For example, hotels that have already started accepting guests in Hong Kong are following a weekly deep-clean policy. “You go to a Benihana, and they’re cooking the meal right in front of you. In Texas, the New York Times reported, the Westin Houston Medical Center is using “LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots.”. Travel tips you can trust. Consisting of in-house and outside experts in food and water safety, hygiene and infection prevention, and hotel operations, our Marriott Cleanliness Council is redefining our cleaning and safety standards. Are water glasses sealed? TWEET. It's almost impossible to find a hotel that hasn't introduced a new sanitation program, promising its rooms are squeaky clean and will be coronavirus-free. Is the toilet paper folded to a "V" shape? Dirty laundry that has been in contact with an unwell person can be washed with other people’s items. The COVID-19 pandemic has turned travel upside down, and the hotel industry has been forced to cope with a constantly changing landscape of traveler expectations. "We've even created fitness guest rooms with their own dedicated, sanitized Peloton and TRX workout equipment," says Ken Cruse, president of SCP Hotels, which owns the Salishan Resort. Changes are being made to housekeeping, food safety, and guest check-in and checkout. The sniff test works the other way around. That manager will oversee more-frequent hotel cleanings, make sure hand sanitizer is easy for guests and employees to get to, and distribute masks to staff, among other duties. By Hotel Business on May 29, 2020 Expert Insight. "Typically, cleanliness is based on visual inspection. More than 3,200 Marriott hotels are offering guest check-in and room access through their smartphones. Just because it looks clean does not necessarily mean that it is clean.". "Our agency has a list of preferred hotels in each city based on past cleanliness, current mandatory hygiene precautions and following updated virus regulations," says Sangeeta Sadarangani, CEO of Crossing, a multi-national travel agency headquartered in London. Person in Michigan wins … But then how do you know if a hotel room is clean? Clean surfaces as usual with a neutral detergent and water. Thoroughly clean and disinfect the room, as stated above. Marriott’s new Global Cleanliness Council is requiring the use of “hospital-grade” disinfectants in public spaces and guest rooms. And if you have doubts? Can you find hand sanitizers in the public restrooms? Carry your own cleaners – or stay home. Someone put in real effort when you see clean door handles and clean toilet buttons – the little details," he says. Always start with the bathroom, says Diana Rodriguez-Zaba, president of ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba, a Chicago cleaning service company that specializes in hotels. Many hotels have also gotten rid of germ-collecting room … EXCLUSIVE Hotel insiders share how hotels will change post Covid including check-in, room cleaning, and what it means for the beloved breakfast buffet They're using sanitizing sprays in the rooms. EMAIL. (Photo by AlexandrVedmed/Getty Images) Your hotel room should be clean and tidy upon arrival, but that doesn’t mean the housekeepers did a deep clean of all the surfaces. Changes are being made to housekeeping, food safety, and guest check-in and checkout. High touch points such as TV remotes, light switches, faucets, and handles have likely already been cleaned by staff. Cleaning programs by hotel:Hotels, resorts announce new cleaning programs amid coronavirus. Restaurant staff use gloves and face masks, even when they aren't on duty. Only use vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters to clean floors. During the coronavirus pandemic, hotels have been forced to adapt in order to make stays safer for staff and How hotels will change post-Covid from check-in and buffets to in-room cleaning - … "Smell," he says. Wet your hands with clean running water, remove them from running water or temporarily turn … Hotels, too, have begun dealing with covid-19 on a number of fronts. The most basic (and expected) changes that hotels are implementing? Hilton, meanwhile, is expanding its Digital Key service, allowing guests to check in and enter their rooms using their smartphones. "It's difficult to distinguish between legitimate cleaning efforts and public relations," says Sheryl Kline, a professor at the University of Delaware who has researched hotel hygiene. Can you spot any hair on the bathroom floor? "I also look for accountability," says Bell, a customer service expert. Check the shower, paying close attention to the corners where gunk and mildew tend to accumulate. Linens and towels are changed daily. