In a letter to the Biden Administration transition team, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, National Governors Association, Operation Warp Speed and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has offered hotel properties as vaccine administration sites across the country.
According to the AHLA, hotels are uniquely positioned to help with vaccine rollout. With more than 50,000 hotels across all states, including properties located in cities, suburbs and rural communities, hotels have the geographic reach to support a wide distribution of the vaccine.
Additionally, hotels have private rooms, meeting rooms, conference and ballrooms, as well as outside spaces, making them equipped for 24-hour operations to allow for round-the-clock vaccination administration. This will also ensure there is adequate space to maintain physical distancing, capacity limits and other safety protocols. Further, as hotels are currently running at less than 50 percent occupancy rates, families or individuals who might be traveling to receive the vaccine will have access to comfortable and flexible lodging options should they need.
Hotels also offer ample parking and are often accessible from major transportation networks, including highways and public transportation routes. Hotels also have outdoor capabilities that can provide safe, weather-proof vaccination services, where parking lots could be utilized for vaccination administration, similar to drive-thru testing sites. Further, with many hotels being temperature-controlled and the majority of hotels having refrigeration capabilities to store vaccines, issues concerning vaccine storage will be limited or can be quickly addressed to meet the requirements necessary for safe and effective vaccine storage.
The AHLA adds that its hotels have already adopted its “Safe Stay” enhanced cleaning initiative.
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