Covid Policy

Taking care of our guests and employees' well-being is the essence of what we do. The recent Coronavirus pandemic has challenged this sense of well-being as it has impacted our economy, industry, and individual lives. Yet, working together, as one united industry, we can reassure everyone that hotels remain among the safest places for business, leisure, and employment.

Long before the Coronavirus, our hotels were dedicated to cleaning at the highest standards. It is in this spirit that we’ve adopted “SafeStay” – a commitment to enhanced cleaning measures and safety guidelines that help us meet and exceed the concerns created during the pandemic.

Hotel guests and employees deserve the peace of mind in knowing that our industry is united behind a common set of cleaning and safety practices which can be applied to any and every hotel. Safe Stay was created in accordance with guidance issued by public health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We are proud to join all major U.S. Hotel brands, travel & hospitality associations, along with individual hospitality associations from all 50 states endorse and perform Safe Stay.

Overview:

Enhanced cleaning guidelines throughout the hotel, including guest rooms, meeting spaces, common areas, and back-of-house spaces.

Superior cleaning products with a greater concentration of bacteria-killing ingredients, in accordance with CDC guidelines.

Social distancing practices and reducing person-to-person contact Increased transparency throughout your stay.

Responding swiftly and reporting to local health officials any presumed cases of COVID-19 at the hotel property is a staff-wide requirement.

Employees exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will remain or return home.

While at work, employees who notice a coworker or guest exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 should immediately contact a manager.

Our hotels follow the CDC guidelines for employers and businesses, including instructing employees to self-isolate for the required amount of time, as defined by the CDC, from the onset of symptoms and be symptom-free for at least three days without medication.

In accordance with CDC guidelines, an enterprise-level hazard assessment of the workplace are conducted to identify potential workplace hazards related to COVID-19.

Well-being checks of all employees, including virtual health checks, are carried out in accordance with CDC guidelines and/or as required by law.

Please refer to CDC’s General Business Frequently Asked Questions for more information on best practices for employee health checks.

During all times in which the usage of face coverings are recommended by the CDC and/or other local health authorities, health and hygiene reminders are placed at high-traffic areas on property, including the front lobby area at a minimum, indicating the proper way to wear, handle and dispose of coverings.

All employees receive COVID-19 safety and facility sanitation protocols training recommendations from the CDC with more comprehensive training, consistent with the CDC, for employees with frequent guest contact including Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Public Area Department, Hotel Operations, Security, Valet/Door/Bell Services, and Maintenance/Engineering.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 are immediately reported to local health authorities in accordance with appropriate actions recommended by the CDC. The confidentiality of guests or employees suspected of being infected of COVID-19 is protected as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and, if applicable, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Following our normal routine cleaning, we disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects using a product from EPA’s list of approved products that are effective against COVID-19.

Cleaning products and protocols include EPA-approved disinfectants, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol in accordance with CDC requirements for use and effectiveness against viruses, bacteria and other airborne and bloodborne pathogens.

Cleaning products and protocols include EPA-approved disinfectants, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol in accordance with CDC requirements for use and effectiveness against viruses, bacteria and other airborne and bloodborne pathogens.

In the event of a presumptive case of COVID-19 the affected guestroom are removed from service and quarantined for at least 24 hours in accordance with CDC guidelines. The guest room should not be returned to service until undergoing an enhanced cleaning and disinfecting utilizing EPA approved products within CDC guidelines.

Surfaces frequently touched by multiple people are cleaned and disinfected at least daily. More frequent cleaning and disinfection may be required based on level of use including, but not limited to, front desk check-in counters, bell desks, elevators and elevator buttons, door handles, public bathrooms, vending machines, ice machines, room keys and locks, ATMs, escalator and stair handrails, gym equipment and shower areas, pool seating and surrounding areas, dining surfaces and all seating areas. For more information, please refer to CDC guidelines on cleaning and disinfecting public spaces.

Button panels and handrails are disinfected at regular intervals, including the beginning of each housekeeping staff work shift and continuing throughout the day.

Food and beverage service should reduce in person contact with guests and buffet service and also minimize dining items for increased sanitation. Traditional room service is replaced with a no-contact delivery method. Traditional buffet services are limited, but when offered, they are served by an attendant wearing cloth face coverings, and utensils are washed and changed more frequently.

Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of food contact surfaces and utensils, as well as shared objects (i.e. condiments) and removal of unused items (i.e. glasses, silverware) on tables before and after guest use. Portion controls are emphasized to reduce food exposed for long periods. Sneeze and cough screens are present at all food displays. Minimal items are placed on guest tables to allow for effective disinfection in between each guest, including condiments, silverware, glassware, napkins, etc. For certain segments, the use of prepackaged foods and ‘grab & go’ items are the preferred method of food delivery.

Meeting and banquet arrangements should allow for physical distancing between guests based on CDC recommendations.

Hotel Front Desk, Concierge, and Parking Services

Front desk agents should practice physical distancing protocols and procedures, which may include utilizing every other workstation to ensure separation between employees whenever applicable and possible, installation of transparent shields or other barriers, and updating floor plans for communal areas to promote physical distancing. The use of technology to reduce direct contact with guests, lobby population and front desk queue is encouraged, where feasible. In addition, contactless payment processes are encouraged, and when not available, employees should minimize contact as much as possible. Self-parking options are emphasized, where possible. If valet service is provided, disinfecting of contact points within the vehicle is required. In addition, van and shuttle service are limited, and disinfecting of contact points will be required.

Physical distancing among all employees are practiced in employee dining rooms, uniform control areas, training classrooms, shared office spaces, and other high-density areas.