The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) announced new face mask guidelines for vaccinated guests and employees. AHLA president Chip Rogers released a statement describing the updated guidance but the questions still remain about when hotel will let their vaccinated staff remove them.
Rogers noted in a statement released on 6/21/21,
“In response to increasing vaccination rates across the country and of our workforce, and consistent with CDC and OSHA guidance, the hotel industry supports vaccinated employees being given the choice whether to continue wearing face coverings, in accordance with state and local laws.”
AHLA Guidance
Despite CDC guidance on face mask wearing for vaccinated people, most hotels still required their staff to wear them. In some cases, guests are even required to wear them – although this rule is hardly enforced anymore and despite AHLA guidance suggesting vaccinated guests no longer need to wear masks.
The recent AHLA statement encourages unvaccinated employees to continue to wear masks and follow other guidelines like social distancing. It notes:
“Unvaccinated employees and guests should continue to wear face coverings and practice physical distancing at all times in common areas of the hotel facility. It is also important to note that employees and guests, including those who are vaccinated, are welcome to wear a face covering if that is their personal preference.”
Having stayed at a Hilton Property for Father’s Day in Southern California, I observed few (although not all) guests NOT wearing masks, and every single hotel employee wearing a mask.
Read the full AHLA statement here.
The real question is when does the airline industry relax or eliminate face masks on airplanes?
