The Iris Inn
The last few months have made us realize how quickly our lives can be altered. However, this difficult time has taught us how to quickly adapt and respond to unexpected situations. Businesses have made all kinds of changes in their health and sanitation routines. As an innkeeper, you might have missed seeing your regular guests and interacting with all the people you come into contact with on a daily basis. With states beginning to slowly open back up, the hospitality industry will gradually become busy again as people begin to travel. With that in mind, travelers will be wary about where they will stay. They will want to make sure the property is enforcing the best safety protocols possible to avoid the risk of getting sick. This blog will help you prepare for how to let your customers know that your property is safe.
Select Registry
Select Registry is an association of unique, upscale, and independent properties. Members of this quality organization offer a high level of personalized service that you won’t find at most large hotel chains. People trust that Select Registry properties are properly cleaned. To become a member of Select Registry, a property must pass a difficult quality assurance assessment. These inspections will continue once they are members. The inspections are in-person, and they analyze every component of the typical guest experience from the time they arrive until they leave. Some common areas inspected are food and beverages, cleanliness, and security measures. Select Registry recently implemented a new program called “Select Safe, Stay Select” to help their properties inform guests about the advanced cleaning, sanitation, and operational steps being added to protect guests and employees as a result of COVID-19. The voluntary program works by having properties complete a list of safety precautions such as having a contactless check-in and check-out station available for guests, taking temperatures of employees, and washing all bed linens between each guest stay according CDC guidelines. To learn more about Select Registry, please visit www.selectregistry.com.
Select Registry Inspection
Some ways Select Registry evaluators inspect a property include:
- High quality bed linens are clean including no hairs or noticeable stains
Dockside Guest Quarters - Mattresses and mattress pads are sanitary including no holes, rips, stains, or hairs
- Room accessories like coffee makers, refrigerators, and dishes are properly washed
- Floors and carpets are clean and vacuumed
- Showers, along with the shower curtains and doors, do not possess any mold or rust
- Tables in the eating area are free from crumbs, leftover food, and liquid stains
- No dust or dirt on walls and ceilings
Similar Organizations
A similar organization is the Global Biorisk Advisory Council® which focuses on biological and biohazard problems in different types of facilities. They have a GBAC STAR™ Accreditation program that focuses on cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease avoidance for the facility and staff of the particular business. To achieve this accreditation, a property must have enacted the proper cleaning, disinfection, and prevention procedures. The staff at the facility will be highly trained to prepare and respond to these outbreaks.
State associations such as the Pennsylvania Association of Bed and Breakfast Inns (PABBI) have set standards for their members to follow in their Code of Hospitality Standards and Ethics. This includes providing a clean and safe environment for guests. All members of PABBI are licensed and inspected. Many members have taken additional steps and have adopted the Pennsylvania Bed and Breakfast Inns Promise to prevent the potential exposure to COVID-19. You may want to check with your state association for their guidelines for safety and cleanliness.
Health and Sanitation Tips
- Have hand sanitizer easily accessible for guests and staff
Ullikana Inn - Wash ALL bedding including top of bed between each reservation
- Regular health checks on housekeeping and hospitality staff
- Sanitize objects that are frequently touched between reservations such as room keys ad switches on fans and lamps
- Door knobs and light switches in common areas should be cleaned daily
- Make cleaning process available on the website
Letting Guests Know Your Property is Safe
Guests will want to know the procedures your property has implemented to enhance sanitation and cleanliness. Social media and your website are your best options to get the message out. Many people, especially millennials, are constantly checking their social media pages, so there is a greater chance the message could be seen on that media outlet. You should post the sanitation steps on your social media pages. For example, you can post pictures of your staff cleaning and moving furniture, like dining tables, away from each other to encourage social distancing. When your guests see these steps being taken, it will make them feel more comfortable about starting to travel again. This shows that you care about their overall health and safety.
InnStyle Can Help
As travel begins to pick back up and the reservations start filling up, you will need to be ready. It will be important to highlight the ways you are making the property healthy and safe. InnStyle is here to help. If you have any questions about your property, please give us a call and speak with one of our account managers. We can be reached at 267-354-6020 or 800-877-4667. Our website is https://www.innstyle.com/.