Quick Guide to Implementing New Health and Hygiene Guidelines 

In our final deep dive into different workplaces, we review the products and procedures the hotel and lodging industry need to safely get back to work.

To meet the health and safety challenges and expectations presented by COVID-19, the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) launched a program called Safe Stay. This initiative is focused on enhanced hotel cleaning practices, social interactions and workplace protocols while ensuring transparency throughout the guest journey. Safe Stay seeks to change hotel industry norms, behaviors and standards to ensure both hotel guests and employees are confident in the cleanliness and safety of hotels.

Please review these recommendations in accordance with Federal, State and local regulations and guidance, as well as industry best practices.

Social Distancing 

Employees and guests should social distance whenever possible which means avoiding close contact.

• Limit the number of people allowed in designated areas.
• Add space between people in high-traffic areas like queuing areas, guest rooms, meetings and convention spaces, front desk areas, concierge, parking services, pools and beaches and back of the house. This can be accomplished with room dividers and partitions, like plastic protection screens and mobile dividers from Ghent and countertop shields from Waddell. Another option is to incorporate cleanable desk and room dividers – we recommend products from Lumeah.
• Floor markings are a good way to encourage and remind hotel employees and guests of distancing. This can easily be achieved by using high quality and durable vibrantly colored tape, like Duck Brand Duck Tape. You can also create a traffic-flow pattern on the floor with tape.

Personal Hygiene 

Hotel staff and guests should wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially during key times (like before preparing and serving food, before eating and after using the restroom) when people are likely to get and spread germs.

• We recommend stocking bathrooms and handwashing stations with antimicrobial hand soap as much as possible. We like the convenient wall dispensers and foaming hand soap from Dial.
• Single-use disposable towels are one of the safest options for drying hands. We recommend using a sustainable choice for paper products, like 100% Recycled Folded Paper Towels from Marcal. They also offer 100% recycled facial tissue and toilet paper.
• Hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol should be offered if soap and water are not immediately available. We also recommend putting hand sanitizer throughout the property to encourage staff to use it often. Dial offers gel and foam hand sanitizers, as well as moisturizing options.

Disinfection / Sanitization 

High-traffic areas like public spaces and communal areas, guest rooms, laundry, guest elevators, back of the house, shared equipment, room recovery and food and beverage areas should be cleaned frequently with soap and water and then disinfected. Guest rooms and items that go into the rooms (such as bedding, bathroom towels, soaps, etc.) should be treated with extra care and disinfected when possible.

• Cleaning and disinfecting should be frequent (multiple times per day) with an emphasis on frequently touched hard non-porous surfaces.
• Use an EPA-approved disinfectant that meets CDC requirements for use and against viruses, bacteria and other airborne and bloodborne pathogens. Lysol and Zep both offer a variety of cleaning products like laundry sanitizer, disinfectant spray, all-purpose cleaner, antibacterial cleaner and wipes to help with cleaning, disinfection and sanitization.
• Fresh carries an all-purpose cleaner and deodorizer that can be used on a variety of surfaces, as well as a variety of bathroom deodorizers.

Wellness 

To prevent illness, hotel employees and guests should implement extra precautions that promote wellness in and around the property.

• Employees and guests should be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like facemasks and gloves in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Medline and Curad both carry a variety of face masks, face shields, disposable gowns and gloves.
• Hotels should require mandatory temperature checks for all staff upon arrival. Medline offers contactless thermometers.
• Air filters in AC units and air purifiers may need to be changed more regularly. The longer a filter is in place, the more dirt, dust and allergens are trapped clogging the filter and decreasing their efficiency. Ideal offers a robust air purifier system removes 99.9% of pathogen viruses, bacteria, mold spores, and air pollutants.
• Encourage everyone to use their own work tools. If sharing is necessary, like pens for guests, disinfect and sanitize these items between uses.
• Provide single-use supplies like paper towels and foodservice items whenever possible.

Additional details and resources can be found in the full Safe X Secure White paper.

If you would like more information about any of our recommended products, email us at [email protected]. Include your name, business name, location(s) and contact information and a Highlands representative will be in touch with you.