NH Hotel Group redefines the customer experience and enhances safety in its hotels with the launch of Feel Safe at NH

NH Hotel Group redefines the customer experience and enhances safety in its hotels with the launch of Feel Safe at NH

NH Hotel Group, one of the leading urban hotel companies in Europe and America, has launched a new set of measures to address the current health crisis.  Feel Safe at NH is designed to preserve the safety of travellers and employees, through various initiatives and adaptation of nearly 700 operating standards, completely redesigning the customer journey. Endorsed by experts, these measures will be implemented in each of the Group’s 364 properties. Feel Safe at NH follows a comprehensive review of all the Company’s operations and concentrates all the initiatives under 10 lines of action, in response to the needs of travellers in the new social reality brought about by COVID19. From cleaning and sanitisation processes, to new digital solutions, processes and protocols for restaurant management, social distancing policies, and control of air and water purification, the measures will allow the Company’s hotels to reopen with maximum safety assurances for customers and employees.   

The Company has reviewed all its procedures and made nearly 700 adaptations to its operating standards, which will be progressively implemented in its 364 hotels to preserve the health and safety of travellers and employees worldwide

Grouped under 10 main lines of action and endorsed by specialists in different fields, the measures encompass the digitalisation of hotel services, the adaptation of sanitation processes, the incorporation of social distancing policies into the operations and the use of personal protection elements, among others

The recently announced collaboration agreement with SGS, a world leader in inspection, analysis and certification, will allow the monitoring of the implemented measures and assessments to verify that the Group’s hotels are clean and safe environments

More credit for Accor

Accor has announced that it has signed an agreement with a consortium of 5 banks for a new €560m Revolving Credit Facility (RCF). It complements the undrawn €1.2bn RCF signed in July 2018. It further reinforces Accor’s liquidity position which today exceeds €4.0bn, i.e. more than 40 months under the current market conditions:

€2.5bn available cash at-hand as of end-March 2020
€1.2bn RCF signed in July 2018 - undrawn
€0.56bn as per the new RCF - undrawn

The new fully committed facility has a 12 months tenor, with two six-months extension options in the hands of Accor and has neither covenant nor restriction. It has been underwritten by the following 5 banks: BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole CIB, Crédit Industriel et Commercial, Natixis and Société Générale. This reflects the renewed trust of Accor’s core banks its business profile and strong balance sheet.

IHG Hotels & Resorts offers a fresh take on clean

IHG Hotels & Resorts offers a fresh take on clean

IHG enhances guest experience with new cleaning protocols, service standards and partners, and launches a Clean Promise to give guests confidence as they re-establish travel norms

As the world adjusts to new travel norms and expectations, IHG Hotels & Resorts is enhancing the experience for its hotel guests around the world, by redefining cleanliness and supporting guests’ personal wellbeing throughout their stay. 

Using new, science-led protocols and service measures, partnering with industry leading experts Cleveland Clinic, Ecolab and Diversey, and launching a global IHG Clean Promise, the strengthened measures will give guests greater confidence and hotel teams the protection needed.

Keith Barr, Chief Executive Officer, IHG, commented: “The future of travel may look different, but a safe, secure stay is fundamental to deliver True Hospitality – and that will never change. By combining IHG’s world-class knowledge and processes, with cutting-edge expertise from Cleveland Clinic, Ecolab and Diversey, we can reassure guests and colleagues that we’re focused on protecting their health and wellbeing. This includes looking at where technology can make a difference, deploying enhanced, highly visible and more frequent cleaning measures, and different approaches to food and beverage, all underpinned by our new IHG Clean Promise.”

Enhancing IHG Way of Clean

IHG has a long-standing commitment to rigorous cleaning procedures. Launched in 2015, the IHG Way of Clean programme was developed with Ecolab and Diversey, both world leaders in hygiene and cleaning technologies and services. This programme is now being expanded with additional COVID-19 protocols and best practices - many of which are already in place - to reflect the advice of the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and local public health authorities in markets around the world. 

Statement on Corporate Layoffs at Hyatt in Response to COVID-19

Statement on Corporate Layoffs at Hyatt in Response to COVID-19

Due to the historic drop in travel demand and the expected slow pace of recovery, Hyatt has made the extremely difficult decision to implement layoffs and restructure roles across its global corporate functions, beginning June 1, 2020. These actions will impact around 1,300 colleagues around the world.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hyatt has taken numerous actions in an effort to meet the challenges our industry is facing including reductions of company-wide expenditures, extended salary reductions for the Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors, and temporary work and/or pay reductions for all corporate colleagues. Unfortunately, with increased visibility into the effect that the pandemic is having on the hospitality industry, it has become apparent that additional measures are necessary to meet this unprecedented challenge.

NH Hotel Group implements contingency plans, strengthens its liquidity up to €675 million and prepares for a progressive reopening with maximum health guarantees

NH Hotel Group implements contingency plans, strengthens its liquidity up to €675 million and prepares for a progressive reopening with maximum health guarantees.

The uncertainty generated by COVID-19 at the beginning of the year accelerated the implementation of strict contingency plans to minimize operating expenses through temporary adjustments of personnel, reduction of supply costs, suspension of investments in marketing and renegotiation of rents

In addition, NH Hotel Group has activated various measures aimed at preserving and strengthening its liquidity to meet operational needs in the coming months, most notably the reduction of investment in hotel maintenance and repositioning, the drawdown of credit lines, the cancellation of the proposed dividend from 2019 profits and the signing in May of a syndicated loan of €225 million with maturity in 2023. As a result, the Group has a liquidity of over €675 million

Since the beginning of May, the Group has reopened its sales channels and reservation systems, and plans a progressive reopening of hotels in the main cities, initially concentrating the demand of each destination in those establishments that allow the optimisation of resources and profitability

The Company has completely redesigned the customer experience to ensure that safety and social distancing requirements are met at its facilities and is collaborating with SGS in the implementation of a protocol of measures and assessments that will allow the reopening of hotels with maximum guarantees of hygiene and disinfection

Hyatt's global commitment on Care & Cleanliness Commitment

                              Focusing on the safety and wellbeing of colleagues and guests during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, Hyatt’s commitment includes Global Biorisk Advisory Council accreditation, hotel-level sanitisation specialists, and a working group of trusted medical and industry advisors

Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch

 Photo courtesy of Christopher Taber

Guided by its purpose of care and experience delivering world-class hospitality for more than 60 years, Hyatt today announced a Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment to further enhance its operational guidance and resources around colleague and guest safety and peace of mind. The multi-layered commitment builds on Hyatt’s existing rigorous protocols and will include an accreditation process by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) at all hotels around the world, colleague training and support resources, and a cross-functional working group of medical experts and industry professionals that will contribute to various aspects of the hotel experience.