Times Square’s empty rooms
The Hilton Times Square’s owner, Sunstone Hotel Investors, is warning investors it may surrender the property. The global hospitality industry is facing the worst downturn in its history, and New York, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., is poised for a hard recovery. Even when travel resumes, the Manhattan hotel market’s reliance on international travel and large conferences will make it hard for owners to cover debt payments and labor costs.
Ocean City, Maryland: Huge hotel turnout for reopening weekend
The combination of Maryland’s stay-at-home order being lifted and hotels and retail stores reopening in Ocean City has aided in reviving the coastal town, according to hotel owners in the area. Carousel Hotel Group President Michael James owns seven hotels. He says two of the four currently open properties are fully booked for the weekend, and the others are at 75%. The hotel group will keep rooms vacant between guests for at least 48 hours for full cleaning and disinfecting.
Kempinski Hotels reopens all properties in China
Following early signs of recovery and eased lockdowns after the coronavirus spread in China, Kempinski Hotels has reopened all its hotels in the country. New strict safety and hygiene procedures have been put in place to comply with local government authorities and WHO guidelines to guarantee guests’ and employees’ safety and wellbeing. New measures include mandatory temperature checks for everyone entering the hotel at each hotel entrance; the posting of public health certificates in public areas; daily air purification in the dining outlets; rigorous enforcing of ingredient regulations; frequent disinfection of all equipment; obeying local laws on social distancing in all restaurants and public areas; and complimentary sanitizer and masks for guests and employees.
Saint Lucia plans to reopen tourism sector in early June
The Government of Saint Lucia has announced a phased approach to reopening the island’s tourism sector, beginning June 4. The strategy, unveiled by Minister of Tourism Dominic Fedee, protects nationals and visitors from the threat of COVID-19 through advance testing; daily screening and monitoring of staff and visitors; sanitization at various points throughout the travelers’ journey; and new social distancing protocols. Phase One of the reopening includes welcoming international flights at Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) from the U.S. only. Travelers are advised to check with airlines regarding flight schedules and rules prior to booking. In anticipation of these first visitors, some 1,500 hotel rooms in Saint Lucia are being prepared to open in early June, pending completion of a new COVID-19 certification process.
Impact on the Bangkok Hotel Industry: Survey
A new survey from HVS looks at the COVID-19 pandemic’s unprecedented impact on the Bangkok hotel market. From the property level, the survey focuses on hoteliers’ point of view on contingency measures, business strategies, signs of recovery, and comparison between pre and post COVID-19.
IHG’s new cleanliness standards
IHG Hotels & Resorts has launched new cleaning protocols and service standards. The new standards, “IHG Way of Clean,” include:
• Reception: Reduced contact at check-in, touchless transactions, front desk screens, sanitizer stations, sanitized key cards, paperless checkout
• Guest room: Visible verification of sanitized items (e.g., glassware, remote control), reduction of in-room furnishings/high-touch items, new laundry protocols, use of new technology
• Public spaces and facilities: Additional deep cleaning of high-touch surfaces, social distancing, “last cleaned” charts, best practices for pools, fitness centers and lounges
• F&B: New standards and service approach to buffets, banquets, room service and catering
Dan Hotels app supports contactless service
Tel Aviv-based Dan Hotels has developed an app (available at some properties) called “App to Dan,” which will allow guests to perform various actions during their stay without making physical contact with hotel staff. Gyms, pools, and entertainment venues, as well as the Danyland Clubs and synagogues, will be fully sanitized and certain children’s activities will be held outdoors. Breakfasts at the Dan Hotels will remain as buffets. However, guests will be shielded from the food by a transparent partition and hotel staff, wearing gloves and masks, will fill their plates. The hotel company will also begin reopening properties that were closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, including the Dan Caesarea and Dan Eilat in Caesarea, Israel and Eilat, Israel, respectively.