Travel Providers Take Innovative Steps to Make Travel Safer

While most travel remains on hold, travel providers of all kinds are taking steps to improve traveler health and safety. Hotels, airlines and the cruise lines are researching and implementing new procedures. Their actions show concern and creativity.

Hotels

All of the major hotel chains have expressed a commitment to improve cleaning and disease prevention. Marriott has just announced various new cleaning procedures. These include using high speed electrostatic EPA-approved cleaning sprays.  They will also be re-configuring their lobbies and sanitizing room keys. In their Houston Westin brand market, they are even starting UV sanitation robots. The Four Seasons in NYC is now following a series of new procedures. Now both check in and check out are handled remotely. They have also discontinued room service and only allow one person on an elevator at a time. To use the gym, guests must sign up for a particular time slot.  We anticipate that the other hotel brands will be announcing similar measures.

Airlines

The airlines have implemented new high speed fogging procedures to sanitize their planes. They have also implemented steps to maximize distance between passengers by not selling middle seats and minimizing passenger/flight attendant interactions. Delta for example is giving passengers on domestic flights a snack bag with water and a sanitizing wipe. Other changes are being considered. AvioInteriors, an Italian based plane interior/seating design and manufacturing company (with over 40 different airline clients), has created two new innovative seating plans for planes that provide social distancing. One has the middle seat facing the opposite direction which they call their “Janus” seat design. The other installs Plexiglas-like screens between seats. Apparently one major carrier has already expressed interest in the designs.

Cruise Lines

While their ships are not sailing, the cruise lines are working diligently to come up with and implement new policies to improve passenger health and safety. This includes everything from using different cleaning products, to implementing better passenger screening protocols. They are also changing policies on buffets and boat drills as well as other shipboard experience issues like sanitizing casino chips

The saga continues but it is great to see that these travel providers and others are taking the time and effort to improve safety and health for travelers.