If you have any questions regarding your stay, please contact the hotel you are staying at direct, as they will be better placed to advise on any specifics regarding the hotel. Staff health checks: Specific policies (not recommendations) such as temperature checks to help screen staff. What are UK hotels doing behind the scenes to tackle coronavirus? For instance, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts offers Lead with Care, which includes a consulting agreement with Johns Hopkins Medicine International; Montage International has partnered with One Medical to deliver 24/7 digital health services to guests; and Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Accor Hotels, Las Vegas Sands Corp and Melia International have all partnered with Bureau Veritas, which offers a Safe Guard Hygiene Excellence Label programme affiliated with Cleveland Clinic, to help hotels reopen safely. “Those extra five-star luxuries won’t be able to continue in quite same way,” warns Jane, citing a lack of valet parking and bellboys to help with the luggage. In this section. Policies that ensure that guest rooms are not accessed for a specific number of days between reservations or after cleaning by staff. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. And therein lies the issue. Disclaimer: NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. Our opinions are our own. Most hotels don’t run on big margins; they are not quite the money-making machines we imagine them to be. Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. Low contact check-in/out: Features such as mobile check-in and express checkout, which minimize contact between guests and staff. Which, as it turns out, are awfully extensive. We rated hotel brands on their health and social distancing policies, along with their flexibility on bookings. Which is good, because other luxuries might not be quite as we remember them from brighter days. Here’s your shortcut to 2021’s best travel reward programs and more. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Also, the top brands have continued offering flexible booking policies on new reservations, while those that have begun rolling back these policies got dinged. As we welcome you back to our hotels around the world, we are committed to providing you with a safe environment that aligns with expert protocols for working to defeat COVID-19. Staff wear masks: Specific policies (not recommendations) that require staff to wear masks. [I stayed at 3 hotels during covid-19. Hilton edged to the front of the pack thanks to its continually generous change/cancellation policy, even as travel has ticked back up through the summer. Here are our picks for the, Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card, Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card. We'll update these procedures as things change and evolve, so be sure to check back here before you check in. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security In fact, some luxury hotel chains are going even further, splashing the cash on creating their own private partnerships to give guests peace of mind. We understand that your travel plans may have been affected by the rapidly changing information on travel restrictions and event cancellations. A night away could just help the hospitality industry get back on its feet. But while the act of staying in a hotel remains risky, you can reduce your chance of contracting COVID by avoiding a few key things. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institution’s Terms and Conditions. 1. Your health and safety is #1. The hotel industry recognizes that travelers are concerned about the coronavirus and safety. Our Policy Details. Consumer confidence is at an all time low, and convincing people to go on holiday, even domestically, after four months hiding from the “invisible mugger” as our PM so colourfully put it, is a trickier sell than hoteliers might have imagined. , major hotel brands have scrambled to adapt to the new reality. Many people are asking Is it safe to stay in hotels right now? Sam Kemmis is a travel rewards expert at NerdWallet specializing in airline and hotel loyalty programs. His work has been featured by Fast Company, The Points Guy and The Onion. Read our full mailing list consent terms here. Hotel companies’ similar new and heightened health and safety standards don’t leave a lot of room for brand distinction unless the brand is the one lacking a new approach to cleaning. Below we've summarized our Post Covid-19 Health & Safety Plan, with all the key points and information you need for a sweet and safe stay. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free. If ensuring health and proper social distancing are your primary concerns, consider brands with enforced mask policies like Best Western, Hyatt, Hilton, IHG or Marriott. Southwest Offers Unique Option to Travelers Amid Coronavirus. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. Check any major chain's website for information about how it's protecting guests and staff. Note: These rankings are current as of Aug. 7, 2020, and do not reflect any changes since. Each hotel to receive AAA's Inspector's Best of Housekeeping Award has to pass a rigorous on-site inspection that looks for evidence of dirt, dust, pests, equipment performance and more. Don’t relax your guard just because you’re on vacation. While coronavirus-era policies will vary widely at hotels around the world, guests are sure to see big changes. