NATIONAL REPORT—Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG), in collaboration with the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), has launched a tool to collect potential technologies that can be applied in implementing enhanced cleaning protocols as businesses focus on recovery following the COVID-19 crisis. These collected resources will be vetted and published to HTNG’s Hospitality COVID-19 resources webpage.
The joint effort follows AHLA’s release of Safe Stay, an industry-wide, enhanced standard of health and safety protocols designed to prepare America’s hotels to safely welcome back guests and employees.
As states across the country begin to reopen, hotels are evaluating products that may assist in restoring consumer confidence, as well as ensuring staff safety in the complex environment of which hotels must operate in. The new directory includes products that provide a contactless customer journey as well as staff-facing tools to facilitate a safe work environment for returning employees.
In addition to the protocols provided in the Safe Stay guidelines, this directory will specifically address these items:
- Innovative payment solutions
- Health verification
- Rapid room and area cleaning technologies
- Operational verification and proof of cleanliness
“For months, HTNG has provided guidance and public resources for the hospitality industry surrounding COVID-19, but now it is time we do our part in building out concrete recovery efforts for our industry,” said Michael Blake, CEO of HTNG. “AHLA has made strides for our industry in the United States so we are thrilled to have their support on this initiative.”
“Safe Stay was developed specifically to ensure enhanced safety for hotel guests and employees. While hotels have always employed demanding cleaning standards, this new initiative will ensure greater transparency and confidence throughout the entire hotel experience,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. “HTNG’s new resource will provide hoteliers guidance in sourcing the tools and technologies necessary to meet the challenges and expectation presented by COVID-19.”