On-demand housekeeping and longer elevator rides. Life at Broward hotels amid COVID-19
Hotels and motels were given the OK to reopen in Broward County on Tuesday, and yes, you can still order room service, spend a day being pampered at the spa or take a dip in the pool. But, it will look different.
For starters, you will need to wear a mask.
Broward hotels, motels have reopened: What should guests expect?
▪ All guests must wear a mask or facial covering (a fabric that covers your mouth and nose) during their stay, except inside their hotel room. That means you need to wear a facial covering during check-in at the lobby, while riding the elevator, and at any other “common space” where you might come into contact with another guest or employee.
Broward County’s executive order also states that masks or facial coverings may also be required in specific areas of the hotel or motel, including restaurants and fitness centers. All employees will also be required to wear masks or facial coverings.
Remember: Children under 2, and adults who have a religious objection, have difficulty breathing or have another medical condition that does not allow them to safely wear one are not required to wear a mask or face covering in Broward County.
▪ Be prepared to stay at least six feet away from others to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. While you might have to eyeball this in some areas of the hotel or motel, the area in front of the reception desk is required to have markings on the floor (think of those you see now at Publix and other businesses) to help promote social distancing.
▪ All hotels and motels are also required to impose capacity limits for common areas, such as the lobby and elevator in order to follow CDC-approved social distancing guidelines.
So don’t be surprised if you have to wait a little extra to take the elevator. While Broward County’s executive order doesn’t provide specifics on how many people can ride an elevator at a time, it does state that the number would be “limited,” unless they all live in the same household.
Is valet and room service available at Broward hotels, motels after coronavirus? Are gyms, spas, pools and other facilities open?
Yes, all of these services and facilities are allowed to open, but there will be restrictions:
▪ Valet parking and room service are available with increased precautions. Employees bringing items to and from a room must wear gloves and masks at all times, and food delivery is contactless.
▪ Bellhop and valet staff must wear single-use gloves, masks and sanitize their hands before and after each service. Staff will bring luggage to rooms before or after the guest enters the room to limit interaction.
The county is also recommending hotels/motels limit valet services only to those who have placards or plates for disabled parking or who otherwise needs assistance. So, if valet parking is an amenity that interest you, call ahead to ensure it’s still operating.
▪ Gyms and fitness centers must comply with new county guidelines, including accessible disinfectants, social distancing markers and a 50% capacity requirement. Spas and salons are also allowed to operate if they follow county guidelines, but you’ll have to make an appointment. Walk-ins are no longer allowed.
▪ Pools also have a 50% capacity requirement with separation between groups and a 10-person max per group. Hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms and indoor showers will remain closed, except indoor showers used to rinse before entering the pool. Employees must supervise and sanitize the pool area.
▪ Good news if you’re traveling for work.: Business centers are allowed to be open at 50% capacity with sanitizing wipes available for guests to use, and computers, workstations and other machines spaced out at least six feet apart. Visitors to the business center will be required to wear a face covering, like in all common areas.
▪ Beachfronts in Broward County are open for limited ocean and recreational exercise activities, but picnicking, umbrellas and sunbathing aren’t permitted.
What’s not open? Ballrooms and other special function spaces. You should also check with your hotel or motel as it might have other restrictions in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What changes are hotels, motels in Broward making to keep guests safe?
▪ Online check-in and check-out are encouraged, but physical distance will be enforced at the reception desk when that isn’t possible.
▪ Hotels, motels and other lodging (vacation rentals are open, but only for essential lodgers) are expected to increase sanitation requirements. This includes hourly sanitation of high-touch public areas and equipment such as keys and luggage carts.
▪ During a stay, housekeeping will be limited or by request only. After check-out, rooms will be deep-cleaned by staff wearing gloves and a mask, and no one can enter until the next guest arrives. Sheets and towels will be bagged in the rooms to limit exposure.
▪ Courtesy shuttles will be deep-cleaned regularly, with high-touch points being sanitized after each trip. All shuttle passengers must wear masks, and physical distancing within the shuttle is required except for those who live together.
▪ Some provisions are at the businesses’ discretion, such as physical barriers at desk and valet stands and providing an amenities bag with protective equipment. You can check online or call ahead before making a reservation to learn more about a hotel’s safety measures.
To learn more about the different requirements and restrictions, visit https://www.broward.org/CoronaVirus/Documents/Emergency%20Order%2020-13_Attachment13.pdf
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 6:55 AM with the headline "On-demand housekeeping and longer elevator rides. Life at Broward hotels amid COVID-19."
