Travel is starting to pick back up, mostly in places that are more remote and easily accessible by car. While many travelers are slowly leaving their homes to have quick staycations or weekend getaways, they have new rules for hotel stays. In fact, guests are telling hotels exactly what they want at hotels during Covid-19.
A new national survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) conducted by Morning Consult shows that a number of improvements to health and sanitation protocol at U.S. hotels would have considerable impact on guests’ comfort levels staying there, with the top three including:
Face coverings for employees (87% a lot/some impact) and guests (85%).
Suspending daily housekeeping of rooms (86%).
Utilizing technology to reduce direct contact (85%).
These are the top priorities among frequent travelers to staying in hotels during Covid-19, and they align with AHLA’s Safe Stay Guest Checklist and CDC recommendations.
For its methodology, the poll was conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of AHLA, between August 11-13, 2020, among a national sample of 2200 adults. Of these, 712 “frequent travelers” indicated they spent five or more nights in a hotel in 2019.
Other popular measures to increase a guest’s comfort level include adding transparent barriers at front desks, concierge or valet stations (82%), signage for washing hands, distancing and PPE (80%), temporarily closing amenities (77%) and floor markings to promote social distancing (77%).
The overwhelming majority of respondents indicate that these protocols would impact their comfort level, with eight out of ten (81%) frequent travelers responding that they feel comfortable staying in a hotel that has implemented the enhanced cleaning and safety protocols called for in AHLA’s Safe Stay initiative.
Among the key findings of travelers staying in hotels five or more nights per year:
- Cleanliness Is the Top Priority: Out of a list of nine options, frequent travelers most often chose cleanliness as the most important factor when determining their next hotel stay, and 81% of travelers are more comfortable staying at hotels now with enhanced protocols and standards implemented.
- Guests Prefer Housekeeping by Request Only: Nearly nine out of ten (88%) frequent travelers say that limiting in-room housekeeping to “by request only” would increase their comfort level. Nearly three-in-five (58%) guests do not want daily housekeeping; and 58% would not be comfortable with housekeeping staff entering their room without advance permission.
- The Use of Face Coverings is a Priority: The majority of guests (62%) are a lot more comfortable if hotels require face coverings and 66% of guests are a lot more comfortable if hotels require employees to wear face coverings and gloves.
The pandemic has decimated the hotel industry as travel has slowed significantly throughout the last few months. The fall looks to be equally as challenging, with only one-third of frequent travelers (33%) expecting their next hotel stay to be within the next three months, 18 percent within three to six months, and 25 percent in 6-12 months.
More stories:
A 9-step guide to travel safely during Covid-19
4 famous road trips to take in America
9 airline predictions based on aftermath of 9/11 and Great Recession (2008)
7 positive predictions for travel after coronavirus pandemic
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Jimmy Im has traveled to 113 countries, stayed in over 600 hotels and has flown a million airmiles. He lives in New York City.