Health & Safety Precautions in Response to Coronavirus

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

To the family ownership of the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, our 155 associates, our supportive and loyal guests, and our community are the heart and soul of our organization, and every effort to support their health and well-being remains of paramount importance to our mission.
Our senior leadership team has meticulously reviewed every facet and area of our operations to implement enhanced safeguards. While some of these are clearly noticeable and others remain invisible to our visitors, all are meaningful with regard to how we deliver a safe work environment for our colleagues and a safe, memorable hotel experience for our guests.
The purpose of this document is to provide information about the precautions that have been put in place. In sharing it, we hope that we have anticipated most of your questions and illustrated that our efforts will meet and exceed all government guidelines and industry recommendations. We will continue to update this program as developments that benefit public health progress, and we continue to learn how to best move forward together.
When the time is right for you, we will be here to warmly welcome you back.

Sincerely,

John Fitzpatrick
President and CEO
Fitzpatrick Hotel Group North America

 

SUMMARY OF ENHANCED HEALTH & SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

The well-being of our employees, guests and community remains The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group’s highest priority. As we closely monitor and adhere to changes in government policy, The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group has enhanced our health & safety precautions to comply with the recommendations and guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the New York City Departments of Health. We will continue to elevate our standards as best practices evolve.

Should you wish to download a copy of our Health & Safety Precautions in Response to Coronavirus, please click here

HEALTH & SAFETY

Guest Reservations & Arrival:
As a condition of making a reservation, guests will be requested to attest that they are free of COVID-19 symptoms and exposures per the Guest Health Attestation posted on the www.fitzpatrichotels.com and within each guest reservation confirmation and pre-arrival email. Guests will be required to wear face coverings on entering Fitzpatrick Hotels and in public areas of the hotel. We will also ask you to process your temperature on entering at our temptature checks at the entrance to our hotels. Should your temperature be 100.4 degrees or higher we will take a seondary reading after 10 minutes. If your temperature is still 100.4 degrees or higher you will be required to go to a medical center for a COVID-19 test.

Health Concerns:
Our Employees have been trained on how to respond swiftly to and report all guest or employee presumed cases of COVID-19 to their Managers and our Health and Safety Department. They will work closely with our Risk Management Department to coordinate operational protocols.
For the presumptive cases, such as if a guest advises or displays symptoms of COVID-19 the guest will be isolated to their guest room where they must stay while awaiting medical transportation. If a positive result is obtained the guest will be required to quarantine in their bedroom for the remainder of their stay or for a period of 14 days.
Isolated guests are prohibited from engaging with others and cannot receive visitors. Hotel Staff will deliver food and other supplies that the guest may require in a contact free manner. Isolated guests will not receive any housekeeping or in-room services; they are prohibited from leaving their rooms and using any of the hotel’s facilities.
Senior Managers will facilitate medical attention as needed as well as medical transportation for The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group.
If we are alerted of a positive COVID-19 case at The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, we will communicate with the New York Department of Health and follow their recommended actions

Medical Services:
Should employees or guests express any health concerns, we will refer them to a medical professional as designated by the New York Department of Health.

Physical Distancing:
Glass partitions have been added to our guest services desks throughout the hotels, providing an extra level of precaution for our guests and employees. Guests and staff will be reminded to remain a minimum six feet apart from each other. We will also provide floor markings to assist with social distancing. We ask all staff and guest to refrain from any physical contact.

Sanitizing Resources:
Hand sanitizer stations, facial tissues and trash receptacles will be in all public spaces and employee entrances, particularly at high traffic areas and key touch points such as reception desks, elevator landings, restaurant entrances and inside meeting rooms.

Temperature Check Point:
On entering The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, all entrances will provide a non-touch temperature check point. This is for the safety of both our customers and employees.

Signage:
Visual reminders of health, hygiene and physical distancing practices will be displayed throughout the hotels, both in public spaces and employee areas.

Staffing Capacity:
Management determines staffing based on business levels while ensuring the highest standards of service. We are revising our operational plans to provide service delivery options to maximize our ability to maintain physical distancing and provide flexibility to our guests who want to minimize human interaction.

