Best Western Hotels & Resorts (BWHR) has launched a new cleaning programme that aims to expand on its existing cleaning protocols.

The new programme, We Care Clean, is based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Health Canada, according to the hotel company.

BWHR joins a slew of hotel companies around the world that have ramped up their cleaning protocols in response to the coronavirus crisis.

Hotels ramp up cleaning measures amid coronavirus pandemic

“The program will be updated regularly based upon the latest standards and recommendations by governmental agencies and industry groups,” said the company.

The new cleaning programme includes the following measures:

Minimising contact at the front desk and lobby

“New protocols will minimise guest contact with personnel through a streamlined check-in and check-out process such as the use of Best Western’s Mobile Concierge platform,” said BWHR.

“Enhanced sanitisation procedures” will be in place at the front desk, in the lobby and across guest touch points throughout the hotel with “disinfecting taking place regularly”. The company added that “social distancing measures will be implemented” and all lobby brochures, magazines and papers will be removed. Sanitising stations or wipes will be available throughout hotels.

Items removed from guest rooms, no ‘full cleaning service’ unless requested 

BWHR said “unnecessary items” will be removed from guest rooms, such as decorative pillows, bed scarves, paper notepads and pens. Housekeeping services will be modified for stay-over guests, including the elimination of a full cleaning service unless specifically requested by guests. The company added that guest rooms will be cleaned with chemicals “aimed at killing Covid-19”.

Modified breakfast 

The company said breakfast rooms will be closed where required to “avoid unnecessary guest congregation”. BWHR will also “enhance” its grab and go offerings to provide guests with pre-packaged food and beverage options. It may also provide a pre-plated breakfast to “minimise guest contact with food, beverages and surfaces, and cross contamination”.

Sanitising amenities

BWHR said amenities such as fitness centers, swimming pools and meeting rooms will be cleaned “on closely monitored schedules” with disinfecting chemicals when they’re allowed to open. Each evening, these areas may also be sanitised with the use of electrostatic fogging, ozone generators or ultraviolet devices, the company added.

Hand sanitiser or wipes will be provided for guests and employees in all public areas.

PPE for hotel employees

Hotel employees will be “utilising Personal Protective Equipment”, while housekeepers/laundry staff will wear both gloves and a mask, and employee workstations will be cleaned and disinfected after every shift, said BWHR.

“Employees will be empowered to stay home if unwell, communicate their potential exposure to Covid-19 with management, and will be fully educated on how to maintain a safe and clean home,” added the company.

Best Western Hotels & Resorts, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand within the BWH Hotel Group, which has 18 brands and approximately 4,700 hotels in over 100 countries and territories worldwide.

bestwestern.com