Hyatt Outlines New Hotel Cleaning Standards

One hot topic right now is hotel cleaning standards, and the measures hotels take toward optimal hotel hygiene. It always has been. Perhaps now more than ever it's on our minds. Whether or not you think travel won't ever be the same, one sure change is the heightened awareness regarding hygiene.

Airlines are releasing their "new" hygiene procedures and so are the hotel chains. Hilton recently made public their Clean Stay policy. Now it's Hyatt's turn.

As a frequent hotel guest, I do have my own hygiene routines and use them regardless of which hotel brand owns the property. But as a Hyatt loyalist, I was curious to review what Hyatt hygiene changes, if any, were being implemented during and continuing through these worldwide pandemic times.

New Hyatt Hotel Initiative

In January of 2020 Hyatt assembled a team that began discussing COVID-19 and Hyatt's response to keep guests safe. As expected, Hyatt is following the guidance and information shared by the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local authorities and other leading organizations and experts. As stated, "Providing safe and clean environments for colleagues and guests is always a top priority for Hyatt hotels globally."

What's different about Hyatt's program is that it examines the complete hotel experience - from health and hygiene to food and beverage safety to technology and even how spaces are designed.

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• Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) accreditation at all hotels around the world. Hyatt is the first hospitality brand to commit to GBAC STAR accreditation which will include detailed training at 900+ Hyatt hotels worldwide with internal and third-party audits.
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• A working group of trusted medical experts and leading industry professionals from organizations like Georgetown University Medical Center, American Airlines, Ecolab and the Global Wellness Institute.
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• Hygiene Managers appointed at every Hyatt hotel by September 2020.

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• Increased frequency of cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces and areas like lobbies, guestrooms, restaurants, meeting and event spaces, recreational areas, public restrooms, fitness centers, elevator buttons, and all employee areas. This is to help eliminate any potential bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19.
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• Guidance also includes prominently placing hand sanitizer stations throughout hotel public areas and entrances, as well as introducing social distancing signage that will provide guidance for guests in public spaces.

I for sure have observed hand sanitizers in Hyatt hotel public areas for a few years already.

What Will Be Changing at Hyatt Hotels?

Each hotel's location-based guidelines may be different. Given those differences, Hyatt has put these specific precautionary measures in place:

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• Enhancements to rigorous cleaning protocols, including the use of hospital-grade disinfectants
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• Development and deployment of sanitization trainings and procedures
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• Temperature and/or wellbeing checks of colleagues and guests
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• Installing purification and sanitization devices in an effort to ensure air quality
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• Enhanced cleaning at fitness centers and spas
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• Social distancing guidance in public areas
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• Guestroom housekeeping preferences for guests
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• Protective masks worn by hotel colleagues

Final Thoughts

I know what you're thinking. Or at least I think I do. Most of this should have been standard practice prior to COVID-19. We assumed hotels kept to this standard, didn't we?

I'm glad Hyatt announced its Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment.

It also isn't nearly as specific as Hilton's policy or initiatives like this 23-page Health and Sanitation Program from Wynn Las Vegas. It also reminds me that in the name of "going green" hotels quit giving us individualized bottles of toiletries. Is there anyone who doesn't hate those in-shower pump shampoo and soap containers? Now what, as these seem so unsanitary?

Do any of these enhanced Hyatt hotel hygiene standards make you feel better about hotel hygiene? If Hyatt listened, what would you tell them?