CHLA Lodging News July/August 2020

18 CALIFORNIA LODGING NEWS  www.calodging.com Reopening Guidance for Hoteliers Let’s start off with the obvious. It’s going to be different for everyone. PEOPLE’S EXPECTATIONS OF NORMAL have changed and getting “back” will require planning, enhanced communications, and above all else, adaptability. Just like the myriad of options the hotel and lodging industry offers its guests; re-opening won’t be a one-size fits all. That said, the industry can play an integral part in re-opening the economy—in whatever form that takes—by practicing cleanliness and safety. We’re here to help. PLAN FOR RE-OPENING Make sure your employee expectations of a clean and safe work environment are met, if not exceeded. You’ll need to prepare for different scenarios for a return to work that include those caring for others, children at home, and perhaps even an apprehension to return to the workplace. For guests, this is going to be a brave new world. Expect business to start off slow and for guests to not exactly know what being clean and safe means to them. ENHANCED COMMUNICATIONS Talk to your employees. Outline the steps you’re taking to protect them. Whether your property has been closed and you’ll need your employees to get back in the groove or if you’ve remained open with a limited team, more communication is going to be needed. People aren’t going to travel unless they feel safe. So, the hotel and lodging industry is going to need to make our guests and visitors feel safe. This is step #1 as far as our guests are concerned. ADAPTABILITY Change is hard. Changing behavior is even harder. If there is one thing that is certain in these unique times, it’s uncertainty. Be prepared to change and adapt. What works on the first day of a re-opening may be fine, or it may not work at all. The standards that are put in place may be too much, too little, or just right…and that may change over time as well. CHLA’s Reopening Guide will provide some ideas and concepts for guest and employee considerations, workplace cleaning and safety suggestions, discussion of the possible guest experience, and finally, cleaning guidance. Additional guidance relevant for hotel and lodging operations, including dine-in restaurants, bars, fitness centers, family entertainment centers, hair salons, and retail operations, is available on the State of California’s COVID-19 website. As everyone continues to learn more about operating a lodging facility during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, it’s important to stay updated on the latest information from the Center for Disease Control, the California Department of Public Health and your own local county health department, and, of course, CHLA’s web site at www.calodging.com. To view the complete guidance document, click here.  Visit www.calodging.com for the latest information