Choice Hotels Announces Commitment To Clean Initiative

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.

Luxury Hotel Group Caves to Pressure, Returns $59 Million in Relief Funds

Three publicly traded Texas-based hospitality firms that collectively received nearly $59 million in coronavirus relief funding and are tied to hotelier Monty Bennett announced that they would return the funds after Bennett earlier said he would not turn back the money.

Ashford Inc., Ashford Hospitality Trust, and Braemar Hotels & Resorts released a statement saying the return of Paycheck Protection Program loans under the $2 trillion coronavirus economic relief package stemmed from “the agency’s recently changed rules and inconsistent federal guidance that put the companies at compliance risk.” 

The trio of luxury hotel real estate firms garnered scrutiny for receiving funds, one of the largest amounts delivered by the program, at a time when tens of thousands of small businesses are still locked out from receiving government assistance. Large companies like Shake Shack and Ruth’s Chris Steak House received, and later agreed to return, PPP funding

The Ashford Group of Companies still maintained they would keep the funds, part of a $660 billion program meant for small businesses to maintain payrolls through the ongoing economic crisis.

The group of companies asserted the nature of the hotel industry, where smaller ownership groups typically operate under the flag of a global brand like Marriott or Hilton, qualified them for PPP funds. Since mid-March, the companies have furloughed or laid off 90 percent of their workforce due to coronavirus hindering business. The Small Business Administration has not publicly released a list of PPP loan recipients, but Ashford claimed the hotel industry received less than 3 percent of the initial $350 billion round of PPP loans.

The promise to return the PPP funding comes after travel industry groups like the U.S. Travel Association and the American Hotel & Lodging Association called for the government to discourage unaffected businesses from applying for PPP loans. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that the government will perform a full audit on any company taking out more than $2 million in the small business loan program.

The Ashford companies stated they would return all PPP funds by May 7.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Launches New “Count on Us” Initiative

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,300 hotels across 90 countries, today launched "Count on UsSM," a new long-term, multi-faceted initiative to build confidence among guests and to support franchisees as it begins making preparations to welcome travelers back to its more than 6,000 U.S. hotels.

Launch of the new initiative follows dialogue and collaboration with Wyndham franchisees, members of its Franchise Advisory Councils, leading industry partners, and key trade organizations like the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).

The immediate focus is to further elevate health and safety protocols at Wyndham hotels in the wake of COVID-19, shore up critical supply chains and introduce new standards, training and guidelines grounded in guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Key early components of the new initiative—designed to be cost neutral when combined with other recent operational changes—are slated to begin rolling out in the coming weeks and include:

 Wyndham will require consistent use of Ecolab's EPA-approved disinfectants in all U.S. hotel guestrooms and public spaces.

Providing hotel owners and their team members with access to Ecolab's best-in-class training and resources, including a field team of more than 2,000 on-the-ground experts ready to assist hotels.

Easy Access to COVID-19 Health Essentials

In response to the growing challenges that many small businesses and individuals face as they try to secure essential health supplies that meet CDC guidelines

Leveraging volume discounts pre-negotiated by Wyndham, these items will be made available at cost to hotel owners with the Company financing all initial shipments and deferring payments from hotels until September 1, 2020

Delivering on the Promise of a "Safe Stay"

As a member of The AHLA Safe Stay Advisory Council, Wyndham has joined with other industry leaders as well as public health experts, scientists and medical leaders to develop a series of industry best practices and guidelines that focus on enhanced hotel cleaning practices, social interactions, and workplace protocols to meet the new health and safety challenges presented by COVID-19

A Visible Commitment to Guests

Count on Us is an extension of Wyndham's signature Count on Me® service culture and is the latest in a growing list of efforts by the Company to help hotels, team members and guests affected by the global impact of COVID-19.

Wyndham has taken unprecedented steps to provide substantial financial assistance to its thousands of hotel owners; united with leading companies to offer alternative employment opportunities to displaced Wyndham team members; updated its policies to provide travelers and Wyndham Rewards members with increased travel flexibility; and launched #EverydayHeroes, a new initiative honoring essential workers on the frontlines of COVID-19.

In the months to come, the Company will look for new ways to bring Count on Us to life, including exploring opportunities to expand the initiative to its hotels around the world.

Hospitality Industry United for “Buy One, Give One” Campaign to Jumpstart Travel, Support Hotels and Provide Thank You to Healthcare Workers

To help Jumpstart Leisure Travel, the hospitality industry has united to launch Buy One, Give One, a "vacay layaway" program designed to generate immediate revenue for hotels, while simultaneously providing a "thank you" to healthcare workers who have been tirelessly working on the front lines.

