WASHINGTON (May 21, 2020) – As states across the country navigate reopening and hotels begin to safely welcome back guests, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) today announced that hospitality leaders across North America have endorsed Safe Stay, AHLA’s enhanced industry-wide cleaning guidelines. AHLA’s Partner State Associations, who represent the hotel industry in each state across the country, as well as leading hospitality organizations in the U.S. and Canada representing the depth and breadth of the hotel industry endorsed the new cleanliness guidelines which were developed by industry leaders and public health officials to meet the new health challenges of COVID-19.

“As we reopen hotel doors and welcome back the traveling public, it is critical that the hotel industry across North America unite under one common set of safety, cleanliness and health standards so that our employees and guests can be assured that hotels will be cleaner and safer than ever before. Along with North America’s top hospitality leaders, we believe this industry-wide effort will ensure greater transparency and confidence throughout the entire hotel experience,” said Chip Rogers, President and CEO of AHLA. “Ensuring the safety of our guests and employees is a never-ending challenge, and in the face of the current public health crisis, safety is more paramount than ever.”

In addition to industry-wide endorsement of Safe Stay, local and state government organizations are also utilizing the industry protocols to inform governors, mayors, legislators and attorneys general as they work locally to reopen economies. 

“As a local leader, knowing the hotel industry stands united behind the standards of the Safe Stay initiative gives me and my fellow mayors across the country the confidence to reopen our communities to visitors as the virus subsides,” said Acquanetta Warren, Chairwoman of Community Leaders of America,Mayor, Fontana, CA. “Providing hotel guests and employees with an assurance of safety and cleanliness is essential to the economic rebound we’re pursuing in Fontana, up and down California, and across the United States.”

Hotels have always met rigorous standards for cleaning and safety and these enhanced guidelines are rooted in recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This initiative brings a new level of focus and transparency to an industry already built on cleanliness.

Already, Safe Stay has been adopted in AHLA-member hotels in all 50 states, and the following endorsements represent an even broader reach across the entire industry:

• Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA)
• Association of Lodging Professionals
• Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI)
• Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)
• Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals
• Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
• Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG)
• Hotel Association of Canada (HAC)
• Latino Hotel Association (LHA)
• National Association of Black Hotel Owner, Operators & Developers (NABHOOD)
• US Travel Association  

“As provinces across Canada begin to reopen, we wanted to ensure that hotels are ready to welcome guests safely and with the highest health and safety standards,” said Susie Grynol, President and CEO of HAC. “Even though hotels were the first hit and hardest hit by the pandemic, we have been a leader in ensuring that our establishments are following the latest scientific evidence and safety standards. We want to ensure that hotels across Canada are ready and able to open safely, and that guests have confidence in Canada’s hotel sector as we begin the transition to a new reality over the coming weeks and months.”

“As travel begins to resume in states across the country, the hotel industry is going above and beyond to protect both our employees and guests,” said Cecil Staton, President and CEO of AAHOA. “Safe Stay represents the top priority for the industry, and as we continue to face this public health crisis together, our industry will continue to focus on providing a greater level of confidence for consumers.”

“The hospitality industry is built on a foundation of taking care of people, and Safe Stay renews our industry’s legacy of commitment to meet the public health crisis,” said Lynette Montoya, President and CEO of LHA. “While some aspects of a traditional hotel stay might be different, travelers should rest reassured knowing our industry has considered every measure to create the safest environment for employees and guests.”

“Hotels have always held the highest cleaning standards and in the face of this public health crisis, our industry is uniting around enhanced guidelines to keep our employees and guests safe and healthy. Safe Stay’s rigorous standards will create an environment where travelers and employees know we are putting their health and wellbeing first,” said Andy Ingraham, President and CEO of NABHOOD.

Industry leaders representing all segments of the hotel industry worked in conjunction with public health experts to develop this common set of best practices that could be applied across the entire industry.The “Safe Stay”guidelinesprovide direction on employee and guest health, employee responsibilities, cleaning products and protocols and physical distancing and will be revised as needed based on the recommendations of public health authorities, in compliance with any federal, state and local laws. 

Learn more about AHLA’s Safe Stay guidelines by visiting: www.AHLA.com/safestay.

May 21, 2020

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The Meridian^®models utilize infrared sensors to dispense everyone's favorite H² nuggetice and water. This eliminates the need to physically touch the dispenser and helps to provide a more sanitary operation.

To learn more about our Meridian^®line, please visit the Scotsman website. You can also download the Meridian^®Sell Sheet for further information. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

WASHINGTON D.C. (May 20, 2020) – With new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showing staggering job loss to the hospitality and leisure industry, the American Hotel & Lodging Association today released  a “Roadmap to Recovery,” calling on Congress to prioritize relief for hotel workers and small businesses in the next stimulus package. The April Jobs Report showed the hospitality and leisure industry was the hardest hit, losing 7.7 million jobs—nearly as many jobs as the next four sectors combined. (Click here to read AHLA’s letter to Congress.)

AHLA is urging Congress to provide immediate assistance in these four areas:

• Help hotels retain and rehire employees by extending the Paycheck Protection Program, offering employees direct tuition assistance or tax credits, and expanding the Employee Retention Credit
• Protect employees and guests through tax credits for cleaning equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Keep hotel doors open by providing relief for hotel commercial mortgages and increasing the size and flexibility of PPP loans
• Incentivize Americans to travel again when it’s safe with a new, temporary travel tax credit and restoring the entertainment business expense deduction

“The hospitality industry is in a fight for survival,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. “We are grateful to the leadership of both parties during one of the most difficult health and economic challenges we have faced. We are urging Congress to do even more to help the hotel industry so that our small business hotel operators can keep the lights on and retain and rehire employees.”

