July 11, 2020

Frasers Hospitality reopens properties with new cleaning measures

July 11, 2020/ Editor Hospemag

Frasers Hospitality is reopening its properties with new health and safety initiatives in place in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

Following the easing of restrictions in the UK, serviced residences in England reopened on July 4 and those in Scotland will open on July 15, with a phased reopening of boutique lifestyle hotels Malmaison and Hotel du Vin.

Fraser says it has introduced the following measures across its properties as part of its new #FraserCares initiative

For More Information Click Below:

www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2020/07/08/frasers-hospitality-reopens-properties-with-new-cleaning-measures/

June 12, 2020

Hospitality industry calls for two-metre social distancing rule to be halved

June 12, 2020/ Editor Hospemag

Key Take Away

Actioning advice from the World Health Organisation to use one meter for social distancing from July would enable many more pubs to viably reopen and serve their communities again.

UK Hospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls told BBC Radio 4'sToday program: "At two meters you are receiving 30 percent of your normal revenues, at one meter it gets up to 70 percent - so it is the difference between success and failure for many of those businesses.

The reopening of venues is expected to begin from July 4 in England and the Government is expected to publish its guidelines

For More Information

www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1292492/coronavirus-lockdown-two-metre-social-distancing-halved-hospitality-industry

June 06, 2020

Will home-sharing and luxury hotels recover sooner after COVID-19?

June 06, 2020/ Editor Hospemag

Key Take Away

STR (Smith Travel Research), a leading data analytics provider for the lodging industry, conducted an opinion survey about travelers' attitudes towards different types of accommodation facilities based on their preference from the past experience. One assumption for such an analysis is that travelers tend to stick to the same kind of accommodation facility for their trips.

The short-term rental/vacation rental/self-catering segment appears to be least affected for post-pandemic travel. There was only an 8 percent-point change (29% vs. 37%) for the group who would travel less.

For More Information

https://youtu.be/pXkF8BeIuiM

www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4099019.html

May 07, 2020

An Update from Marriott’s CEO on Commitment to Cleanliness

May 07, 2020/ Editor Hospemag

Marriott International has always placed an emphasis on health and safety for our guests and associates. Our founder, J.W. Marriott, used to personally inspect kitchens and guest rooms for cleanliness during his hotel visits. A high standard of cleanliness is in our DNA.

The COVID-19 pandemic has required us to raise our demanding standards to an even higher level with new protocols for the current circumstances.

Marriott has put in place a multi-pronged approach designed to meet the health and safety challenges presented by COVID-19. Below is an overview of the key components of Marriott's Commitment to Cleanliness.

Marriott Global Cleanliness Council: Consisting of in-house and outside experts in food and water safety, hygiene and infection prevention, and hotel operations, the council will work to develop a new generation of global hospitality cleanliness standards, norms and behaviors for our more than 7,300 properties around the globe.
New Cleaning Technologies: While our council develops its work, we have initiated plans to roll out enhanced technologies at our properties over the next few months, including electrostatic sprayers and the highest classification of disinfectants recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization to sanitize surfaces throughout hotels.
Cleaning Regimen Changes: When guests check into our hotels over the next few months, they will notice a number of additions to our cleaning regimen designed to set an even higher standard of cleanliness for the hotels as well as modifications to associate-guest protocols developed to be consistent with recommended social distancing guidelines.
The steps we're taking on cleanliness and new hospitality norms are as much about the health and safety of associates as they are about our guests.
By taking care of associates and following these new protocols - we will be collectively taking care of our guests and the global community.

May 06, 2020

Choice Hotels Announces Commitment To Clean Initiative

May 06, 2020/ Guest User

Building on the existing dedication to cleanliness at its nearly 6,000 franchised hotels in the United States, Choice Hotels International, Inc. announced a new initiative: Commitment to Clean. The initiative is Choice Hotels' holistic approach to supplying franchisees and their employees with the tools they need to help Choice-branded hotels achieve superior levels of cleanliness, and address health and safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commitment to Clean leverages Choice's long-standing relationship with Ecolab, the industry expert and global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention technologies and services; guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization and the U.S. Travel Association; and Choice's membership in the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) Safe Stay Advisory Council, to provide hotels with the latest resources and training.

