Marriott International has announced a raft of new cleaning and hygiene measures it will implement across its hotel portfolio in response to COVID-19.

“We are living in a new age, with COVID-19 front and center for our guests and our associates,” said Arne Sorenson, president and CEO, Marriott International.

“We are grateful for the trust our guests have shown us through the years. We want our guests to understand what we are doing today and planning for in the near future in the areas of cleanliness, hygiene and social distancing so that when they walk through the doors of one of our hotels, they know our commitment to their health and safety is our priority.

“It’s equally important to us that our associates know the changes we are making to help safeguard their health as they serve our guests.”

Marriott has launched the Marriott Global Cleanliness Council which it said is “focused on developing the next level of global hospitality cleanliness standards, norms and behaviors that are designed to minimise risk and enhance safety for consumers and Marriott associates alike”.

The council is chaired by Marriott International’s chief global officer, global operations, Ray Bennett and will include input from both in-house and outside experts including senior leaders from across Marriott disciplines like housekeeping, engineering, food safety, occupational health and associate wellbeing.

“Through the council and scientific advice of experts, we are taking a thoughtful approach to set an even higher bar of cleanliness and develop new guest interaction protocols,” said Bennett.

“The Marriott Global Cleanliness Council is focused on more than just disinfection across the hotel, we are providing a holistic approach designed to take care of our guests and associates.”

The company will roll out what is describes as “enhanced technologies” over the next few months, including electrostatic sprayers with hospital-grade disinfectant to sanitise surfaces throughout the hotel.

This technology uses the highest classification of disinfectants recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) to treat known pathogens.

The sprayers clean and disinfect entire areas and can be used in a hotel setting to clean and disinfect guest rooms, lobbies, gyms and other public areas.

In addition, the company is testing ultraviolet light technology for sanitising keys for guests and devices shared by associates.

The hotel chain said guests will also notice a number of additions to its cleaning regimen “designed to set an even higher standard of cleanliness for the hotels”.

It will be required that all surfaces in public spaces are thoroughly treated with hospital-grade disinfectants and that this cleaning is done with increased frequency.

In guest rooms, all surfaces will be required to be thoroughly cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectants. Marriott will also be placing disinfecting wipes in each room for guests’ personal use.

The company will be using signage in its lobbies to remind guests to maintain social distancing protocols and removing or re-arranging furniture to allow more space for distancing.

Marriott is also evaluating adding partitions at front desks and is working with supply chain partners to make masks and gloves available.

The company  will also install more hand sanitising stations at the entrances to its hotels, near the front desk, elevator banks and fitness and meeting spaces.

At more than 3200 of Marriott’s hotels, guests will be able to choose to use their phones to check in, access their rooms, make special requests and order room service that will be specially packaged and delivered right to the door without contact.

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