Philadelphia, PA, Oct. 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Philadelphia, PA, October 5, 2020 -- Hersha Hotels and Resorts today announced updates regarding its health and safety program, Rest Assured™, developed by its proprietary sustainability program, EarthView®. Rest Assured is focused on the well-being and safety of guests and associates through science based, advanced cleaning practices complemented by innovative service offerings and technologies.
“Since the launch of Rest Assured in June, our hotel teams have worked tirelessly to ensure that the program is adopted and implemented effectively across all of our hotels to provide a reliably safe and healthy environment for our guests. Associate education and training are at the forefront of our program along with proactive communication to guests of the comprehensive cleaning measures we have enacted to keep guests and our teams safe. These measures include an increase in the frequency of cleaning in all public areas, a focus on high-touch surfaces, the use of EPA-approved disinfectants, and the utilization of UV light technology and HEPA filtration,” stated Mr. Jay H. Shah, Hersha’s Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Shah continued, “Feedback from guests has been overwhelmingly positive. Ninety days since implementation, survey results indicate that 91% of the 1,000 guests surveyed feel confident staying with us given our commitment to safety through the Rest Assured program.”
Highlights from Hersha’s survey of travelers:
- Social Distancing Measures and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Our survey results indicate that 88% of respondents think social distancing practices are important and 71% of respondents expect hotels to provide some form of PPE
- We have installed plexiglass partitions at the front desks as well as floor decals and signage throughout our hotels reminding guests and employees to be mindful of social distancing
- We have implemented free-standing sanitizer stations throughout our hotels
- At select hotels, guests are provided Rest Assured wellness and PPE kits at check-in. Kits contain hand sanitizer, a pack of sanitizer wipes, and a reusable facemask
- Food & Beverage Offerings: Nearly 85% of respondents are comfortable with dining in our hotels’ open restaurants given the safe distancing practices in place
- As our hotel restaurants reopen, we have designed layouts and protocols aligned with best practices to help ensure the health and safety of our guests and associates
- We have expanded our in-room dining programs and have installed technologies to allow guests to place orders using their personal devices from anywhere in the hotel and make contactless payment utilizing QR codes. We deliver all orders through a contactless drop-off service
Mr. Shah concluded, “Our hotel teams have undergone extensive training pertaining to health, safety, and cleaning measures and have been instrumental in the overall success of our program. We encourage guests to inquire with our associates about the Rest Assured program so we can answer any questions, address any concerns, and garner feedback to continually enhance their stay. As we all mitigate this pandemic together, we remain committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our guests and associates at every Hersha Hotel and Resort.”
Full program details can be found at www.travelrestassured.com as well as on each of our hotel websites.
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About Hersha Hospitality Trust (HT)
Hersha Hospitality Trust (HT) is a self-advised real estate investment trust in the hospitality sector, which owns and operates high quality upscale, luxury and lifestyle hotels in urban gateway markets and resort destinations. The Company's 48 hotels totaling 7,644 rooms are located in New York, Washington, DC, Boston, Philadelphia, South Florida and select markets on the West Coast. The Company's common shares are traded on The New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “HT”. For more information on the Company, and the Company’s hotel portfolio, please visit the Company's website at hersha.com
About HHM
HHM operates 135 hotels across the United States. It provides turnkey hotel management, investment, and development services for independent hotels and leading brand affiliations through Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and Intercontinental Hotel Group. HHM’s highly experienced team is accustomed to serving as a fiduciary to publicly traded companies, joint ventures, institutional real estate owners and private investors. Additional information on HHM can be found at hhmhospitality.com
About EarthView
Hersha Hotels and Resorts embraces environmental and community stewardship as an integral part of maintaining and building a successful business. In 2010, the company conceptualized and developed a proprietary corporate program called EarthView®, encompassing a “triple bottom line” approach to sustainability and became a leader in green hospitality. The program, enrolled in over 100 hotels nationwide, delivers environmental and conservation initiatives that positively impact a hotel’s bottom line while simultaneously improving the well-being of its guests, employees, communities and the planet. Additional information on EarthView can be found at hersha.com/EarthView
Contact: Matthew Lobach, Director of Sustainability
Greg Costa, Director of Investor Relations
Phone: (215) 238-1046
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