U.S. Travel touts introduction of hospitality jobs bill
U.S. Travel Association executive Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the introduction of the U.S. Senate’s bipartisan Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act of 2020: “The leisure and hospitality industry has suffered nearly 40% of all job losses nationwide, and a staggering 50% of all travel-supported jobs will be lost by the end of December if there is no federal intervention to provide aid. The bill’s targeted approach to providing tax incentives would ensure that these hard-hit businesses — including those in the meetings, events and entertainment segments — get the help they so desperately need to recover from this crisis.”
Yotel property adds robot cleaning for an uncharge
U.K.-based micro hotel chain Yotel has an added feature: an autonomous robot with UV light that disinfects surfaces and the air. The feature costs an additional US$30 on top of the regular rate for the room, which undergoes upgraded cleaning protocols adopted by many hotels around the world whether or not guests purchase the robot cleaning. Currently, the Yotel Boston is the only hotel in the chain using the robot.
Watch the Southern Lodging Summit online
The in-person portion of this year’s Southern Lodging Summit, from the Metropolitan Memphis Hotel & Lodging Association, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the association is instead sharing portions of the event online. The Data Panel features Senior Vice President Jan Freitag of STR, Senior Director Jamie Lane from CBRE Hotel Research and CEO Cindy Estes Green from Kalibri Labs as they discuss industry forecasts. On the Visionary Viewpoints Panel, the discussion centers on “crisis leadership” with Executive Vice President Kristie Dickinson from CHMWarnick, President Suzie Hall from The Cornerstone Collective, Managing Partner Nimisha Patel and Vice President and Managing Director of Development SE John Koshivos from Hilton Worldwide on dealing with pandemic.
Accor implements hygiene program
Paris-based Accor announced that 95% of its open hotels have adopted the company’s Allsafe cleanliness and hygiene protocols jointly developed with Bureau Veritas. Sixty-five percent of these hotels have been certified through a third-party review and accreditation process and is working to have additional hotels independently verified as ALLSAFE compliant over the coming months. The certification includes more than 100 cleanliness standards; seating and spacing restrictions; guest temperature screening in accordance with local requirements, and other changes.