Some New Hotel and Airlines Commitments to Safety

As some of the states and cities begin to open back up, we are learning more about how the hoteliers and airlines are moving forward to help keep the travelers and guests safe now and once we get back to travel. 
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Many of the major hotels around the world will all adopt new cleaning protocols so the guest will feel comfortable staying at their properties.  Marriott Corporation being the largest hotel chain in the world, has set new procedures at its hotels.   

Marriott is rolling out many enhanced cleaning technologies over the next few months with disinfectants recommended by the CDC and the World Health Organization.  They will have hand sanitizers in all public spaces along with signage for reminders for social distancing for the guests.  They will be installing partitions at the registration desks so the guests and the staff can maintain the appropriate social distance.  All high traffic areas will be surfaced cleaned more frequently and especially high touch areas, including elevators, the front desk, and meeting spaces.  

Guest rooms additions to the already rigorous protocols will be cleaned with surface high-grade disinfectants, and antibacterial wipes will be added to each guest room.  The mobile app will have added technologies to enhance the guest check-in and check out process for less contact with the staff, and there will be contactless room service.  When the time is right, Marriott will be ready to welcome guests back.  

For the airlines, everyone has seen on the news that masks will be required while traveling on any flights for most of the major US carriers.  Also, face-covering or masks may be required in certain airports around the country.  Boston Logan airport, for example, is requiring face coverings in the public spaces, and everyone entering must wear a face mask. This is not the case for all airports around the country.

Delta airlines has also been on the news promoting its enhanced safety protocols for their flights.  Each of the planes will be sanitized between flights with the electrostatic sprayers with disinfectant.  In reading more about these electrostatic sprayers, it takes a liquid chemical and atomizes it and sprays it into the air where it can cling onto the surfaces that it is directed at.  These types of sprayers have been used in hospitals for years.  

The high touch surfaces in the aircraft, such as seatbacks, entertainment screens, and cabin doors, will be hand wiped with disinfected in addition to the electrostatic sprayers.  Also, the reservation centers and airport lounges will be sanitized more frequently.  

Delta is also making more space on the flights by reducing the seating capacity on all flights. The seating in first class cabin will be reduced by 50 percent and 60 percent in the main cabin.  This will be accomplished by blocking middle seats, and on smaller aircraft configurations, some window and aisle seats will also be blocked.  The reduction of capacity is in place until June 30, but I would not be surprised if this date is extended.  Also, anyone traveling on Delta will get flight notifications in the app that the aircraft has been disinfected, so they will know that these procedures are happening.  
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These are many positive steps as we move forward and hope to get back to traveling safely and with a little less worry in the months ahead.