Franchise hotel group, Choice Hotels Asia-Pac, has launched heightened standards of cleanliness and hygiene, which will be rolled out across the region along with “best-in-class” housekeeper training.
Under the new standards, each Choice-branded hotel will appoint a ‘Commitment to Clean Captain’ to complete additional training and take on the responsibility of communicating and enforcing the new standards across their property.
Leading the way in the new standards is the introduction of ‘On Demand’ housekeeping, with guests able to request delivery of items including disinfecting wipes, toiletries, linens and other personal comforts, which will be left at the door and guests notified of its availability to collect without personally encountering a staff member.
Hotels across the Ascend, Clarion, Quality, Comfort and Econo Lodge brands will be fitted with plexiglass partitions at the front desk for the protection of guests and staff, with masks and gloves to also be available for staff to access. Guests will be encouraged to utilise key drop boxes on check-out.
Signage will be increased across hotels for guests to remind of social distancing and personal sanitation requirements. Hand sanitation stations will be placed in high traffic areas, with guests encouraged to make use of disinfecting wipes as they move about the hotel. Cleaning rotations will also become more frequent, with facilities including fitness centres, elevators, restaurants and swimming pools closed for deep cleaning.
Choice Hotels Asia-Pac has created its new sanitation guidelines in collaboration with the Australian Department of Health, the World Health Organisation and HY.GIENE Australia. Company CEO, Trent Fraser, said the new initiative builds further on already strong cleanliness protocols.
“I’m proud to announce our Commitment to Clean initiative, which is built upon the strong foundation of our franchisees’ dedication to cleanliness, with enhanced best practices to keep all guests and employees safe,” Fraser said.