COVID-19 continues to devastate the hotel industry: 2020 is projected to be the worst year on record for hotel occupancy, and experts estimate it will be at least 2022 before hotels return to their 2019 occupancy and revenue levels. So far, the impact of COVID-19 on the travel industry has been nine times worse than September 11. In a recent survey of AHLA members, more than 8 in 10 hotel employees said they have had to lay off or furlough workers. Only 37 percent have been able to rehire any staff through economic relief measures such as PPP.

With a presence in every congressional district in America, hotels are central to getting our economy back on track and supporting millions of jobs. Prior to the pandemic, hotels were proud to support one in 25 American jobs—8.3 million in total—and contribute $660 billion to U.S. GDP. A representative hotel with 100 occupied rooms per night supports nearly 250 jobs in the community and generates $18.4 million in guest spending at neighborhood shops and restaurants. Hotels also generate $186 billion in local, state, and federal taxes each year.

“While the hotel industry was one of the first affected by the pandemic, we have collectively stepped up to serve our communities during this public health crisis. We need Congress to continue to prioritize the industries and employees most affected by the crisis, so we can retain and rehire the people who power our industry, our communities and our economy,” concluded Rogers.

Click here to download the hotel industry’s Road Map to Recovery one-pager.

Click here to read AHLA’s letter to Congress.

May 19, 2020 – Properties are working with minimal staff to keep the doors open during today’s slow down; but what about tomorrow? Travel will quickly ramp up as CV-19 restrictions are lifted. Many operators are preparing for the restart now, implementing technologies, hotel software, and processes that will support social distancing guidelines and enable more efficient operations as staffing levels slowly return to meet higher occupancy demands.

“Post-CV-19 hotel operations will be about doing more with less and honoring regional social distancing guidelines,” said Warren Dehan, Maestro PMS President. “Reduced staffing levels will mean more work is falling to management and executive level teams. This, combined with new social distancing mandates and guest health concerns is creating the new guest journey, one that relies more on technology than ever before.” Technology that can take the pressure off management and provide integration across property operations at every point of contact will help organizations manage through lower staffing levels without compromising guest experiences.

For the past several years, Maestro PMS has offered users a variety of integrated modules, touchless tools, and apps that reduce or eliminate the need for physical contact. Online web and mobile guest registration check-in, online prepayment portal, express mobile check-out and electronic signature capture support a touchless guest journey and eliminate several unnecessary points of contact. Mobile-key guestroom access combined with web registration check-in lets guests forgo personal front desk contact at check-in. Many properties also offer mobile device check-out for a nearly complete touchless experience. “Maestro’s enhanced mobile guest journey solution shows concerned guests a property respects their health concerns by limiting exposure with others. Many Maestro clients have already set up pre-payment portals and WebPro online pre-check-in, and are launching digital registration cards with E-signature and express check-out to facilitate a nearly touchless hotel experience,” Dehan said. “We additionally offer an extensive API capability to integrate Maestro with third party systems which is also critical to this new landscape” he added.

Maestro PMS will provide several webinars through the month of June on “The Touchless Guest Journey, Technology Options & Guidelines to Consider,” promoted by invitation to Maestro clients and operators looking for the latest innovations in PMS offerings.

Maestro’s Housekeeping module also delivers functionality that effectively supports social distancing at the guestroom level. “Our Housekeeping Module can be programmed to create gaps in room rental spacing to allow time for complete room sanitation,” Dehan said. “Maestro’s Front Office system also offers a ‘wear and tear’ option that may be programmed to sell rooms that have been vacant the longest first. Plus, our Housekeeping system provides mobile texting capability and room status updates for less personal contact between staff and guests.”

System training will be an important ongoing process as properties rehire furloughed staff or bring on new employees. “Maestro has over 40 years of experience supporting independent operators who do not have brand support,” Dehan said. “We understand the importance of education and training for staff on systems and procedures, and we have built specialized eLearning and instant help tools so they can confidently use our system quickly. Every Maestro module comes with intuitive integrated learning materials plus Live Chat Support and Training accessible by a single click from any Maestro screen.  This lets staff get answers to system questions instantly to streamline system proficiency.” Live Chat enables hotel staff to start a chat session with Maestro’s support team from anywhere within the software application. Live Chat is part of Maestro’s expanding Diamond Plus Service program that includes On-Demand One-on-One Live Training, Built-In system Self-Help Tutorials and Reference Guides, an entire eLearning Center including Live Webcasts, Videos, and Self- guided Tutorials for faster system proficiency and ultimate staff productivity; all of this as well as the latest version upgrades included in the standard annual  fees.

For more information on how to deliver a mobile strategy to support the guest journey you may click on the Maestro PMS’ Guest Engagement white paper.

The Maestro Property Management System delivers flexible and scalable deployment options with an identical full-featured web browser or windows solution available in the cloud or on premise.  Maestro’s revenue-generating hotel management software tools and services increase profitability, drive direct bookings, centralize operations and provide personalized and mobile guest service tools to enhance the guest experience. Click here for more information on how to engage and socialize with Maestro PMS.