Since the start of the pandemic, hotels came forward to house frontline workers in need of a convenient place to stay for their loved one’s safety. The AHLA played a huge role in aiding the medical community during COVID-19 when they began the Hospitality for Hope Initiative, which launched on March 24th. Through the initiative, over 15,000 hotels signed up to house emergency services, medical staff, and non-critical patients.
Fast forward ten months later, hotels are opening up their properties once again, but this time it’s for Hotel Vaccination Site. What’s more, this contribution will not only help hospitals administer vaccines more efficiently, but it will also speed up the recovery of the hotel industry.
With less of a need for business centers due to a decrease in business travel, hotels can utilize this space for health departments to vaccinate more people. According to Skift, the Cordish Companies’ Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland opened up their meeting and events space to healthcare personnel of Anne Arundel County, who were able to vaccinate 100 people per hour.
According to AHLA’s 2021 State of the Hotel Industry Report, nearly half of travelers see the vaccine as key to travel again, with leisure travel expected to return first in the second half of 2021.