EMPLOYEE PRACTISES

Hand Washing:
Proper hygiene and frequent hand washing are vital to combat the spread of COVID-19. All employees have been instructed to wash their hands often with soap and water for a least 20 seconds especially after using the restroom, blowing their nose, coughing or sneezing; before and after eating, going on a break and starting a shift. In addition, employees will use an alcoholic-based hand sanitizer with at least 62% alcohol. Sanitizing stations are available throughout the employee areas.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
Appropriate PPE will be worn by all employees based on their roles and responsibilities, and in adherence with the states and local regulations and guidelines. Training on how to properly wear and dispose of all PPE will be provided. Every employee will be issued multiple face coverings and required to wear them as appropriate. Each employee will also wear protective gloves where appropriate.

Physical Distancing:
Employees will be reminded to practice physical distancing whenever possible. This includes seating in all break and dining areas, shared offices workspaces, meeting rooms and other high-traffic areas. Flexible work arrangements, such as remote work and staggered shifts times, will be used to reduce employee density,

Policies:
Safe return to work guidance will be provided to our employees and will include protocols for daily health screenings, personal hygiene, physical distancing requirements, and property and workspace cleanliness standards.

Pre-Shift & Timekeeping:
Daily pre-shift meetings will be conducted in areas that allow for appropriate physical distancing. Larger departments will stagger meetings to employee arrival times to minimize traffic volume in back of house corridors, stairwells and elevators. Hand sanitizer will be provided next to each time clock location.

Shared Employee Space:
The use of shared employee spaces will decrease as we practice social distancing and flexible work arrangements. Social distancing will be practiced in our employee’s cafeterias by only permitting staggered employee breaks to adhere to social distancing regulations. Grab and go food will be provided to our employees to limit contact. All office and break areas will undergo periodic cleaning and disinfecting daily.

Shared Equipment:
Shared tools and equipment will be regularly cleaned and disinfected anytime the equipment is transferred to a new employee or at the end of each work shift.
Examples include work phones, keyboards, carts and tools.

Signage:
Signage will be displayed throughout the work areas to remind employees of physical distancing and personal hygiene practices, such as hand washing.

Training:
Employees will continue to train in all enhanced health, hygiene and physical distancing practices to ensure they are consistently followed. Employees will also be trained to recognize and report COVID-19 symptoms and follow medical care and isolation procedures as recommended by the CDC.

THE GUEST EXPERIENCE

Arrival:
Upon arrival at our hotels, guests will be asked to verify their reservation. On entering the hotels, guests will be asked to pass through our non-contact temperature stations. Luggage assistance will be available upon request and all bell carts will be cleaned and disinfected after each use.

Check-in & Front Desk:
A maximum of one associate will be stationed at each desk at our hotel reception areas in accordance with social distancing guidelines set out by the CDC.Clear partitions have been added to each workstation to separate the receptionist and guest, A complimentary PPE Kit will be available on check in for your personal use throughout your stay.

Digital Transactions:
Touch-less transactions using email, mobile phone and texts will be implemented throughout the guest experience. Guests will be pre-registered for check-in and guests will be required to input their credit card into the credit card reader upon arrival, which will be sanitized after each use. Guests may call or email guest relations directly for any special requests before or during your stay.

Elevator Use:
Elevator buttons will be cleaned and disinfected frequently. Capacities will be limited to one family or party at a time, up to four people.

Personal Protection Kits (PPE):
On arrival guests will receive a personal protection kit to include disposable face covering, disposable gloves and sanitizing hand wipes.

CLEANING PRODUCTS & PROTOCOLS

Prior to COVID-19 The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group operated extensive health, safety and hygiene measures that adhered to all EPA Guidelines. These operational practices will be continued, and we are implementing additional systems and new technology for cleaning and disinfecting.

Air Filtration Systems:
There will be increased cleaning frequency of our heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Cleaning Products:
A variety of EPA approved antimicrobial and surface disinfectants are utilized, which will include hydrogen peroxide, alcohol and bleach based solutions. The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group have carefully selected products that meet CDC requirements for use against viruses such as COVID-19, bacteria, and other airborne and blood borne pathogens. We are incorporating electrostatic spray technology for superior disinfectant application as appropriate.

