15,000 U.S. Hotels Sign Up to Support Healthcare Community

More than 15,000 hotels have signed up for the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s (AHLA) new initiative, “Hospitality for Hope,” which identifies hotel properties that have offered to provide temporary housing for emergency and healthcare workers as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) public health crisis grows. While the program will primarily focus on housing for the healthcare community, some hotels could potentially be used as “Alternative Care Sites.” such as an emergency hospital or place for those quarantined to stay if needed. 

AHLA's “Hospitality for Hope Initiative” was created to boost collaboration between the hotel industry and local, state and federal governments to help employees, communities across the country and the industry during the pandemic. Already, this initiative has identified a total combined 2.3 million rooms located in close proximity to established healthcare facilities.

Additionally, the AHLA and its state association partners are working to create a national “Hospitality for Hope” database to assist the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, local emergency management and public health agencies. Local, state and federal government officials will be able to search willing properties based on geographic location.

In expanding “Hospitality for Hope Initiative,” the American Hotel & Lodging Foundation, AHLA’s charitable arm, rolled out free resources last week to help industry employees continue their education, including hospitality management online courses, professional development scholarships for AHLA certifications and continuing education online programs. 

To learn more about additional training and education efforts through AHLA’s “Hospitality for Hope,” visit ahloa.com/ahlas-hospitality-hope-initiative.

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