Illinois Hotel Industry Announces News Safety Protocols to Protect Guests and Employees During the COVID-19 Pandemic
IHLA to lead Chicago’s Accommodations & Tourism Working Team to Develop Guidance for Reopening Chicago’s tourism industry
CHICAGO -The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA) announced today their new Clean + Safe Guidance which provides re-opening recommendations as well as cleaning and hygiene procedures for hotels across the state. This announcement coincides with IHLA President & CEO Michael Jacobson serving as the Team Lead of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Accommodations and Tourism working team to help develop details for the reopening of Chicago’s tourism economy as well as long-term sustainability. As Illinoisans remain at home to stop the spread of COVID-19, hotels have focused on implementing recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure the health and safety of guests and hotel employees once travel resumes. This new guidance builds on these practices to provide for safe guest and employee interactions, workplace cleaning and safety protocols, changes to the guest experience, and upgraded cleaning guidance so hotels can begin welcoming back guests and team members confidently. The IHLA will suggest incorporating these guidelines into the Mayor’s reopening plans as well. Examples outlined in the Clean + Safe Guidance include:
- Placing prominent signage encouraging social distancing as well as placing hand sanitizer at entrances and front desks
- Providing gloves and PPE to employees who require them
- Routinely sanitizing frequently touched surfaces such as button panels on elevators and considering floor markings in the elevator area to designate proper social distancing
- Providing spray bottles of sanitizer or wipes in each room for guest use
- Multi-use and unnecessary amenities including reading material, pen and paper, and decorative pillows are removed from guest rooms
- Ensuring social distancing for front desk agents by having them utilize every other workstation and implementing technology to help limit contact during check-ins.
- Implementing changes to food and beverage offerings including contactless delivery of room-service and rollout of “grab-and-go” meal options.
“As our state begins to focus on reopening our economy and recovering from COVID-19, hotels are making important changes to safely welcome guests and employees back. We are proud of the many steps hoteliers are taking to provide safe accommodations to our guests, as well as working conditions for our team members during this time. Further, we look forward to continuing to work with state and local leaders in crafting the best path forward that allows hotels to open confidently, serve its customers and get employees back to work. As a major contributor to our economy and a supporter of our local restaurants and small businesses, we know that the hotel and tourism industry will play a major role in our recovery, both for our economy and our state’s morale,” said Michael Jacobson, president & CEO, Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association. More information about the Clean + Safe Guidance can be found on http://www.illinoishotels.org. ABOUT THE ILLINOIS HOTEL & LODGING ASSOCIATIONThe Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA) serves as the essential resource and unified voice for advancing the lodging industry across Illinois. Consisting of more than 500 hotels and their employees throughout the state, IHLA advocates the industry’s position on political, legislative, and regulatory issues that have the potential to impact the success of Illinois hotels. For more information, visit http://www.illinoishotels.org/.