Paris-based Accor has joined the ranks of hotel companies insisting on mask usage in all property public spaces.

Effective immediately, all guests and visitors at Accor properties across North and Central America are required to wear face coverings over the nose and mouth in all indoor public spaces to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Masks will be provided by the hotels for guests who do not have one. Accor employees have already been required to wear masks, in addition to other preventive measures implemented as part of the group’s global AllSafe cleanliness label and the region’s “All Safe & Well” well-being platform. 

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“We remain deeply committed to taking the necessary steps to protect the health and safety of our guests and employees throughout the ongoing challenges presented by COVID-19,” said Heather McCrory, CEO, Accor North & Central America. “Wearing face coverings, along with enhanced cleaning protocols and practicing physical distancing, will help ensure that every guest has a safe experience in our hotels, and that we can protect each other as we begin traveling again.” 

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The mandate is aligned with the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s new Guest Checklist as part of its ongoing Safe Stay initiative, which is aimed at uniting the hotel industry under a shared set of guidelines issued by public health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Accor’s other safety standards include physical distancing; mandatory screening for all guests and employees, which may include a temperature check; 48-hour “resting period” for softgoods (i.e. pillows & duvets) between guest stays; increased frequency of cleaning and disinfecting with a focus on high-touch points; and continued use of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-registered disinfecting chemicals, which have been proven effective in preventing the transmission of COVID-19. Hands-on training for all employees, dedicated AllSafe Ambassador at each property and a formal audit program ensure initial and continued compliance.