The Commitment to Clean initiative builds on Choice Hotels' long-standing cleanliness protocols, and enhances the existing program with guidance developed in response to the pandemic, including recommendations related to deep cleaning, disinfecting, hygiene, and social distancing best practices and protocols.

Protocols

Heightened cleaning protocols for high-traffic areas such as the front desk, fitness centers and pools, as well as other high-touch surfaces throughout the hotel, using hospital-grade disinfectant approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to combat the spread of COVID-19

Housekeeping "on-demand" option that allows guests to request delivery of additional toiletries, towels, linens or coffee without having a housekeeper enter the room.

Products

Design enhancements to help facilitate contactless check-in and check-out, such as plexiglass partitions at front desks for added protection and key drops for guests' use upon departure.

"Clean seals" on certain high-touch items in guest rooms to provide reassurance of sterilized condition.

Communications

On-property signage and decals reiterating CDC social distancing guidelines, personal sanitation guidelines and the importance of surface cleaning.
Communications from front desk staff to guests about precautions taken for their safety and comfort, and reminders about additional safeguards available at guests' choosing.

May 04, 2020

WTTC Outlines What “The New Normal” Will Look Like As We Start To Travel

May 04, 2020/ Guest User

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has outlined what the "new normal" will look like as countries begin to end their COVID-19 lockdowns and ease travel restrictions.

"Travelling in the New Normal" is part of WTTC's plan which includes critical steps and coordinated actions, including new standards and protocols, which offer a safe and responsible road to recovery for the global Travel & Tourism sector as consumers start planning trips again.

Public-private collaboration between business and governments is vital to develop new health protocols which will form the travel experience and also provide people with strong reassurances when travelling.

WTTC believes younger travellers in the 18-35 age group, who appear to be less vulnerable to COVID-19, may also be among the first to begin travelling once again.

"We should avoid new, unnecessary procedures that create bottle necks and slow down the recovery. However, a quick and effective restart of travel will only happen if governments around the world agree to a common set of health protocols developed by the private sector, such as those we've outlined.

"These must provide the reassurance travellers and authorities need, using new technology, to offer hassle-free, pre-vaccine 'new normal' travel in the short term."

This includes the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Airport Council International (ACI), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), United States Travel Association (USTA), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Travel Commission (ETC) and the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

IATA, ACI and ICAO are pooling their crucial expertise and are working closely to define the best protocols to keep travellers and employees safe to enable the aviation sector to recover. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other health experts have also contributed by providing their experience from various global medical crises.

There will be new protocols for check-in involving digital technology; hand sanitiser stations at frequent points including where luggage is stored; contactless payment instead of cash; using stairs more often than lifts where the 2 meter rule can be harder to maintain; and fitness equipment being moved for greater separation among other examples.

There are positive signs of the first green shoots of recovery. Research by travel data and analytics expert Cirium shows that over 30% of domestic capacity has returned to the Chinese aviation market in the last two months

WTTC says the Travel & Tourism sector is now facing over 100 million job losses worldwide due to the coronavirus pandemic, at a cost of up to US$2.7 trillion of GDP.

In 2019, Travel & Tourism contributed 10.3% of Global GDP, was responsible for generating one in four of the world's new jobs and, for nine successive years, had outpaced the growth of the global economy.

April 25, 2020

Covid-19 Crisis: Value engineering for hotels is the key

April 25, 2020/ Editor Hospemag

The engineering department of a hotel holds great importance for a property to function efficiently. By providing utility services like electricity, steam, hot water, air-conditioning and refrigeration and maintaining engineering and services of various other equipment, the chief engineers are undoubtedly the backbone of a hotel

Chief engineers across all hotels in the country are figuring out ways to keep their hotel operating and running smoothly, post lockdown.