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion® directly. However, this does not influence our evaluations. As mentioned above, we considered whether a hotel had published a cleaning policy but did not compare the specifics of these procedures. From, improved cleaning and social distancing procedures. Radisson scored poorly because it has no mask policy for guests or staff, while Wyndham has a mask policy but no room blocking, staff health checks, or trained health leaders. Flexible change and cancellation policies. Hilton also scored well in this category. If the hotel doesn’t seem to be taking the pandemic seriously, it’s best to take your business elsewhere. In any case, make sure to check the most current policies of a given hotel before booking. “Rural locations are picking up, but not at quite a speed I would have expected them to,” says Jane. Follow the same general COVID-19 safety tips that you practice in your daily life while you’re at the hotel. Some best practices include: Enhanced cleaning procedures; Social distancing measures ; Masking of staff and guests; Contactless payment Explore. Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? Property and Casualty insurance services offered through NerdWallet Insurance Services, Inc.: Licenses, NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539, NMLS Consumer AccessLicenses and Disclosures, California: California Finance Lender loans arranged pursuant to Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Finance Lenders License #60DBO-74812, We want to hear from you and encourage a lively discussion among our users. safety measurements at meininger hotels We adopted the WHO's official recommendations and are following the local authority's regulations to reduce exposure to and transmission of the Covid-19 virus. Hotels have rolled out a slew of cleaning and safety programs, and the hotel industry's major trade group released a checklist for guests . These rankings are current as of Aug. 7, 2020, and do not reflect any changes since. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. Learn More. Experts say hotels or Airbnbs can be a safe place to stay if they’re following CDC guidelines for COVID-19. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion® directly. Find the latest information regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) travel flexibility, safety & more. Both the AA’s Covid Confident programme and Visit Britain’s We’re Good To Go industry standard give accommodation providers a detailed guide on how to change the way they operate to protect both staff and guests. We've updated a comprehensive look at eight major hotel brands, switching from “grades” to a more detailed rating on a five-point scale. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. If, on the other hand, maintaining flexibility amid coronavirus uncertainty is paramount, check out the brands like Radisson, Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt, which rated the highest here. Our partners compensate us. COVID-19 safety precautions: The Langham requires that all guests fill out a health questionnaire at check-in verifying they are healthy. , including current and past policies for both existing and new bookings. We instead focused on policies such as mask enforcement that can be compared directly. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institution’s Terms and Conditions. Runners-up: Marriott and Radisson (Score: 4.8/5), how airlines have been handling the pandemic. Yes, due to the current situation with COVID-19, our hotels are implementing new processes to help protect the safety of guests and team members. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. Safety, it would seem, is the new luxury. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? For instance, Marriott Bonvoy hotels rolled out the Marriott Global Cleanliness Council in April. Ask a Points Nerd: What Positive Travel Trends Could Come From Coronavirus? This August update saw a huge shake-up in the rankings, after health and safety policies (specifically regarding masks) changed for many brands in late July. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. The best option surprised me. We all know about the obvious ones – hand sanitiser all over the shop, Plexiglass screens at reception, a complete lack of minibar action once you get inside your room – but there’s a whole lot more going on behind the scenes. Enhanced cleaning procedures: As mentioned above, we considered whether a hotel had published a cleaning policy but did not compare the specifics of these procedures. The COVID-19 outbreak is no exception. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. Specific policies (not recommendations) such as temperature checks to help screen staff. Some beloved practices have to be shelved - goodbye buffet breakfasts - and new protocols introduced to ensure that travellers and staff feel safe and protected. The COVID-19 pandemic has turned travel upside down, and the hotel industry has been forced to cope with a constantly changing landscape of traveler expectations. If you stay at a hotel, check to see what safety steps it’s taking. Consisting of in-house and outside experts in food and water safety, hygiene and infection prevention, and hotel operations, our Marriott Cleanliness Council is redefining our cleaning and safety standards. Here is a list of our partners. But once you’re ensconced in your room, the experience really is just as enjoyable, as I discovered during my first hotel stay in four months. “There are hotels that cannot afford to reopen. Hyatt continues to monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation closely, keeping those who are affected in our hearts, and listening carefully to the questions and concerns we receive from guests such as you. We gave each brand a score in each category (see below for more details), then averaged these two scores. