Covid-19: Marriott Looks to Take Hotel Cleanliness Standards to Next Level

Marriott International recently announced that it has created the Marriott Global Cleanliness Council to tackle the realities of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic at the hotel level and further advance the company’s efforts in this area.

The council is chaired by the company’s chief officer of global operations, Ray Bennett, and will benefit from knowledge and input from both in-house and outside experts including senior leaders from across Marriott disciplines like housekeeping, engineering, food safety, occupational health and associate wellbeing.

“Marriott has a long tradition of emphasizing cleanliness in our care of guest rooms and in the public spaces of our hotels,” Bennett said in an announcement.

The initiative is focused on developing the next level of global hospitality cleanliness standards, norms and behaviors that are designed to minimize risk and enhance safety for consumers and Marriott associates alike.

“Through the council and scientific advice of experts, we are taking a thoughtful approach to set an even higher bar of cleanliness and develop new guest interaction protocols,” he added.

Enhanced Technology to Counter Virus Spread

Marriott is rolling out enhanced technologies over the next few months, including electrostatic sprayers with hospital-grade disinfectant to sanitize surfaces throughout the hotel. The sprayers can be used in a hotel setting to clean and disinfect guest rooms, lobbies, gyms and other public areas.

In addition, the company is testing ultraviolet light technology for sanitizing keys for guests and devices shared by associates.

Cleanliness Changes

Over the next few months, the hotels within the Marriott portfolio will make additions to their cleaning regimen designed to set an even higher standard of cleanliness. Specific areas of focus include:

Surface Areas: In public spaces and guest rooms, the company has added to its already rigorous cleaning protocols, requiring that surfaces are thoroughly treated with hospital-grade disinfectants and that this cleaning is done with increased frequency. Marriott will also be placing disinfecting wipes in each room for guests’ personal use.

Guest Contact: The company will be using signage in its lobbies to remind guests to maintain social distancing protocols and removing or re-arranging furniture to allow more space for distancing. The company is installing more hand sanitizing stations at the entrances to its hotels, near the front desk, elevator banks and fitness and meeting spaces. In addition, in over 3,200 of Marriott’s hotels, guests can choose to use their phones to check in, access their rooms, make special requests and order room service that will be specially packaged and delivered right to the door without contact.

Food Safety: At Marriott, all food handlers and supervisors are trained on safe food preparation and service practices. The company is also modifying its operational practices for in-room dining and designing new approaches to buffets. Marriott’s food and beverage operations are required to conduct self-inspection using the company’s food safety standards as guidelines, and compliance is validated by independent audits.