Vaccination is mandatory in some hotels. Will Others Follow?


As travelers prepare for their next vacation, essential items such as toothbrush, wallet, and phone charger may include proof of a Covid-19 vaccine, depending on where they book to sleep.

As cases of highly contagious coronavirus rise again across the country Delta variantFew hotels in the United States have announced that they will ask guests and staff for proof of vaccination.

accommodation such as PUBLIC Hotel, Equinox Hotel and Wythe Hotel, all in New York, Urban Cowboy Lodge Big Indian, NY, a village in the Catskill Mountains and Haji House Provincetown, Mass. is one of the first in the US to announce that they will ask their guests for proof of vaccination, either through a physical card or digital verification.

The precedent for hotels that require vaccinations already extends beyond the contiguous United States. In August, Puerto Rico has an island-wide Vaccination requirement for guests and staff in all hotels, guesthouses and short-term rentals, including Airbnb, to prove vaccination or negative PCR or antigen testing within 72 hours of their visit. If a person is staying for more than a week, they will need to submit negative tests to hotel staff on a weekly basis.

Elite Island ResortsA Florida-based company that operates a collection of all-inclusive Caribbean resorts stretching from Antigua to Panama has announced that all guests over the age of 12 must show proof of the Covid-19 vaccine upon arrival, beginning September 1.

“It is imperative for us to protect the hospitals of these smaller island nations, and while they have a good track record with Covid-19 so far, we must remain vigilant and do our part to all be part of the solution,” he wrote. Robert A. Barrett, founder and CEO of Elite Island Resorts, in the company’s announcement.

Variety of European destinations vaccination requirements, hotels often do not require proof of vaccination. However, hotel guests in Portugal proof of vaccine or a negative Covid-19 test.

In the United States, PUBLIC Hotel, a boutique accommodation owned by hotel magnate Ian Schrager on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, became one of the nation’s first hotels earlier this month to require proof of vaccination from its guests and staff. The mandate will begin Sept. 5, with medical and religious exemptions only.

“We need to beat Covid-19 together,” Mr. Schrager said in a press release announcing his decision. “After all, it’s our job to take care of people. We did not see how we would fulfill this responsibility without taking action.”

At the luxury fitness company’s first hotel, the Equinox Hotel New York, guests will be required to show proof of their first vaccination starting September 13. (The vaccination obligation does not apply to personnel.)

“Equinox Hotels has always listened and will continue to listen to infectious disease experts, as well as local governments, to guide our decision-making,” Chris Norton, CEO of Equinox Hotels, said in an email.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association, an industry trade group, has published safety guidelines based on: guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including encouraging employees to get vaccinated.

“AHLA is calling on everyone eligible to be vaccinated as soon as possible, including industry workers,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the association.

While industry leaders are promoting vaccination, some hospitality experts aren’t convinced it will be a common move in hotels that require vaccinations.

“I don’t think we’re going to see broad vaccination requirements by hotels at this stage,” said Christopher K. Anderson, a professor in Cornell University’s School of Hotel Management.

“Currently not all major hotel brands require their employees to be vaccinated – let alone their guests,” Mr. Anderson said in an email. Boutique hotels are likely to find vaccination checks easier than larger chains.

As of the end of August, the larger hotel chains in the US, Marriott International, Hyatt and Hiltondoes not require guests to be vaccinated.

According to Sarah Brown, a spokesperson for Marriott International, although guests at Marriott hotels are not required to be vaccinated, proof of vaccination verification may be required by local jurisdictions. And the company offers incentives to its employees to get vaccinated.

In March, Marriott announced the founding of the company. Vaccine Care Program“Employees receive the equivalent of four hours’ wages upon completion of vaccination,” Brown said in an email, providing US and Canadian partners with Covid-19 vaccinations on their managed properties, flexibility for vaccination appointments, and education on the benefits of vaccination. ”

Mr. Schrager said that after more than a year of shutdown, PUBLIC reopened in early June and has seen a significant boom in business.

Recognizing the business risk of mandating vaccinations, he said the decision was about his responsibility to protect his staff and guests and the future reputation of his hotel.

“There are some people who won’t be happy with that,” said Mr Schrager. “I don’t want to force them to do something they don’t want to do. But I have the right to say this: If you want to work here, if you want to come here, you have to be vaccinated.”

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