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. The Best-of Awards List has dropped. Health and social distancing policies, over eight criteria including mask enforcement, social distancing in common areas and low-contact check-in procedures. We instead focused on policies such as mask enforcement that can be compared directly. Here are some of the ways in which hotel stays will adapt from now on. The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. Forget Eat Out to Help Out – what about Sleep Out to Help Out? So if you're on the fence about a hotel booking, maybe you lean toward brands like Hilton and Hyatt that scored well across the board. Perhaps it’s understandable that travellers are steering clear of busy metropolises amid the ongoing pandemic. Just hearing about all the new measures makes my head spin: leaving rooms fallow for 48 to 72 hours; deep cleans between every guest stay; digital keys that have required every hotel door to be modified; QR codes instead of restaurant menus; one-way systems; regular staff health and temperature checks; employees put in “bubbles” that work the same shift patterns to limit any potential virus spread. Hotels are taking extra measures to keep guests safe, Splendid views of the suspension bridge and gorge await at Avon Gorge, The corner suite at Bristol Harbour Hotel and Spa, The Bristol is well situated on the city's busy Harbourside, Number 38 Clifton is located in the heart of leafy Clifton village, Broaden your culinary horizons at Hotel du Vin, Escape the hubbub of the city centre at Berwick Lodge, The Berkeley Square Hotel: boutique vibes at budget prices, An artist's sketch of the new Residence set to open this summer in Bristol's St Paul's, {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}. Important Update: Our Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Your health, welfare and safety are paramount when you stay at a Best Western hotel. https://www.nerdwallet.com › ... › which-hotels-have-handled-covid-19-the-best Sharing your risk assessment. Since we are not experts in this area, we did not attempt to compare these policies. Specific policies (not recommendations) that require staff to wear masks. Some 42 per cent of those polled even said they would clean a hotel room themselves before using it. Since we are not experts in this area, we did not attempt to compare these policies. As we prepare for the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus, there are some precautions hotel managers and staff can take to improve guest and employee health and safety… NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. Many hotels have adopted enhanced cleaning procedures, for example, and are encouraging social distancing in common areas. Out of 2,000 Brits surveyed, more than a third (36 per cent) said they would avoid all international travel for the next 12 months, according to research from personal finance comparison website finder.com. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2020, including those best for: Airline miles and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, No annual fee: Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card, Flat-rate rewards with no annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, Premium travel rewards: Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express, Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, Coronavirus Flight Cancellation and Change Policies: What You Need to Know. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. “Hotels are taking this incredibly seriously,” she says. But what’s heartbreaking about the lack of consumer confidence is that hotels are working harder than they have in their entire existence to keep properties clean and guests safe. Features such as mobile check-in and express checkout, which minimize contact between guests and staff. Ironically, it should be a prime time for UK properties to cash in, while so few of us are venturing abroad. The COVID-19 health crisis has had a tremendous impact on families, communities and businesses around the world. Premium Premium Terrace with sunbeds, Balinese Beds, Jacuzzis and access to a fridge with drinks. Specific policies that ensure appropriate social distance between guests in common areas. Cleanliness. So how do we make money? Then came policies allowing free changes and cancellations on new bookings, in an attempt to entice some travelers back into making new plans. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. Objective: That all … You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. Trained local health leader: Each hotel assigned an on-staff, trained health coordinator or leader. Billionaires. At Coast Hotels we have developed COVID-19 best practices and processes which are implemented at all of our properties. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. Rooms are cleaned and aired out between guests, and the hotel has frequent disinfecting of all high-touch surfaces. To determine the final score, we compared two major categories: Flexible change and cancellation policies, including current and past policies for both existing and new bookings. From new cancellation policies to improved cleaning and social distancing procedures, major hotel brands have scrambled to adapt to the new reality. It is important, in my opinion, that we hold hotels and other businesses accountable for the actions they take at times like these. The health, welfare and safety of our guests, employees and hoteliers is paramount at Best Western ® Hotels & Resorts. In case a short-term rental is more your speed: Which country has the best 'enhanced clean' rating from Airbnb? , we have done our best to boil this extraordinarily complex topic into a simple rating system and provide help for travelers in choosing which hotel to trust with bookings for the remainder of 2020 and beyond. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific product’s site. While, again, it's not recommended to stay in a hotel right now, there are extra steps you can take past the hotel's safety precautions to reduce your risk of getting COVID-19. “They understand guests’ confidence is key to their success.”