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Hotel industry across U.S. & Canada unite around enhanced safety, cleaning standards

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AHLA’s Safe Stay Program endorsed by hospitality leaders in all 50 States and Canada.

WASHINGTON - As states across the country navigate reopening and hotels begin to safely welcome back guests, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) announced that hospitality leaders across North America have endorsed Safe Stay, AHLA’s enhanced industry-wide cleaning guidelines. AHLA’s Partner State Associations, who represent the hotel industry in each state across the country, as well as leading hospitality organizations in the U.S. and Canada representing the depth and breadth of the hotel industry endorsed the new cleanliness guidelines which were developed by industry leaders and public health officials to meet the new health challenges of COVID-19.

“As we reopen hotel doors and welcome back the traveling public, it is critical that the hotel industry across North America unite under one common set of safety, cleanliness and health standards so that our employees and guests can be assured that hotels will be cleaner and safer than ever before. Along with North America’s top hospitality leaders, we believe this industry-wide effort will ensure greater transparency and confidence throughout the entire hotel experience,” said Chip Rogers, President and CEO of AHLA. “Ensuring the safety of our guests and employees is a never-ending challenge, and in the face of the current public health crisis, safety is more paramount than ever.”

In addition to industry-wide endorsement of Safe Stay, local and state government organizations are also utilizing the industry protocols to inform governors, mayors, legislators and attorneys general as they work locally to reopen economies. 

“As a local leader, knowing the hotel industry stands united behind the standards of the Safe Stay initiative gives me and my fellow mayors across the country the confidence to reopen our communities to visitors as the virus subsides,” said Acquanetta Warren, Chairwoman of Community Leaders of America, Mayor, Fontana, CA. “Providing hotel guests and employees with an assurance of safety and cleanliness is essential to the economic rebound we’re pursuing in Fontana, up and down California, and across the United States.”

Hotels have always met rigorous standards for cleaning and safety and these enhanced guidelines are rooted in recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This initiative brings a new level of focus and transparency to an industry already built on cleanliness.

Already, Safe Stay has been adopted in AHLA-member hotels in all 50 states, and the following endorsements represent an even broader reach across the entire industry:

“As provinces across Canada begin to reopen, we wanted to ensure that hotels are ready to welcome guests safely and with the highest health and safety standards,” said Susie Grynol, President and CEO of HAC. “Even though hotels were the first hit and hardest hit by the pandemic, we have been a leader in ensuring that our establishments are following the latest scientific evidence and safety standards. We want to ensure that hotels across Canada are ready and able to open safely, and that guests have confidence in Canada’s hotel sector as we begin the transition to a new reality over the coming weeks and months.”

“As travel begins to resume in states across the country, the hotel industry is going above and beyond to protect both our employees and guests,” said Cecil Staton, President and CEO of AAHOA. “Safe Stay represents the top priority for the industry, and as we continue to face this public health crisis together, our industry will continue to focus on providing a greater level of confidence for consumers.”

“The hospitality industry is built on a foundation of taking care of people, and Safe Stay renews our industry’s legacy of commitment to meet the public health crisis,” said Lynette Montoya, President and CEO of LHA. “While some aspects of a traditional hotel stay might be different, travelers should rest reassured knowing our industry has considered every measure to create the safest environment for employees and guests.”

“Hotels have always held the highest cleaning standards and in the face of this public health crisis, our industry is uniting around enhanced guidelines to keep our employees and guests safe and healthy. Safe Stay’s rigorous standards will create an environment where travelers and employees know we are putting their health and wellbeing first,” said Andy Ingraham, President and CEO of NABHOOD.

Industry leaders representing all segments of the hotel industry worked in conjunction with public health experts to develop this common set of best practices that could be applied across the entire industry. The “Safe Stay” guidelines provide direction on employee and guest health, employee responsibilities, cleaning products and protocols and physical distancing and will be revised as needed based on the recommendations of public health authorities, in compliance with any federal, state and local laws.