Enhanced safety for hotels guests and employees is our top priority.
Hotel and lodging staff members will be reoriented with “new normal” operating procedures prior to returning to their duties to ensure they are trained on all Center for Disease Control and Prevention and brand guidelines that will need to be followed. Below are resources from the Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association and the American Hotel & Lodging Association to ensure properties safely welcome back employees and guests as the New Orleans area economy reopens.
Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association
Reopening Hospitality Best Practices Guidelines*
Guest-Facing Associates
Mask/face covering recommended and/or protective partition. Gloves optional depending on team member’s function.
Sneeze guard at front desk and cashier stations.
Elimination of baggage check/handling or provide Bell Cart sanitation station.
Keep guest/team member transactions as touchless as possible. Credit card only with email/text receipts.
Single use brochures/maps — no recycling.
Dining Areas
Reduce seating to 50 percent of capacity or current CDC, state and local guidelines.
Limited walk-up service at bars or holding bars for waiting guests with appropriate mask/face covering and/or protective partition. Develop a text/email notification for those with or without reservations.
Provide messaging with appropriate direction and reminder to practice social distancing and personal hygiene.
Touchless check presentation and single use pens for credit card transactions via use of trays.
Disposable printed menus or sanitation between each guest use.
Private dining limited to the maximum guests recommended by current CDC, state and local guidelines.
Team Member Care
Employee temp screening: Any temp of 100.7 or over is to be sent home with recommended 14-day quarantine. Return to work with appropriate testing results. (Note: Some corporate hotels not allowed to temp screen.)
Verbal screen: Inquire for basic symptoms fever, cough, difficulty breathing. Inquire about potential exposure to any one you may have come in contact with over the last 14 days.
Break rooms: Practice social distancing and post appropriate messaging. Designate seating with scheduled hours by department. Utilize pre-packaged food in disposable containers and utensils. Sanitize area between each seating.
Office Spaces: Utilize remote work options. Schedule rotation as needed for social distancing and be sure to sanitize area in-between groups
Employee locker rooms: Schedule access to space by department or shift. Be sure to message social distancing and personal hygiene practices.
Building / Facility / Amenities
Designate all public areas with appropriate marking to indicate proper social distancing particularly areas that are prone to queue such as registration, concierge, dining and restrooms.
Provide sanitizing stations throughout public areas.
Designate egress through one-way only entrance and exit if possible
Pool / Fitness centers: Post appropriate messaging for social distancing practices. Station attendant to monitor and regularly sanitize.
Parking: Provide self-parking option and escort if plausible. For valet service provide sanitizing wipes to guests upon delivery of vehicle. Valet to sanitize driver’s area before delivering vehicle and leave appropriate messaging in vehicle for guest.
Elevators: Provide messaging to advise car capacity based on social distancing requirements.
Public Restrooms: Post messaging for appropriate social distancing and personal hygiene. Station attendant to monitor and regularly sanitize area. Post hourly documented cleaning schedule.
*As we move forward, CDC, state, local and brand guidelines may develop, which practices will be followed.
American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Enhanced
Industry-Wide Cleaning Guidelines
The hotel industry has a longstanding commitment to cleanliness and safety for our employees and guests. We continue this commitment during the public health crisis. The American Hotel & Lodging Association has issued health and safety guidelines that represent best practices for the hotel industry, in accordance with CDC guidelines, during the re-opening phase of the economy. It is anticipated that these guidelines and protocols will evolve based on the recommendations of public health authorities and must be done in compliance with any federal, state and local laws.