. Create a commenting name to join the debate, There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. This may result in a change in certain services and amenities that are normally available at our hotels. Premium Terrace with sunbeds, Balinese Beds and Jacuzzi. “It is crucial that we return,” stresses Jane. “I keep telling them to shout about what they’re doing, because lots of them aren’t right now,” says Jane Pendlebury, CEO of the Hospitality Professionals Association (Hospa), in exasperation. Best Western GB has partnered with Quality in Tourism (QT) to adopt a new gold standard for anti-Covid-19 across all its hotels which we believe makes them the safest hotels in Great Britain. It is important, in my opinion, that we hold hotels and other businesses accountable for the actions they take at times like these. This includes everything from hand washing hygiene and cleaning specifications for guest rooms and public areas, as well as safe food practices. The safety and wellbeing of our guests, customers and colleagues is a top priority for Hyatt. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. Radisson makes a strong showing in this category with its open-ended flexible policy for travel at any future date. A huge number of properties have signed up to one of two new schemes designed to outline best practice for hotels here in the UK. We also updated ratings based on newly rolled out mask and booking policies, new information made available to us from hotels and a deeper look into each hotel’s policies. Those that are reopening need the support of the British public and visitors more than ever.”. AED Offered at the Best Da Vinci Hotel, attached to the establishment. “If you’re nervous about staying at a hotel, just ring them up and ask them what extra measures they’re taking,” recommends Jane. But the real casualties so far are city centre hotels. So if you're on the fence about a hotel booking, maybe you lean toward brands like Hilton and Hyatt that scored well across the board. We ask all guests to respect physical distancing, exercise personal hygiene best practices, and to help protect yourself and others, we kindly ask that you wear a mask or face covering while in our public spaces. And, there’s no two ways about it: the UK tourism industry desperately needs our help right now. You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. As thousands of Britons contemplate staycations this summer, accommodation providers are stepping up to keep them safe, finds Helen Coffey, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Guests wear masks: Published policies that require hotel guests to wear masks even in states where it is not required. Keep Following Best Practices. As the world slowly opens up again in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, our hotel stays are set to be organised differently. Our hotels around the world continue to amaze us with their local stories of light and warmth at this time. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. The best option surprised me. It’s a particular blow given that 2020 was due to be a bumper year for the capital, with the highest number of openings – nearly 8,000 rooms across 65 new hotels – ever recorded set to take place. Throughout the pandemic we have not had a single outbreak of Covid in any of our hotels and many have achieved the highest standards of Covid safety and cleanliness according to Quality in Tourism. The world’s 25 best hotels (and one of them is in the UK), What it’s like to stay in a hotel in the post-lockdown world, You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification. London, home to more than 150,000 hotel rooms, has not seen much recovery at all since restrictions eased and overnight stays became possible again from 4 July. She is talking, somewhat frustratedly, about UK hotels and the measures they’re taking to keep guests safe in the post-Covid era. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. He is the founder of MyTravelNerd, a personalized travel newsletter. Many aren’t reopening till September; some may not ever reopen. Similar to our analysis of how airlines have been handling the pandemic, we have done our best to boil this extraordinarily complex topic into a simple rating system and provide help for travelers in choosing which hotel to trust with bookings for the remainder of 2020 and beyond. Published policies that require hotel guests to wear masks even in states where it is not required. Guests will notice other differences too – they may find they have to choose their breakfast sitting in advance, are presented with a reduced restaurant menu, are encouraged to order room service, and can’t use the pool and spa without booking ahead. If anything, it’s even more of a pleasure to escape for a night after spending the entirety of lockdown looking at the same four walls. But which hotel brands have adapted best? Note: These hotel brands have introduced new cleaning and sterilization policies, often in partnership with health care providers. Then came rollbacks of both policies in the summer as the virus seemingly abated. When travel plans were first disrupted, some hotels outlined flexible policies for existing reservations, letting guests change or cancel these bookings without fees. Guest temperatures are taken at the Michelin-starred Ai Fiori restaurant as well. Noting that the news is dominated by Coronavirus, we wanted to reach out and let you know that we have asked our hotels to implement increased guest room and hotel common area cleaning protocols and processes. To score these ever-evolving policies, we looked at two types of change/cancellation fee waivers (new and existing bookings) in April, when many travelers were changing existing reservations, and one type of policy (for new bookings only) in August. With the holidays approaching, an influx of people will be hopping on planes and staying in hotels despite the threat of COVID lurking.No matter what precautions you take, it's impossible to travel right now and avoid exposure completely.