Businesses are opening again after COVID-19 shutdowns, and insiders estimate it may take from 12 to 18 months for them to regain 2019 levels of profitability. In order to reach that benchmark, though, experts suggest hotels and other businesses treat reopening as if they are launching new businesses, that they offer only essential services at first, and that they maintain a 100% positive cash flow at all times.
The reason being, new businesses of all kinds need a lot of cash and they need to be agile to respond to changing consumer needs. Because nothing about consumer behavior during a pandemic is written in stone, reliable cash flow will be key for establishing a lasting post-COVID business. Additionally, “new” businesses opening during COVID-19 will need to address some new line items under operations: COVID-19 mitigation best practices and “sanitation theatre.”
Government-Directed COVID-19 Best Practices
The health and wellness of entire hotels staffs and guests now rely on compliance with detailed virus mitigation guidance published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States and/or the World Health Organization (WHO) worldwide.
Hotels that are reopening to guests need to work with overarching government guidance as well as their local health departments to establish the appropriate best practices for their staff members. When it comes to cleaning and disinfection, the CDC provides resources for techniques and EPA-approved disinfectants that will reduce the spread of COVID-19. A WHO publication called “Cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context of COVID-19” highlights specific surfaces that need constant attention in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“Sanitation Theater” Best Practices for Guest Comfort
The term “sanitation theater” gets thrown around a lot as a cover-up for actual cleaning, and sometimes that’s what it is. But, in the post-COVID-19 world, hospitality providers can no longer afford even the littlest suggestion of uncleanliness.
Rumpled uniforms, unemptied office trash cans, and smudgy handprints on a luggage cart can all give the impression of a dirty environment. While COVID-19 is an active virus in our world, “sanitation theater” translates to a spit-polished staff and spotless premises that could double as an operating room. At the individual hotel level, presentation standards for personal grooming, uniforms, personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning tools, and anything else that may be seen by a customer need to be added to CDC- and WHO-directed guidance. There should be no doubt in a guest’s mind that their hotel of choice has virus mitigation as its top priority.
Staffing for COVID-19 Mitigation
Global background checks, medical screening, compliance, and security solutions that cater to the specific needs of the industry—like hotels, spas, food service, etc.—can provide the best candidates to meet tough post-COVID-19 needs. ClearStar offers hospitality industry background checks that meet the requirements of the industry, local, state, and even international regulations.
