Marriott and Hyatt will require all guests staying at their hotels in the US to wear a face covering in public spaces starting from July 27.
Both companies made the announcement after the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) outlined a “Safe Stay Guest Checklist” last week which includes a face mask requirement in public places as one of the five recommended health and safety protocols for hotels.
“Health experts have made it clear that wearing face coverings in public spaces is one of the easiest steps that we can all take to protect one another and reduce the spread of Covid 19. As part of our commitment to clean, we made it a brand standard that associates wear masks and set an example,” said Arne Sorenson, Marriott International’s President and CEO.
“Given the recent spikes across the US and with guidance from health officials, we are now extending the requirement to wear face masks in all indoor public spaces to our guests, no matter the jurisdiction,” he added.
Hyatt says all of its hotels in the US as well as Canada will require face coverings within indoor public areas, which include meetings and events spaces, restaurants and bars, and fitness centres.
The hotel company says some guests may be exempt from this mandate, including but not limited to people with medical conditions, consuming food or beverages in restaurants, and children under the age of two years.
Guests who are not wearing face coverings indoors will be asked to wear one. Hyatt says face masks will be made available to guests who do not have one.
Hyatt House Chicago / West Loop-Fulton Market
“This new policy comes at a pivotal time amidst the ongoing challenges of Covid-19 and helps us care for the health and safety of our guests and colleagues,” said Mark Hoplamazian, president and CEO, Hyatt.
“In an effort to enable safe travel, we support AHLA’s recently expanded Safe Stay initiative and traveler checklist that help us come together as an industry to promote clear guidelines, which for the foreseeable future include the wearing of face coverings in indoor public spaces and practicing social distancing throughout the hotel,” he added.
