Statewide Hotel COVID-19 Policies
As mandated by Governor David Y. Ige's Sixteenth Proclamation Related to the COVID-19 Emergency, all operating hotel properties in Hawai'i are required to provide the State with an updated Health & Safety Plan that, "...[identifies] the measures the operator has enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and what guests, customers, invitees, employees, contractors, vendors and other persons who enter the property's premises may expect in terms of service, accommodations and required safety protocols."
How the HLTA Standards Were Created
(Click on image to download our standards)
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The Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association's Health, Safety, & Security Standards were created with the strong support of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority in direct response to the COVID-19 public health crisis. From the onset of the pandemic, we recognized that it would be incumbent upon our industry to demonstrate to local government that we could keep travelers, hotel staff, and local residents healthy and safe. As such, we were the first industry to have a document of hygiene standards vetted and approved by the State Department of Health.
These standards, as you see below, were created by researching guidance from organizations such as the CDC, the WHO, EPA, and OSHA, as well as trade organizations such as AHLA and the National Restaurant Association. Working closely with local general managers and hotel operators on all islands, we created and shared multiple drafts with the State Department of Health and made edits based upon their guidance. A final working draft was completed, voted upon, and adopted by the HLTA Executive Board and Full Board of Directors. The adopted document was then shared with local government officials and agencies including each of the county mayors, the Office of the Attorney General, HI-EMA, and the leadership of both Local 5 and ILWU. |
We have consistently stressed that our standards should serve as the baseline for all hotels in Hawai'i. We strove to author policies that would be attainable by hotels of all types and sizes, while also allowing properties to adhere to their national brand standards, or go above and beyond our requirements...which many hotels have opted to do. Countless hotels have reported to us that they have adopted our standards, with many indicating that they have also chosen to install additional guidelines and practices. As an indication of how smoothly and efficiently our member hotels were adapting to the new normal, we launched a highly successful "We Are Ready" campaign and hosted tours of several of our hotel properties on O'ahu, Maui, and Hawai'i Island that were well-received and applauded by our elected officials, the media, and the community. This has resulted in our standards being successfully tested at the opening of the "film bubble" at the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort. We also are pleased that HLTA’s set of standards has the express approval of Kaua'i Mayor Derek Kawakami for result bubbles which are soon to launch on the Garden Island. And, with an October 15 re-opening that we worked hard to bring to fruition, our hotels and resorts are more than ready to open and operate.
Click here to read a September 14, 2020 letter from HLTA, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and the Hawai'i Agricultural Foundation urging Gov. Ige to set a firm date for the resumption of travel to Hawai'i.
In reading our standards, you will notice that each of the three pillars of our standards bears a Hawaiian title. These include: Mākaukau (Preparation); Hana Pono (Proper procedure); and Pane (Answer). During the drafting process, we took special care to ensure that we produced a document that reflected local customs and ideals. The final paragraph itself goes so far as to remind readers that, even during a pandemic, we should strive to treat each of our guests with aloha.
In closing, I would like to note that we are extremely proud of this document. We have spent countless hours in creating and honing it into the product that you see before you today, and we are gratified to see so many individuals and organizations patterning their standards after ours.
Mufi Hannemann
President & CEO
Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association
Click here to read a September 14, 2020 letter from HLTA, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and the Hawai'i Agricultural Foundation urging Gov. Ige to set a firm date for the resumption of travel to Hawai'i.
In reading our standards, you will notice that each of the three pillars of our standards bears a Hawaiian title. These include: Mākaukau (Preparation); Hana Pono (Proper procedure); and Pane (Answer). During the drafting process, we took special care to ensure that we produced a document that reflected local customs and ideals. The final paragraph itself goes so far as to remind readers that, even during a pandemic, we should strive to treat each of our guests with aloha.
In closing, I would like to note that we are extremely proud of this document. We have spent countless hours in creating and honing it into the product that you see before you today, and we are gratified to see so many individuals and organizations patterning their standards after ours.
Mufi Hannemann
President & CEO
Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association
"The Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association created health and safety standards for hotels to follow.
Staff will be trained on dealing with a potential COVID-19 positive guest, proper social distancing,
cleanliness and implementing new plans like keyless entry, disinfecting high touch areas regularly,
and grab and go meals for food and beverage operations.
To view HLTA guidance, click here."
Excerpt from: "Some hotels plan to reopen Oct. 15, others will remain closed," KHON, September 19, 2020
Staff will be trained on dealing with a potential COVID-19 positive guest, proper social distancing,
cleanliness and implementing new plans like keyless entry, disinfecting high touch areas regularly,
and grab and go meals for food and beverage operations.
To view HLTA guidance, click here."
Excerpt from: "Some hotels plan to reopen Oct. 15, others will remain closed," KHON, September 19, 2020
COVID-19 Safety Education
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Mahalo to the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort for providing these outstanding examples of COIVD-19 training materials for both associates and hotel guests!
Health & Hygiene Standards From Around our Industry
Prince Waikiki |
Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk |
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The Prince Waikiki has developed their own internal health and hygiene standards that they are referring to as the Prince Promise. You can learn more about it here.
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In the video above, Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk General Manager Simeon Miranda takes you on a tour of a suite at his property and details their newest health and hygiene practices. This property, which falls under the Hilton umbrella, uses the Hilton CleanStay program which can be viewed here.
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Embassy Suites by Hilton - Oahu Kapolei |
The Kahala Hotel & Resort |
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The video above shares information regarding the EventReady portion of Hilton's CleanStay program. The video focuses specifically on the precautions that are taken by Hilton properties as it pertains to large meetings and events. You can learn more about EventReady by clicking here.
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The Kahala Hotel & Resort has developed their own program called the Kahala Clean Promise. More can be learned about this program by clicking here.
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Aqua-Aston Hospitality
Aqua-Aston Hospitality properties utilize the company's Next Level Clean program which features enhancements from check-in to check-out. To learn more about these new procedures and practices, please click here.
Montage Kapalua Bay |
Waikiki Resort Hotel |
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Montage Kapalua Bay is a Montage International property that follows their parent company's health and safety protocols, the Peace of Mind Commitment. Please click here to learn more.
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The Waikiki Resort Hotel has developed their own health and safety protocols which they have titled E Noho Palekana, which means "stay safe" in the Hawaiian language. To learn more about what this program entails, please click here.
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'Alohilani Resort |
Outrigger Hotels and Resorts |
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'Alohilani Resort developed its "Be Well. Stay Well." safety and cleanliness guidelines. To read more about their program, please click here.
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Outrigger Hotels and Resorts recently launched their Clean Commitment which was developed with ECOLAB. Please click here to learn more about this program.
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Hyatt |
Marriott |
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Hyatt COVID-19 mitigation program is called "Safety First, Wellbeing Always". You can learn more about it by visiting their website here.
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The Marriott Cleanliness Council unveiled their "Commitment to Clean" guidelines. To learn more, please visit their website here.
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Four Seasons
In June, Four Seasons announced the launch of an enhanced health and safety program called "Lead With Care". You can read about this program here.