Available at BuyOneGiveOneStay.com through June 30, the initiative incentives consumers to purchase future travel now with special offers ranging from discounted stays to gift cards to loyalty points for redemption prior to travel.

In return, participating hospitality brands/hotels will donate room nights, gift cards, or loyalty points to organizations, including the American Nurses Association and NewYork-Presbyterian, among others of their choice, to distribute to medical professionals who can use them toward future leisure stays.

 MMGY Global, the largest integrated marketing company specializing in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry, and the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) partnered to launch the effort.

Hospitality has been one of the industries most impacted by the coronavirus pandemic with 70% of hotel employees laid off or furloughed and eight in 10 hotel rooms empty, according to data released by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).

From the comfort of their homes, travelers can explore enticing offers from more than 30 participating hospitality brands and hotels and counting. They can also take comfort in knowing that their purchases will result in meaningful donations by the participants.

"In these unprecedented times, it is more important than ever for all of us to join together to fuel recovery," said Bob Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, President & CEO of HSMAI. "With Buy One, Give One, we offer a collective charitable response to the pandemic across the hospitality industry, providing immediate funds to hotels in addition to a much-deserved respite in the future for those who have put their lives on the line to care for the sick."

Hospitality Sector Should Prepare for an Extended Stay from COVID-19

"The impact to our industry is already more severe than anything we've seen before, including September 11th and the Great Recession of 2008 combined." A chilling statement from Chip Rogers, President of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) on March 17—just as COVID-19 was starting to unleash its global fury.

Decimation

To understand the full scope, you need to look at the impact on the providers who support this $1.6 trillion industry. Many hotel properties that were running at 70% occupancy are now below 5%, and the industry is in danger of losing four million jobs along with $3.5 billion per week. With numbers like these, there's no "silver lining" and with all of the pain and uncertainty that remain, how can we realistically talk about a "new normal?"

Hospitality Company Impact

1. Liquidity - During times like these, cash is king. It's literally a lifeline. Public hotel companies are aggressively raising debt through note offerings to increase near-term liquidity. Hilton recently announced that it had pre-sold $1 billion in cash worth of loyalty points to American Express, a relatively inexpensive source of near-term liquidity for the company. Companies have slashed corporate staff anywhere from 15% to 50%. 

2. Technology - Properties and companies that were early adopters of technology will be better positioned to weather the COVID-19 storm. We're already seeing a preference toward mobile pay options versus cash. Imagine hotels staffed entirely by robots; this is already a common practice in Japan.

3. Higher Costs - There will increased expenditures on quality assurance and sanitation programs. And while hospitality companies will need to invest in masks, sanitizers, gloves and enhanced training, until demand returns to normal these costs probably can't be passed onto consumers

4. Spatial Changes - Have we witnessed the beginning of the end of the Las Vegas buffets? Communal has become a dirty word across all industries.

5. Planning for the Next One - At some point, hospitality companies will need to create or update their disaster planning/recovery guides

   Traveler Impact

   Deep Discounts - A traveler's dollar will certainly go farther, specifically in cities that have had coronavirus clusters. It's a simple issue of supply and demand.

   Government Involvement - Just like after 9/11, flyers had increased demands on identification. Similarly, we could see COVID-19 travel requirements such as antibody certificates; personal protective gear requirements; mandatory temperature taking upon entry of a restaurant, cruise ship, theme park, etc.

   Risk Aversion Isn't One Size Fits All - Let's face it, traveling in and around Boise isn't the same as traversing Boston.

   A Way Forward

   The knock on the big established chains was that they were slow to change and adapt to consumer preferences.

AHLA Launches 'Safe Stay' for Enhanced Industry-wide Hotel Cleaning Standards

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) launched “Safe Stay,” an initiative focused on enhanced hotel cleaning practices, social interactions, and workplace protocols to meet the new health and safety challenges and expectations presented by COVID-19. Safe Stay will seek to change hotel industry norms, behaviors and standards to ensure both hotel guests and employees are confident in the cleanliness and safety of hotels once travel resumes.

AHLA has convened the Safe Stay Advisory Council of industry leaders representing all segments of the hotel industry, who will work in conjunction with public health experts, scientists, and medical leaders to develop a series of best practices for the industry, including the following:

• Enhanced cleaning standards throughout the hotel, including guest rooms, meeting spaces, common areas, and back-of-house spaces

• Superior cleaning products with a greater concentration of bacteria-killing ingredients, in accordance with CDC guidelines 

• Social distancing practices and reducing person-to-person contact

• Increased transparency throughout the guest journey