To ease travelers’ fears and increase occupancy rates, Airbnb and hotels such as Hilton and Marriott have unveiled new cleaning initiatives.
Airbnb will launch new cleaning protocols for its hosts in May that includes a certification program. It would also have a 24-hour waiting period between guests to alleviate concerns of “particles that may remain airborne.” Hosts in the Clean Protocol program will be designated as such in their listings.
For hosts that are not able to commit to the certification program, they can opt for the 72-hour “booking buffer.” Reservations will be automatically blocked during that timeframe.
Hilton is partnering with Reckitt Benckiser, the manufacturer of Lysol, for its Hilton CleanStay with Lysol Protection initiative. The program is scheduled to launch in June.
Last week, Marriott announced the launch of the Global Cleanliness Council. This council, which consists of experts in hygiene, infection prevention, and hospitality, will evaluate and elevate hygiene standards for Marriott hotels.
Health and safety messaging is of paramount importance for hospitality companies post-Covid-19 as they look to instill trust.
photo credit: airbnb
