Amid new cleaning protocols recently announced by Airbnb and
other hotel companies, Hilton Worldwide on Monday announced a collaboration
with Reckitt Benckiser, the maker of Lysol and Dettol cleaning products, on a
new hotel sanitation programme for its global properties.
As part of the "Hilton CleanStay with Lysol
Protection" programme, Hilton is collaborating with RB to incorporate its
approach to cleaning practices and products. Hilton also is working with
experts from the Mayo Clinic's Infection Prevention and Control team, who will
advise and assist in enhancing Hilton's new cleaning and disinfection
protocols, expected to launch in June.
The CleanStay programme is being developed to meet new
customer expectations during the coronavirus pandemic. Though not yet finalised,
some hotel brand standards under consideration include the development of a
Hilton CleanStay room seal; extra disinfection for ten high-touch areas,
including light switches, door handles and TV remotes; removing pens, paper and
the guest directory to be either available upon request or digitally; possibly
closing the fitness centre for cleaning multiple times per day and limiting the
number of guests allowed in at one time; increased cleaning of public areas;
providing disinfecting wipes at entrances and key high-traffic areas;
contactless check-in via Hilton's digital key technology at participating
hotels; and new disinfection technologies such as electrostatic spray and
ultraviolet light.
In addition, Hilton is one of 17 hotel companies sitting on
the new Safe Stay Advisory Council announced Monday by the American Hotel &
Lodging Association. The initiative is to establish new industrywide hotel
cleaning standards "to meet the new health and safety challenges and
expectations presented by Covid-19”. Essentially, AHLA will set best practices
and protocols, and hotel companies will aim to meet or exceed those.
Other hotel companies with seats on the AHLA Safe Stay
council include Accor, Aimbridge Hospitality, Best Western Hotels &
Resorts, Choice Hotels, G6 Hospitality, Hyatt Hotels, InterContinental Hotels
Group, Loews Hotels, Marriott International, My Place Hotels, Noble Investment
Group, Omni Hotels & Resorts, Red Lion Hotels, Red Roof and Wyndham Hotels
& Resorts.