Hotel Companies Defer to Local Guidelines as Federal Mask Restrictions Loosen
Hoteliers Say Guest, Employee Safety Still Paramount
With the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxing mask recommendations and various states and municipalities rolling back their own restrictions as more Americans get vaccinated, a varied landscape with differing levels of regulation has created a situation where it's often left hoteliers to determine themselves whether mask and social-distancing requirements are still needed on property.
Sanjay Rama, principal and president of Everwood Hospitality Partners, said his company's guiding principal among a sea of mixed messages is to always take the most conservative — i.e. most pro-mask and distancing — approach between the recommendations of the state and local governments and the hotel's brand. He said this line of thought is driven primarily by a desire to keep employees safe and comfortable.
To lift mask rules, "We're looking for a triple confirmation from the brand, state and local municipality," he said. "We'll be ready to take masks off quickly when all three layers are in sync, but until then, we still have a certain population that feel more safe with masks."