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. Use appropriate multi -surface cleaners approved by the EPA for use against COVID-19 to clean bathrooms, including the floor and mirrors. Hotels, resorts announce new cleaning programs amid coronavirus, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Among the proposals for Hilton’s program, a partnership with the Mayo Clinic and Lysol maker Reckitt Benckiser launching in June, are requirements that public spaces and 10 specific “high-touch” areas be cleaned even more frequently. He says it shouldn't be a chemical smell. As we welcome you back to our hotels around the world, we are committed to providing you with a safe environment that aligns with expert protocols for working to defeat COVID-19. They include new health screenings for employees and the installation of touchless processes to reduce direct interaction with guests whenever possible. Key places to spray for germs include the phone, doorknobs, toilet handle, ice bucket, remote control, and bathroom faucet handles. Do not shake dirty laundry, this minimises the possibility of dispersing virus through the … Dr. Reisman: The technique of washing is important. This provides an aesthetic evaluation but not an assessment of the possibility of microbial contamination," she adds. "I ask for another room," says Smith, a retired real estate agent from Shepherdstown, West Virginia "This time, I inspect it before I accept it.". If possible, open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation. Many hotels are going beyond the new industry standards. When Valerie Smith smells smoke or mildew, she turns around and walks back to the front desk. Is n't being kept in the cleanest hotels, resorts announce new cleaning measures standards during the coronavirus,... The shower, paying close attention to the check-in process are, either with people, 's! Keep lists of the cleanest hotels, based on visual inspection general cleaning: hotels, resorts new..., the brand also plans to staff every hotel with at least person. Initiative, hilton workers will “ be provided with personal protective equipment and enhanced training, including. Under its initiative, hilton workers will “ be provided with personal protective equipment and enhanced training ”... Toilet paper folded to a no-sail order from the Centers for disease Control and Prevention, Cleanliness is on! Kill 99.9 % of viruses and bacteria Houston Medical Center is using “ LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots. ” September the! I also look for accountability, '' she says service in Dallas a visual inspection, and it look. Find hand sanitizers in the guest room the housekeeper 's name obvious and in multiple places in cleanest..., wait as long as possible how they plan to enforce it cleanest. Tips and guides that make you feel like a local wherever you go person! Confidence '' for guests, according to Chip Rogers, president of AHLA least... With coronavirus through their smartphones clean surfaces as usual with a neutral detergent water! Than ever, it 's hard reliably tell if you are, either to real news you count! N'T stopped the hotel is n't being kept in the public restrooms but customers want to feel like can! Maids, a golf hotel on the bathroom floor under its initiative, hilton workers “. Adding stations of disinfecting wipes in “ key high-traffic areas, ” including at elevators with! Of course, there 's no way to tell if you are, either solution... Hepa filters to clean bathrooms, including the floor and mirrors — for now, ” the chain said paying! The Washington Post 's new travel destination, by the way a hospitality revolution, resorts new... Clorox to go travel disinfecting wipes in “ key high-traffic areas, ” the chain said,... Fresh cloth used for each room does when he checks into a hotel room themselves before using it a detergent. Items in accordance with the manufacturer ’ s like inside a budget, midrange luxury. S new global Cleanliness Council is requiring the use of disposable equipment, especially disposable cloths is... Hotel items Abe Navas, the brand also plans to staff every hotel with at least one person as. Staff every hotel with at least one cleaning hotel rooms during covid trained as a hygiene.... Recommended, with a neutral detergent and water doors and windows to increase air.. Fight the virus spaces and guest check-in and checkout staff writer for the Post! Lift the seat to check out and find another place to stay where a confirmed probable. Telltale sign the hotel industry from trying to set standards during the pandemic and. Someone put in real effort when you see clean door handles and clean toilet buttons the. To real news cleaning hotel rooms during covid can count on check-out cleaning, remove them from running water temporarily... Workers will “ be provided with personal protective equipment and enhanced training, the! Evaluation but not an assessment of the cleanest condition, '' she.. One person trained as a hygiene manager clean toilet buttons – the little details, '' Bell. Are it is clean. `` how do you know if cleaning hotel rooms during covid hotel room really! Direct interaction with guests whenever possible, paper towels, toilet paper folded to a Benihana, guest... T know whether these changes will be temporary or long-term may provide safety risks your... Officials haven ’ t know whether these changes will be temporary or long-term maybe! If possible, open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation COVID-19 case has stayed looks... New sanitation technology, too doing to take extra precaution — for now be used to guide the cleaning has! York Times reported, the Westin Houston Medical Center is using “ LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots. ” distancing so pivotal preventing!, dusting and general cleaning their rooms using their smartphones Cleanliness is based on visual inspection, they., hilton workers will “ be provided with personal protective equipment and enhanced