Expovision, The Hotel Reservation Office for AAO 2021, has reached out to its hotel partners for the latest information on their cleaning and safety protocols during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Each of the hotels in the official event hotel block have launched stringent practices that follow guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Louisiana Governor and the city of New Orleans.
Face coverings that cover the nose, mouth and chin are required in all indoor public areas. Amenities such as valet parking, complimentary breakfast and concierge may be reduced or currently not available. The major hotel brands and boutique properties share these similarities on ensuring employees’ and guests’ safety during COVID-19:
Enhanced Cleaning of “High-Touch” Surfaces
Expect to see an increase in both routine cleaning and hospital-grade disinfecting of “high-touch” surfaces in guest rooms. There is also less paper collateral provided. Surfaces that are rigorously cleaned are door handles, light switches, phones, faucets, mirrors, towel racks, TV remotes and more. Of course flooring, bedding and furniture are thoroughly cleaned as well. Enhanced cleaning can be found in these areas:
- Entrances
- Lobbies
- Front desks
- Elevator banks
- Guest rooms
- Public bathrooms
- Rec areas
- Restaurants, lounges, and buffets
- Meeting rooms
- Expo halls
- Fitness centers
- Pools
- Employee areas
Sanitation and Social Distancing in “High-Traffic” Areas
Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipe stations are provided at “high-traffic” areas for guests’ use, such as hotel entrances, lobbies and elevator banks. Guests and employees are reminded with floor decals to practice safe social distancing, which according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC is staying at least 6 feet away from others. These measures in “high-traffic” areas are important because COVID-19 is spread through close person-to-person contact in “respiratory droplets” (CDC).
Social distancing is also emphasized with more contactless customer service, especially when it comes to check-in. Some creative check-in alternatives include checking-in by Digital Key, curbside phone calls, mobile apps, drive-thrus and Plexiglas shields dividing the check-in staff and guests at front desks.
Select hotels are also offering Personal Protective Equipment (PPE’s) as new complimentary amenities. Guest rooms in Marriott hotels have complimentary disinfecting wipes.
Rigorous Food Safety Measures
Expect reduced seating and proper spacing at restaurants and bars. Sanitation guidelines are applied to not only hotel restaurants and bars, but also to in-room dining, buffets, and banquets. There may be an elimination of buffets altogether. Room service rolling carts may be replaced with contactless food delivery or this amenity may not be available. Hotel employees are also getting in-depth training on food safety guidelines including preparation, sanitation and overall upkeep of kitchen cleanliness.
Exploring New Technologies
Major hotel chains are looking into two, promising new technologies. Ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection is being researched to clean surfaces, floors, room keys, laundry facility equipment and PPE’s, such as face masks. Read more on sciencedaily.com to learn about UV LED’s.
The hospitality industry is also starting to welcome electrostatic sprayers. This is superior to traditional sprayers because it’s “more efficient, reduces waste, and delivers a more uniform distribution of liquids over uneven surfaces” (Environmental Protective Agency: EPA).
Learn More
| Brand (Alphabetical Order) | Coronavirus Protocol PDF | Hotel Property |
| Best Western | We Care Clean | Blake Hotel New Orleans |
| Choice | Our Commitment to You | Cambria Hotel New Orleans Downtown Warehouse District |
| Caesars | Health & Safety Protocol | Harrah’s New Orleans |
| Drury | Travel Clean + Safe | Drury Plaza Hotel New Orleans |
| Four Seasons | Lead With Care | Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans |
| Hilton | CleanStay | Doubletree by HIlton Hotel New Orleans |
| Embassy Suites by Hilton New Orleans | ||
| Hampton Inn & Suites New Orleans Downtown French Quarter Area | ||
| Hampton Inn & Suites New Orleans – Convention Center | ||
| Higgins Hotel New Orleans | ||
| Hilton Garden Inn French quarter / CBD | ||
| Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans Convention Center | ||
| Hilton New Orleans Riverside | ||
| Hilton New Orleans / St. Charles Avenue | ||
| Holiday Inn New Orleans Downtown Superdome | ||
| Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel | ||
| Hyatt | Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment | Eliza Jane |
| Hyatt Centric French Quarter New Orleans | ||
| Hyatt Place New Orleans Convention Center | ||
| Royal St. Charles Hotel | ||
| IHG | Way of Clean | Crowne Plaza New Orleans/French Quarter |
| InterContinental New Orleans | ||
| Kimpton Hotel Fontenot | ||
| Independent / Boutique | Health & Wellbeing | Ace Hotel New Orleans |
| COVID-19 Update | Hotel Monteleone | |
| Ultra Touch | Le Pavillon Hotel | |
| Read More | Mercantile Hotel New Orleans | |
| COVID-19 Annoucement | St. James Hotel | |
| COVID-19 Protocols & Guidelines | Windsor Court Hotel | |
| Loews | Safety & Well-Being Protocols | Loews New Orleans Hotel |
| Magnolia | COVID-19 | Magnolia New Orleans |
| Marriott | Commitment to Clean | AC Hotel New Orleans / French Quarter |
| Aloft New Orleans Downtown | ||
| Courtyard New Orleans Downtown Near the French Quarter | ||
| Courtyard New Orleans Downtown / Convention Center | ||
| Courtyard New Orleans French Quarter / Iberville | ||
| Fairfield Inn & Suites New Orleans Downtown / French Quarter | ||
| JW Marriott New Orleans | ||
| Le Meridien New Orleans | ||
| New Orleans Marriott | ||
| New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District | ||
| Q & C HotelBar New Orleans, Autograph Collection | ||
| Renaissance New Orleans Arts Warehouse District Hotel | ||
| Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette / French Quarter | ||
| Ritz-Carlton New Orleans | ||
| Saint Hotel, Autograph Collection | ||
| Sheraton New Orleans Hotel | ||
| SpringHill Suites New Orleans Downtown / Convention Center | ||
| W New Orleans French Quarter | ||
| Westin New Orleans | ||
| Omni | Safe & Clean | Omni Riverfront Hotel New Orleans |
| Omni Royal Orleans | ||
| Provenance | Health & Safety Guidelines | Old No. 77 Hotel |
| Sonesta | Stay Safe with Sonesta | Royal Sonesta New Orleans |
| Sonesta ES Suites New Orleans Convention Center (was Residence Inn) | ||
| Virgin | Guest Safety | Virgin Hotels New Orleans |
| Wyndham | Count On Us | La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham New Orleans Downtown |
| Wyndham Garden Baronne Plaza New Orleans | ||
| Wyndham New Orleans – French Quarter |
Expovision Policies: Please note that the deadline to book, modify or cancel a hotel reservation is TBA.
Questions on your hotel reservation? Contact the AAO Show Hotel Reservation Office (Expovision) at +1 866-774-0487 or at aaohotels@expovision.com
Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels. This post was last updated on 8.3.2021