service delivery. ▶ Refrain from traveling if you have, or recently had, any symptoms of COVID-19 or contact with anyone diagnosed with it.

Joseph Khabbaza , a pulmonary medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic, says it’s a good idea to bring your own wipes to disinfectant surfaces in the room. Armitage agrees.

“In the room, there might be risk for higher-touch surfaces. You can wipe things down yourself, like the telephone and the doorknob and the most important thing, the remote control,” Armitage says.

Some hotels sanitize and then seal items in rooms, such as remotes, coffee cups and glassware, and have eliminated minibars.

Other hotels offer daily housekeeping only upon request, though Khabbaza says the risk of contracting the coronavirus from housekeeping should be relatively low.

The same is true of the risk of the virus spreading from room to room. With proper air circulation in your room, Armitage notes, it’s unlikely the virus will spread through the hotel ventilation system.

HILTON

COVID-19 CONSCIOUS These three hotel brands have taken steps to keep you safe:

Hilton

It’s Hilton’s policy that all guests and employees wear face coverings in indoor public areas of the hotel. “CleanStay” labels are attached to doors to let guests know that rooms have been sanitized and sealed. Signs encourage guests to social distance. Hilton’s protocol calls for disinfecting many surfaces in the room such as light switches, handles and knobs, major bathroom surfaces and the remote control.

Marriott

Marriott provides disinfecting wipes in rooms and hand-sanitizing stations are available throughout the hotel, including in elevator banks on guest floors. Plexiglass barriers separate guests from front desk workers. Marriott is following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization guidelines, as well as those from local health departments. Hyatt

Hyatt’s policy requires masks in indoor public areas and when moving around in outdoor areas. The company’s Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment includes an international cleanliness and training accreditation process and a trained hygiene and well-being leader or team at all locations. Hand-sanitizing stations are prominently placed throughout the hotels.

— David Oliver