The spread of COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, has disrupted industries around the globe. The travel and hospitality sector has been brought to a complete standstill causing many to undergo changes once the pandemic comes to an end. The way people travel on planes and stay at hotels will be changed forever.
Hotels already had accusations surrounding their cleanliness such as not washing their sheets between new guests among other unsanitary methods. According to Inc, Hilton recently unveiled its plan to collaborate with RB, maker of Lysol and Dettol, and the Mayo Clinic to create Hilton CleanStay with Lysol protection.
The hotel brand said in a statement that the new initiative was intended to “create a focus on cleanliness that will be visible to guests throughout their entire stay–in their guest rooms, restaurants, fitness rooms, and in other public spaces.”
This news comes when the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) came forward this week to introduce its new Safe Stay initiative, an industry-wide, enhanced standard of health and safety protocols designed to prepare America’s hotels to safely welcome back guests and employees as the economy reopens amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The new protocol was developed under the guidance of an advisory council (comprised of industry leaders representing all segments of the hotel industry) and with public health experts to advance best practices for protecting against the coronavirus.
“Safe Stay was developed specifically to ensure enhanced safety for hotels guests and employees. While hotels have always employed demanding cleaning standards, this new initiative will ensure greater transparency and confidence throughout the entire hotel experience,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA, in a press statement. “The industry’s enhanced hotel cleaning practices, social interactions, and workplace protocols will continue to evolve to meet the new health and safety challenges and expectations presented by COVID-19.”