Communal, Meeting & Public Spaces:
The frequency of cleaning and disinfecting all public space will increase. There will be emphasis on high-traffic areas and key touch points, such as check-in desk, elevator landings, house phones, meeting rooms, public restrooms, door handles, stair handrails, trash cans, restaurant entrance, dining surfaces and seating areas. Furniture will be arranged to best allow physical distancing.

Front Desk & Guest Relations:
Glass partitions have been added to service desks; they will be cleaned and disinfected frequently. Room keys will have to be deposited in a sealed container and will be treated and disinfected after each use.

Guest Rooms:
EPA approved cleaning products and disinfecting protocols will be used for the guest rooms with particular attention paid to high-touch items, such as doors, furniture handles, light switches, nightstands, toilet seats and handles, telephones, thermostats, alarm clocks, luggage racks, safe keypads and floor coverings.

TV remote controls will be cleaned and disinfected prior to your arrival and a covering for the remote is included in your personal protection kit. Housekeeping will discard all magazines, paper menus and other collateral upon every guest departure.

Housekeeping:
A guest can accept or decline daytime or evening turndown service, and adjust their preference daily. To minimize contact with guest room attendants, we will not service rooms while the guest is present. Housekeepers will offer to return at an alternate time for rooms occupied by guests. Should housekeeping day service or evening turndown service be desired, housekeeping will wear a face covering and gloves. Disposable gloves will be used for each individual room and will be discarded immediately thereafter. Carts and equipment will be disinfected regularly.

Laundry:
Bed linen and towels will be changed in response to guest preference. All items will continue to be washed at high temperatures with sanitizing detergents and in accordance with CDC guidelines. After departure, all linens and towels, whether they appear used or not, will be cleaned.

Public Restrooms:
All public restrooms will be cleaned and disinfected frequently throughout the day.

Vendors:
Every vendor who enters the property will be subject to a temperature screening and required to wear a face covering.

GUEST SERVICES

Guest Shipping:
For guest packages, our guest relations team will call each guest room to confirm preferred delivery times. Packages will be delivered to the room and placed outside of the door. Our team will knock and wait six feet away to ensure package is retrieved. Alternatively, you may call the guest relations team and arrange to collect your packages at the guest relations desk.

Ice:
Ice will be provided by our in room dining facility and will be delivered to the room and placed outside of the door. Our team will knock and wait six feet away to ensure delivery is retrieved.

Laundry & Dry Cleaning:
Services will be available using physical distancing pick-up. We ask that if you require laundry service, that you call the front desk and place your laundry bag outside the room for a member of our team to collect. For all return deliveries, guest relations will call to arrange a preferred delivery time so that your laundry can be delivered to the room and placed outside of the door. Our team will knock and wait six feet away to ensure that laundry is retrieved.

Private Car Service Reservations:
Guest relations will assist in arranging private car services. If you wish to limit human interaction, we ask you to call a member of the guest relations team to arrange services. Alternatively, you may inquire at the reception desk, where a clear partition is in place to safely separate the receptionist and guest.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group provides dining in both the Wheeltapper Bar and Restaurant at the Fitzpatrick Grand Central Hotel, and The Fitz Gastro Bar at the Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel. We will continue to work with the New York Department of Health to maintain social distancing to ensure our dining and beverage facilities safely adhere to all CDC, local and state guidelines.
We have suspended all buffet and self-serve food options. Our restaurants will only provide a la carte meals and our events department will offer table service or pre-packaged food items.
Condiments and sugar will be served in single use containers ( either disposable or washable after each use). Straws will be available upon request and individually wrapped. Menus, check presenters and pens will be cleaned and disinfected after each use.
We continue to follow the New York Departments of Health’s Food Code recommendations for hand washing and disposable glove use in all food service areas.

SCREENING

All associates, vendors, and guests will be subject to temperature check prior to entering our properties.
Any team member with an irregular or high temperature will be subject to secondary screening. Those confirmed to have a temperature at or over 100.4°F will be required to leave the property and will be given resources to make an informed decision about their medical care. Employees directed to leave the property will not be allowed on-site until they provide clearance by a doctor.
Upon arriving to work all employees will be required to complete a screening questionnaire. This will consist of a series of questions designed to identify if associate is experiencing symptoms and/or is unsafe to work. If they pass the questionnaire they will be allowed to work. If they fail, the associate will be sent home. Human Resources will follow up with the associate to determine when they may safely return to work.