I Have Syphilis - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
Those were the first words from a young flight attendant in a hotel room as soon as we had exchanged greetings.
Operations & Strategy
New York’s M&R Hotel Management, Magnuson Hotels rebrand 285 room New Jersey conference center
M&R Hotel Management, a top US management company with operations across 5 states, has selected Magnuson Hotels, the fast-growing franchise alternative, to rebrand its 285 room Magnuson Grand & Conference Center Somerset-Bridgewater located in New Jersey.
Expert Views (7)
Craig Coughlin, Chief Executive Officer, LUXXE Outsourced Hotel Services
I have always believed that a well organized and vigilant housekeeping department could pass any hygiene test. Detailed training and record-keeping is the key and utilizing technology platforms to record this information is critical.
Soenke Weiss, Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Optii Solutions Pty Ltd, Optii
The sudden changes and swift momentum triggered by COVID-19 have placed many housekeepers outside of their comfort zone without advance warning. Just like other department heads, they suddenly found themselves having to deal with a situation they were not trained, nor prepared for.
Anemoon Schepel, Senior Lecturer, Hotelschool The Hague
Aside from skills relating to hygiene and perhaps even technology and hygiene, I believe the most important skill during this pandemic for housekeeping, but anyone for that matter, is resilience. To have resilience yourself, but also resilient leadership is vital to keep yourself, your department and your organisation going.
Americans Are Hitting the Roads and Heading to National Parks
Since the beginning of the pandemic, key consumer sentiment surveys have indicated that Americans will hit the road this summer and head to destinations that allow for physical distancing, such as national parks.
A Model for Hotels to Hospitals (H2H ©) During an Unprecedented Era
During the early months of 2020, once it was apparent that the novel coronavirus (COVID19) was a global pandemic, people everywhere started to think of creative solutions to help ease the problems of the virus. One solution was to convert hotels into hospitals (H2H ©) and into housing for healthcare workers. With the virus halting travel, many hotels were left close to vacant. On top of that, many healthcare professionals were worried about traveling back and forth between work and home, at the risk of infecting their household.
By Fred DeMicco, Executive Director (2019-2024), Full Professor in the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, the W.A. Franke College of Business, Northern Arizona University
I Prefer Vomiting and Diarrhea - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
Two women at the Holiday Inn were ill. The mother suffered low abdominal pain with vomiting and diarrhea. It seemed like the usual stomach flu. I assured her that it wouldn't last long and gave medication.
Airline Passengers Are Finding 'Creative Ways' To Remove Masks, American Pilot Says
American Airlines pilot Dennis Tajer has taken several flights during the coronavirus pandemic, both in the cockpit and as a union official, and has noticed something unsettling lately: passengers removing their masks for more than eating or drinking.
Study: SF Cleaning Ordinance To Cost Hotels $47 Million
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors' Healthy Buildings ordinance will cost San Francisco's 215 hotels $220,000 each adding more than $47 million in annual industry costs, extending hotel closures and extending joblessness for 15,000 employees, according to an independent analysis of the ordinance's cleaning mandates.
Long Time No See - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
"Hey, Doctor! It's been a while." I love it when parking valets recognize me. That was the good news. The 'it's been a while' was not so good.
The Reopening of Las Vegas Casinos During the COVID-10 Pandemic
On March 17, 2020, Nevada's Governor Steve Sisolak ordered the closure of Nevada's non-essential businesses and urged residents to implement social-distancing measures to reduce spreading COVID-19. Governor Sisolak authorized certain businesses, including restaurants, barbershops, hair salons, and most retail businesses, to reopen with limitations beginning May 9, 2020, and Nevada began its emergence from the pandemic shutdown. Nevada's casinos were allowed to reopen on June 4, 2020, with restrictions. While the pandemic is far from over, this article examines some of the differences observed in casinos in the Las Vegas market since reopening and what has been learned thus far.
By Shannon Okada, Managing Director of Gaming with HVS, HVS
Hotel Industry Launches Training Course To Advance Safe Stay Guidelines
To further expand the hotel industry's Safe Stay initiative, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) today announced COVID-19 Precautions for Hotels, an online course developed in partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) and created to help hotels train their staffs on the enhanced safety and cleanliness guidelines. The new training course was created in consultation with the AHLA's Safe Stay Advisory Council and represents a united industry approach around the Safe Stay guidelines endorsed by all major U.S. hotel brands, hospitality associations in 50 states and Canada, and thousands of hotel properties across the country committed to ensuring the health and safety of guests and employees while continuing to provide outstanding service.
Ever Hopeful - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
Years ago, I shared a Four Seasons elevator with Robert Duvall. He was reading a script, and I pretended not to notice.
Caesars Announces Universal Mask Policy In All Properties
LAS VEGAS - Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR) ("Caesars", "Caesars Entertainment" or the "Company") today announced that everyone indoors at its properties across the Caesars network will be required to wear masks at all times, except when eating or drinking. The updated mask policy becomes effective on June 24, 2020 at 12 p.m. Pacific Time and applies to all employees, vendors, contractors, guests and passersby in properties. Previously, all employees plus guests at table games were required to wear masks at Caesars properties.
MGM Resorts International Announces Nationwide Mask Policy
LAS VEGAS, - MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) today announced that it will require masks for all guests and visitors inside public spaces at every MGM Resorts property in the United States. The Company previously required all employees to wear masks, while guest and visitor mask requirements were based on local regulations.
Is It Safe To Stay In A Hotel, Cabin Or Rental Home Yet?
After nearly three months of quarantine, millions of Americans are ready to travel -- an overnight trip, a weekend getaway, a summer sojourn. With states reopening, that's now possible, with a caveat. Before coronavirus, few people likely thought twice about staying in a hotel room, rental home or cabin in the woods. But now, we have to factor in the potential for coronavirus exposure. Even if you're OK with the travel risks taking you to your destination -- plane, train or automobile -- what about the risks of the destination spot itself?
Another Summer - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
A wave of heat poured out of the guest's room as he opened the door.
A Dog-Eat-Dog Business - The Life of a Hotel Doctor
Waiting at the local carwash, my eye ran over a sheet of ads along one wall. Among notices for personal injury lawyers, pest control, acupuncturists, and pizzas was a photo of a smiling young man in a white coat carrying a doctor's bag. According to the text, a phone call would bring him to your door at a fee less than an emergency room's. All ads for housecalls deliver this cheerful boast, never mentioning that the average ER visit, as of 2017, cost $1400.
Hotel Management Agreements - Creating a Win Win Relationship
As a wave of uncertainty overtakes consumer sentiment, investors are using this time to pause and reflect on their assets. Some hotel Owners have concluded that there are areas of improvement at their hotels that would help in maintaining the asset's value through these troublous times. One course of action is the review and revision of the contracts or agreements that impact their hotel's operations, and they are wise to do so. Most notably, the Hotel Management Agreement (HMA) is at the top of our clients' reading list.
How Much Coronavirus Risk Is There In Common Travel Activities? We Asked An Expert
Travel in the middle of a global pandemic presents challenges, with each activity carrying its own level of risk for coronavirus.
In hotels and beyond, UV light robots and lamps could help protect against coronavirus
For guests checking into a high-profile California hotel, they might be staying in rooms that have been sanitized in part by an unusual new staff member: a three-foot-tall robot named Kennedy.