The Ascott Limited has launched a new hygiene and cleanliness programme for its serviced apartments.
The protocols, which the Singaporean company says are in compliance with World Health Organization standards and local regulations, will be rolled out “progressively” to its properties globally from June 2020.
“Ascott Cares” covers a range of measures which aim to change cleaning practices across Ascott’s properties. The company says these measures include the following:
Staff
- Give personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to staff, such as masks, protective screen, gloves, sanitisers, “according to specific job requirements”.
- Temperature screenings at staff entrance and exit locations (Ascott said this may vary from country to country depending on local regulations and laws).
- Enforce safe “physical distancing” protocols for employees at workplace,
- “Regular disinfection” of workspace, high-touch surfaces and “increased sanitisation” of staff accommodation.
- Use technology to create virtual community for social activities and events in lieu of on-site activities.
- Introduce non-contact greetings.
Guests
- Medical masks and hand sanitisers accessible at “high traffic areas or on request”.
- Guests have to give “health and travel declarations” and undergo temperature checks when entering the property and within the property’s shared facilities “during health situations”.
- Guests will have to fill up health and travel declaration form upon check-in/ check-out “when required by local authorities”.
- Dedicated room within property “for health emergency usage”.
- Partnership with telemedicine operators “are being explored”.
Physical Distancing
- Limiting the number of guests in areas like the front desk, lobby, dining room, lifts and other shared facilities (minimum distance might vary from location to location according to local regulations).
- Permanent floor markers as visual guide for guests to follow.
- Re-arrange/ remove furniture in lobby area and “other interaction points” to allow distancing.
- Enforcing a limit on number of visitors in guests’ unit.
Housekeeping
- Cleaning staff will wear gloves and masks.
- “Increased” disinfection and cleaning for high touch public areas and frequently touched guest room areas and items. Antimicrobial coatings and “effective disinfecting technology” will be applied in the lifts.
- “Regular review” of quality and standards for third party vendors and “cleaning chemicals approved by the local authorities” for disinfection and sanitisation.
- Linen is washed and treated at high temperatures.
Apartments and Rooms
- “Enhanced” in-unit living and work conditions to encourage people to work and cook from home.
- Maximum capacity in rooms will be “strictly adhered to, without exceptions”.
- Additional health preventive amenities in the room.
- Number of decorative items in the units, such as cushions and bed runners “is being reviewed”.
Food and Beverage
- Physical distancing between guests in all restaurants and bars.
- Providing hand sanitiser and face masks at the entrance upon request.
- “Encouraging” digital menu solutions. Physical menus will still be provided upon request.
- All kitchen staff will wear protective gear including face masks and disposable gloves “as long as deemed necessary by World Health Organization”.
- Buffet set-ups are “reorganised to comply with global hygiene standards”.
- In-room dining and minibar procedures “are updated” to avoid human to human contact.
Shared facilities
- “Compulsory use of individual towels in the fitness centre” – for self-cleaning of exercise equipment before and after use.
- “Facilities that are not able to meet those criteria will remain closed until further notice”.
Contactless and paperless services
- Contactless check-in and check-out process options to be exercised “where possible”.
- Use of cashless payment methods where available, i.e. Alipay, WeChat Pay, PayWave, Apple Pay in addition to existing traditional options.
- “Robotics initiative solutions” in selected locations.
- Digital newspapers and magazines.
- Water dispensers, coffee machine and vending machines in public areas have been removed.
