Hyatt Outlines New Hotel Cleaning Standards

by Shelli Stein

One hot topic right now is hotel cleaning standards, and the measures hotels take toward optimal hotel hygiene. It always has been. Perhaps now more than ever it’s on our minds. Whether or not you think travel won’t ever be the same, one sure change is the heightened awareness regarding hygiene.

Airlines are releasing their “new” hygiene procedures and so are the hotel chains. Hilton recently made public their Clean Stay policy. Now it’s Hyatt’s turn.

As a frequent hotel guest, I do have my own hygiene routines and use them regardless of which hotel brand owns the property. But as a Hyatt loyalist, I was curious to review what Hyatt hygiene changes, if any, were being implemented during and continuing through these worldwide pandemic times.

New Hyatt Hotel Initiative

In January of 2020 Hyatt assembled a team that began discussing COVID-19 and Hyatt’s response to keep guests safe. As expected, Hyatt is following the guidance and information shared by the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local authorities and other leading organizations and experts. As stated, “Providing safe and clean environments for colleagues and guests is always a top priority for Hyatt hotels globally.”

Hyatt announced its Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment.

What’s different about Hyatt’s program is that it examines the complete hotel experience – from health and hygiene to food and beverage safety to technology and even how spaces are designed.

Hyatt’s commitment includes:

  • Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) accreditation at all hotels around the world. Hyatt is the first hospitality brand to commit to GBAC STAR accreditation which will include detailed training at 900+ Hyatt hotels worldwide with internal and third-party audits.
  • A working group of trusted medical experts and leading industry professionals from organizations like Georgetown University Medical Center, American Airlines, Ecolab and the Global Wellness Institute.
  • Hygiene Managers appointed at every Hyatt hotel by September 2020.

Grand Hyatt Hotel Suite bathroom

Specifically, some enhanced cleaning guidance includes:

  • Increased frequency of cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces and areas like lobbies, guestrooms, restaurants, meeting and event spaces, recreational areas, public restrooms, fitness centers, elevator buttons, and all employee areas. This is to help eliminate any potential bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19.
  • Guidance also includes prominently placing hand sanitizer stations throughout hotel public areas and entrances, as well as introducing social distancing signage that will provide guidance for guests in public spaces.

I for sure have observed hand sanitizers in Hyatt hotel public areas for a few years already.

What Will Be Changing at Hyatt Hotels?

Each hotel’s location-based guidelines may be different. Given those differences, Hyatt has put these specific precautionary measures in place:

  • Enhancements to rigorous cleaning protocols, including the use of hospital-grade disinfectants
  • Development and deployment of sanitization trainings and procedures
  • Temperature and/or wellbeing checks of colleagues and guests
  • Installing purification and sanitization devices in an effort to ensure air quality
  • Enhanced cleaning at fitness centers and spas
  • Social distancing guidance in public areas
  • Guestroom housekeeping preferences for guests
  • Protective masks worn by hotel colleagues

Final Thoughts

I know what you’re thinking. Or at least I think I do. Most of this should have been standard practice prior to COVID-19. We assumed hotels kept to this standard, didn’t we?

I’m glad Hyatt announced its Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment.

It also isn’t nearly as specific as Hilton’s policy or initiatives like this 23-page Health and Sanitation Program from Wynn Las Vegas. It also reminds me that in the name of “going green” hotels quit giving us individualized bottles of toiletries. Is there anyone who doesn’t hate those in-shower pump shampoo and soap containers? Now what, as these seem so unsanitary?

Do any of these enhanced Hyatt hotel hygiene standards make you feel better about hotel hygiene? If Hyatt listened, what would you tell them?

The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Related Articles

4 comments

Christian April 28, 2020 - 7:49 pm

While these steps make me feel more secure, I’m not so sure that most of these should have been standard practice previously. Depending on how long these run for, some may be overkill once things have approached what used to be normal. Better to make customers feel too safe than not safe enough, though. Thanks for letting me know my favorite hotel chain does have a plan. For a while there, their silence made me wonder.

Reply
Shelli April 28, 2020 - 11:38 pm

Time will tell, Christian. Too safe rather than not safe enough is a good point. Silence can be misconstrued. I’m with you, though. Time for Hyatt to make their intentions known. Thanks for reading!

Reply
Brian Hess November 15, 2021 - 10:25 pm

They haven’t cleaned my room in 5 days. The front desk said we’re in the que. They told us come on down to the front desk and we can hand you some fresh towels, just leave the used ones on the floor. Cleaning are down every third day they say. That’s only true if you request it, that parts left out. Now your request is in the que, sorry we’ll get yo it when we can.

Sounds like they’re using Covid as a new way to save money by cleaning less. Believe me there is no extra cleaning going on at the Hyatt House in Austin Texas. This same routine happened in New Jersey this last summer 2021. Same MO, no service come and get your towel. I’m sure all the hotels are doing the same. Next they’ll be asking if you want room cleaning as an up charge like airlines do with baggage

Reply
Shelli November 16, 2021 - 9:17 am

I understand your frustration, Brian. It does sound like what you’re experiencing is happening in many hotels and across hotel chains. Let’s hope cleaning never becomes an up charge! Thanks for reading and taking the time to share your experiences. It’s helpful to know what to expect.

Reply

Leave a Comment