Hotel Update: Omni, Fairmont, Four Seasons And More

Omni Hotels & Resorts has officially rolled out its new Omni Safe & Clean program that includes “extensive new cleaning guidelines, processes and procedures to ensure the health, safety and comfort of its guests and associates.”

The program follows the guidelines set forth by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and also meets or exceeds the “Stay Safe” initiative set forth by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). Each Omni hotel and resort will adhere to local and/or federal mandates.

Last week, Omni reopened the doors at six properties, including Omni Jacksonville Hotel, Omni Amelia Island Resort, Omni Bedford Springs Resort, Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort, Omni Hotel at The Battery Atlanta and Omni Austin Hotel Downtown.

Additional re-openings were scheduled to take place in time for the U.S. Memorial Day Weekend and include Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Omni Frisco Hotel, Omni Interlocken Hotel, Omni Fort Worth Hotel, Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia, Omni La Mansiòn del Rio, Mokara Hotel & Spa and Omni Tucson National Resort.

For the most up-to-date information on hotel re-openings, visit the brand’s Travel Advisory page.

Peter Strebel, president of Omni Hotels & Resorts, explained that: “COVID-19 has changed every facet of our world and the way we do business.”

Stebel continued: “Our commitment to service has never wavered, and now, with our new “Safe & Clean” guidelines, our guests and clients can rest assured we’re ready and prepared to safely and comfortably welcome them back when they’re ready to travel again.”

Like many hotel brands, Omni temporarily suspended operations at many of its properties across the United States.

 

Fairmont Set To Open Western Canada Region Resorts 

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in Canada’s Western Mountain Region hotels – in Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, and Whistler –will reopen to guests and visitors on June 1, 2020.

The reopening at the resorts includes guest services, select food and beverage venues and golf courses, as well as limited spa services.

David Roberts, Fairmont Banff Spring general manager and regional vice-president, Fairmont Hotels in Canada’s Western Mountain Region, explained that: “The hotels’ top priority remains the safety, care and wellbeing of our Fairmont family. Welcoming, safeguarding and taking care of others is at the very heart of what we do and who we are.”

Roberts continued: “Today, this means keeping our guests and employees safe by preventing the spread of COVID-19 – partnering with top experts to implement new standards of safety and enhanced operational protocols and procedures which are among the most stringent in the hospitality industry.”

The new operational standards being implemented at Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, and Fairmont Chateau Whistler and at Fairmont properties across North & Central America were developed and vetted by a team of expert advisors to ensure maximum efficacy in preventing the spread of all viruses and pathogens, including COVID-19, with oversight by Bureau Veritas, a world leader in testing, inspections and certification; Dr. Amesh Adalja, Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security & fellow with the Infectious Diseases Society of America; and Ruth Petran, Ph.D., CFS, Senior Corporate Scientist, Food Safety and Public Health, for Ecolab, global leaders in cleaning and hygiene, and trusted advisors to the CDC.

At each touchpoint along the guest journey through the hotel, extensive measures are being taken to protect guests and employees, including physical distancing; mandatory screening for all guests and employees, which may include a temperature check; masks provided to guests and worn by all employees; a 48-hour “settling period” for occupied rooms post-departure; increased frequency of cleaning & disinfecting, with a focus on high-touch points; and continued use of EPA registered disinfecting chemicals, proven effective in preventing the transmission of COVID-19.

Hands-on training for all employees, a dedicated on-property rollout committee and a formal audit program, validated under the global ALLSAFE Cleanliness label, ensure initial and continued compliance.

Said Roberts: “As we welcome our friends, family and community back to Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, and Fairmont Chateau Whistler, please be assured that we are looking ahead, through and past the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure that our valued guests and employees will always be looked after with the highest degree of safety, care and comfort.”

And he concluded: “We’ve been practicing the Art of Waiting since our hotels closed on April 10, and we really cannot wait to welcome our guests back.”

For additional information on Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, and Fairmont Chateau Whistler and Accor’s commitment to helping its community stay safe and stay well, go to www.ALLStayWell.com and for more on Fairmont’s “Art of Waiting” initiative, go to https://www.banff-springs-hotel.com/press/the-art-of-waiting/ .

Safety First At Four Seasons

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has entered into a collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medicine International to validate its new global health and safety program, Lead With Care, and provide ongoing, real-time guidance on the evolving COVID-19 situation.

Grounded in the principles of care, trust and service, the Lead With Care program will be reviewed and validated by Johns Hopkins Medicine experts and implemented by dedicated teams at Four Seasons properties around the world.

John Davison, president and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, said that: “Within this new environment, our singular goal is to provide guests, residents and employees with the confidence and assurance that their health and safety is our first priority. We are incredibly proud to work alongside the renowned experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine International, leveraging their global expertise to strengthen our already stringent health and safety measures through our new Lead With Care program.”

Davison continued: “For nearly 60 years, Four Seasons has set the global standard for excellence in hospitality and service. Lead With Care is a continuation of this high standard, building upon the strong foundation of trust and confidence that we have established through decades of experience. This new program is about offering genuine care and the highest levels of service, enhancing procedures to protect our guests, residents and employees, while also ensuring that they feel safe and reassured.”

Four Seasons and Johns Hopkins Medicine International COVID-19 Advisory Board

Johns Hopkins Medicine International and Four Seasons have established a dedicated COVID-19 Advisory Board, bringing together Four Seasons leadership and top experts from Johns Hopkins Medicine International to inform health and safety decisions based on the latest scientific knowledge.

Evolving in lockstep with rapidly changing discoveries, the COVID-19 Advisory Board will create, enhance and review current procedures, along with virtual and in-person training to guide implementation of Lead With Care across Four Seasons global portfolio.

This builds upon the early experience of Four Seasons Hotel New York, as well as Four Seasons hotels in Riyadh and Mumbai, in providing accommodation to high-risk medical personnel fighting on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Four Seasons Hotel New York was transformed into a safely zoned environment in a matter of days, implementing enhanced procedures to safely house guests, as well as properly train all employees.

Check in at www.fourseasons.com for more.