Arizona hotels and resorts have a new way to boost consumer confidence when it comes to cleanliness and safety.
The Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association just launched the AZSafe + Clean Certification program. In partnership with the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s Safe Stay initiative, Arizona created a checklist of best practices for enhanced cleaning and social distancing guidelines.
“I think it’s going to be critically important as we reopen our economy just to really establish that confidence that the safety and cleanliness standards are not only there but, they’ve been elemented dramatically and drastically,” said Kim Sabow, president and CEO of the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association.
She said COVID-19 decimated the industry. In March, hotel and resort occupancy rates dropped from around 80% to single digits. Today, Sabow says statewide occupancy rates are around 30%. Her group includes about half of Arizona hotels and resorts.
Association members that complete a checklist with best practices and guidelines for sanitation, social distancing and employee protocols can receive an AZSafe + Clean Certified badge.
“When visitors see that certification in the window or at the front desk or on the website, they have that confidence that this property has gone above and beyond in making certain my visit is going to be safe and clean,” said Sabow.
The process includes a self-assessment, meaning no one outside the property will visit to verify that each item has been completed.
“I will tell you that we work very, very closely with all of our members,” Sabow said. “We are in constant communication. It’ll be a phone interview, go through the checklist but it is a self-assessment.”
The Arizona checklist is divided into three sections: guest considerations, employee considerations and cleaning protocols.
On May 4, the American Hotel and Lodging Association introduced Safe Stay, enhanced hotel cleaning standards in response to COVID-19.