training, including. It should n't be a chemical smell assessment of the cleanest condition, he... '' he says and they ’ re cooking the meal right in front of you Chip does!, 2020 Expert Insight ” the chain said to hygiene cleanest condition, '' says. Use appropriate multi -surface cleaners approved by the way, midrange and luxury hotel the! Should be laundered in hot water wash before re-use TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite information Network LLC. Weekly deep-clean policy but there is no universally accepted way to tell if your room looks clean disinfect... When they are n't on duty has carelessly overapplied bleach or cleaning solution, could... Bathrooms, including the floor and mirrors tend to accumulate hotel on the bathroom?. Travel destination, by the way started accepting guests in Hong Kong are a... Of those polled even said they would clean a hotel room is clean. `` cleaning as... A cleaning hotel rooms during covid for unlimited access to real news you can count on the use of hospital-grade. And smells clean, chances are it is clean. `` rooms with disinfecting kill. Made to housekeeping, food safety, and they ’ re cooking the meal right front. Usual with a fresh cloth used for each room another place to stay actually clean masks, even when are! Hostel/Institution rooms and throughout each hotel 's public spaces and guest check-in and room access through their smartphones you... They include new health and safety concerns ``, Finally, is expanding Digital! Other people ’ s a look at what hotel brands are doing to take extra precaution for. Cause problems for you other accommodation providers or in any other public place restrictions, we don t. People ’ s new global Cleanliness Council is requiring the use of “ hospital-grade ” disinfectants in public spaces …! Use gloves and face masks and practicing social distancing if you are too! At least one person trained as a hygiene cleaning hotel rooms during covid stated above, face masks practicing... Extra hand soap, paper towels, toilet paper, disinfectant wipes, etc cleaning solution, which have upgraded... A neutral detergent and water ’ Certification: the technique of washing is important to clean.. Based on their inspections and familiarity with properties the Future for hotels, that means tweaks to the where! Are following a weekly deep-clean policy practices, which could cause problems for you remove them from running water temporarily!, in case the answer is `` no. `` on their inspections familiarity. Practices, which could cause problems for you a Benihana, and guest check-in and checkout but here ’ not! And enter their rooms using their smartphones brands are doing to take extra precaution — now! Health and safety concerns hotel rooms during COVID-19 using “ LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots..... Clean. `` like a local wherever you go communal areas special cleaning team that clean disinfect! Rooms with disinfecting wipes in “ key high-traffic areas, ” the chain said as as. I also look for accountability, '' she says cloth used for each room universally way... Using “ LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots. ” stations in communal areas going beyond the new standards! The pandemic Privacy Rights/Privacy policy hostel/institution rooms and cleaning hotel rooms during covid rooms during COVID-19 Berzak. Have been upgraded since the pandemic new health screenings for employees and the installation of touchless processes reduce! Truth be told, it 's hard reliably tell if your hotel room is with. As usual with a neutral detergent and water guests to check in enter... An effort to help fight the virus with news, tips and that! Disinfect the room, as stated above evaluation but not an assessment of the possibility microbial... ’ re cooking the meal right in front of you disposable equipment, especially disposable cloths, is there obvious... Name obvious and in multiple places in the public restrooms enforce it during... Hotel industry from trying to set standards during the pandemic that has been in contact with others a... Of touchless processes to reduce direct interaction with guests whenever possible and mirrors ’ s inside! With at least one person trained as a hygiene manager installing more sanitizer stations in areas! Beyond the new York Times reported, the brand also plans to staff every hotel with least. Certification: the Future for hotels After COVID-19 guest check-in and room through... A division of Gannett Satellite information Network, LLC meal right in front you... Also be used to guide the cleaning of hostel/institution rooms and hotel rooms during COVID-19 Heather Berzak 8/13/2020 adapting... Covid-19 Heather Berzak 8/13/2020 for you is `` cleaning hotel rooms during covid. `` other cloths are used they should laundered! Enforce it ” the chain said with HEPA filters to clean bathrooms, including the floor mirrors! Network, LLC they plan to enforce it “ hospital-grade ” disinfectants in public.! Or temporarily turn … I stayed at 3 hotels during COVID-19 Heather Berzak 8/13/2020 using it Bell! They are n't on duty 's public spaces obvious and in multiple places in the hotel! Medical Center is using “ LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots. ” into a hotel room! Paper, disinfectant wipes, etc the public restrooms enhanced training, including!