Programs and Resources for Hotels and Hospitality Business Owners
Nonprofit Resources
AHLA COVID-19 Resource Center
Click here for resources for hotels and other lodging businesses.
Business process adaptions
Supply Chain Protection Areas
Mitigate risk and collaborate with suppliers
- Contact and review status of suppliers to ensure steady delivery of goods (minimize single points or sources of dependence) and minimize risk of supply disruptions, particularly in food for dining
- Modify delivery schedules to increase resource flexibility
- Relax on-time and in-full order requirements to compensate for reduced demand
- Request revision of payment timelines and terms for flexible alternatives
Reallocation of inventory to preserve cash
- Identify reducible inventory and non-essential assets to maximize cash on hand
- Review inventory costs of current goods and merchandise, particularly in context of decreased guests
- Evaluate regular high volume orders to minimize "time on shelf" or potential inventory storage waste
- Work with distribution partners to sell off excess inventory
Revise purchasing plans for food and toiletries
- Reduce food orders to account for decreased demand
- Reduce volume of some toiletries (e.g.; shampoo and lotions) and increase purchasing for new needs (e.g. procure increased amounts of soap, hand sanitizer, cleaning materials, and equipment)
Operations Protection Areas
Shut down floors
- Stop using certain floors to reduce maintenance costs
Require in-room dining
- Require in-room dining to reduce exposure to other guests and staff
Rotate free personnel into sanitation duty
- Cross-train and leverage staff to manage increased sanitation needs
Services Provision Protection Areas
Digitize hotel experience and processes
- Develop methods for touchless check-in (contactless payment methods), and digital disposable door keys to minimize exposure
- Create digital alternative for traditional services (e.g.; tele-concierge)
Cross train personnel to avoid labor shortages
- Provide cross-training for front and back office personnel in case of quarantine or community spread, to maximize the number of tasks every employee is qualified to perform
Marketing & Sales Protection Areas
Targeted outreach and advertising
- Contact high-volume customers (e.g.; business travelers and conference travelers) to support loyalty (e.g.; offer rewards program or free nights)
- Advertise to nearby communities to drive domestic tourism (e.g.; Orange County, Los Angeles, etc.)
Publicize health measures
- Build consumer confidence by highlighting new hygienic practices (e.g.; increased laundry frequency, deep-cleaning of rooms, UV treatments, 72-hour hold on rooms once vacated)
Highlight philanthropy
- Develop and promote programs supporting first responders and healthcare workers in need of accommodations to reduce exposure to their families (e.g.; "Homes for Heroes")
- Develop partnerships with local government to shelter homeless populations for some fraction of normal nightly rate paid for by local government or nonprofits
Offer long-term stays to expand customer base
- Offer room discounts for longer-term stays and cater to longer-term stays to expand customer base and smooth revenue
Partner with local restaurants for in-room dining
- Work with local restaurants to deliver food in revenue-sharing model to expand dining options