Sanitisation for us will be the most important aspect. We may look forward to adding more toilets around the properties. Even when we start operating, we would go with 50% of the workforce at a time

The virus becomes suspended in droplets smaller than five micrometres, known as aerosols, it can stay suspended for about a half-hour, before drifting down and settling on surfaces where it can linger for hours.The finding on aerosol, in particular, is inconsistent with the World Health Organization’s position that the virus is not transported by air. This has opened up a whole new sphere for engineers to work on.

We as engineers have to ensure that air inside a room or a public space like a lobby or restaurants, keeps changing. More air handling units will have to be installed in hotels. Instead of taking the air back, there should be a provision of pumping fresh air” said Rothin Banerjee, Director - Engineering, Taj Palace, New Delhi.

For Rahul Singh Sisodia, Director - Engineering JW Marriott, Aerocity, New Delhi, value engineering in the current situation is the key as a huge amount of liquidity and cash flow is needed to ensure the efficiency of a hotel.

April 22, 2020

Marriott plans to spray disinfectant in guest rooms, sanitize keys to stop COVID-19

April 22, 2020/ Editor Hospemag

From spraying guest rooms with disinfectant to sanitizing room keys, hotel giant Marriott International became one of the first major hotel groups to outline how it plans to reassure guests of cleanliness in the age of the coronavirus

Guests may notice some of the changes from the moment they step into a Marriott property: Furniture in public areas will be rearranged to promote social distancing.

Marriott's promise of a new level of cleanliness may be an early sign of changes that will sweep the hotel industry as chains and individual properties compete to lure guests by offering the most coronavirus-resistant environment. The strategy could be critical to trying to create a rebound for hotels as stay-at-home orders are lifted and travel resumes.

In perhaps the biggest change, Marriott said it will use electrostatic sprayers with hospital-grade disinfectants to sanitize throughout the hotel. Besides guest rooms, the sprayers will be used in lobbies, gyms and other public areas. It said the cleaning agents used would be those recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization to kill all known pathogens.

The company is testing ultraviolet light technology for sanitizing room keys, and adding hand sanitizer stations and signs in the lobby to remind anyone who enters to keep their distance from others. Marriott is also taking a look at what to do at properties that offer buffet service.

April 10, 2020

Automating hospitality in times of social distancing

April 10, 2020/ Editor Hospemag

The global COVID-19 pandemic has brought the travel and hospitality sectors to a halt. The calls to enact social distancing measures mean no more travelling or meeting friends at pubs or restaurants. The consequences are devastating for airlines, hotels, events, restaurants etc. and result in closures and job loss around the world. Although governments have taken various measures to address these, we can expect consumers to remain cautious when interacting with others, thus continuing the negative impact beyond t he end of the crisis.

Giving a careful consideration to immediate and long-term impacts of the pandemic and social distancing measures on overall consumer behaviour and business continuity, integrating automation into service operations could help addressing some of the issues around safety and access

Attitude Change

In this period of isolation, we are witnessing how people change behaviours that long have been taken for granted: shaking hands or standing closely next to somebody to order drinks at a bar

Importantly, having limited mobility and restricted access to services while in lockdown may bring about felt needs for automated services and self-service technologies. Some consumers may get used to ordering meals online or through an app and opting for 'click and collect' or delivery for other shopping needs.

Beneficial Automation

As suggested here, key to implementing automation in travel and hospitality is ensuring that the technology will bring value and benefits to the industry and its people. We have seen cases where robots and other automated machines can help with the operational upkeep of buildings and facilities. Hotels employ robots to sanitise rooms and common areas, freeing staff from risk of contamination

With the likes of World Health Organisation (WHO) implementing chatbots to spread information about COVID-19, businesses can use similar conversational agents to engage employees and customers while they are on lockdown

Responsible Adoption

Looking into the future, the emphasis should be about responsible adoption of automation, whereby technologies augment people in delivering what the businesses do best: hospitality. As outlined here, adoption of automation in the travel and hospitality sectors should be balanced with priorities to invest in people. Perhaps while letting the robots handle things at work, we should give employees opportunities to up their digital skills at home, but only if they wish to.