Ebola Industry Update

 
October 31, 2014

Dear AH&LA Member,
 
As the Ebola situation evolves in the United States, AH&LA remains committed to sharing the latest resources and updates with the industry. We continue to be in close contact with government officials on the latest developments and how they may impact you directly or indirectly.
 
As you know, the nation's top health officials and government advisors continue to press for calm, reassuring the American people that the dangers of a serious outbreak in this country remain extraordinarily low. While the risk may be low, we understand the need for hoteliers to take steps to protect guests and employees should a concerning situation ever arise. 
 
With that mind, AH&LA has partnered with the risk management firm AON and the Garvy Group to provide a set of protocols tailored specifically to the hotel industry. These documents provide recommendations on how to identify anyone who may be at risk of Ebola, and what actions you can take.
 
Please download these documents and share them with your colleagues and employees by clicking here. For additional Ebola resources, please visit www.ahla.com.
 
And, if you missed it, you can also access the webinar that AH&LA hosted last week titled, “Flu to Ebola: Health Experts Offer Guidance on Emergency” by clicking here.  The webinar featured risk management and health experts who specified specific steps hotel can take to protect their employees and their guests, as well as lessons learned by the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association when individuals in the Dallas area contracted the virus.
 
We will continue to provide you updates as more resources become available.


October 20, 2014
 
OH&LA members:
As the Ebola virus continues to generate news, there is increased interest in what hotels are doing to manage the risk to employees and guests.  The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has developed a number of resources which are available on its website www.ahla.com. Additionally, below is a statement that Katherine Lugar, AH&LA President & CEO is providing to inquiring members of the press and suggested talking points.
 
Additionally, AH&LA has reached out to both the CDC and DHS to ask if they have any hotel-specific guidance that we can share with our members.  AH&LA is also in the process of requesting a briefing from the new Ebola Czar, Ron Klain.  As more information becomes available from any of these sources, AH&LA will share it. 
 
In the meantime, if you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.  
 
Statement from the Katherine Lugar, AH&LA President and CEO
“In response to the current Ebola situation, the American Hotel & Lodging Association is sharing the latest information and resources with its members to ensure the safety of hotel employees and guests alike. We continue to monitor the situation very closely and are in close contact with government and health officials regarding the latest developments and guidance.
 
While there is growing concern about the potential spread of the virus here in the U.S., it is important to underscore that the White House and the nations’ top health officials have emphasized that the dangers of a serious outbreak in this country remain very low.
 
The health, safety and security of our guests and team members is paramount. In these kinds of rapidly-evolving situations it is imperative that we stay informed, dispel fact from fiction and follow official guidelines. To that end, we are sharing resources and information on Ebola, its symptoms, and the measures our association members can take to be better prepared.
 
We will continue to stay in close contact with governmental agencies, and provide updated resources and information to our members as they are made available.”
 
Katherine Lugar,
President and CEO, American Hotel and Lodging Association 
 
Suggested Industry Talking Points
  • The health, safety and security of our guests and team members is paramount.
  • While there is growing concern about the potential spread of the virus here in the U.S., it is important to underscore that the White House and the nations’ top health officials have emphasized that the dangers of a serious outbreak in this country remain very low.
  • In these kinds of rapidly-evolving situations it is imperative that we stay informed, dispel fact from fiction and follow official guidelines.
  • AH&LA is sharing the latest resources with its members and information on Ebola, its symptoms, and the measures hotels can take to be better prepared. 
  • AH&LA continues to monitor the situation very closely and is in close contact with government and health officials regarding the latest developments and guidance.

October 17, 2014

Dear AH&LA Member,
In response to the continued news on Ebola, we want to be sure that we are sharing the latest information and resources with the industry. We are monitoring the situation very closely and are in close contact with government officials regarding the latest information and guidance.
 
The health, safety and security of our guests and team members is paramount. However, it is important to underscore that the White House and the nation's top health officials have emphasized that the dangers of a serious outbreak in this country remain extraordinarily low. 
 
In an effort to keep abreast of the latest resources, we are sharing with you information on Ebola, its symptoms, and the measures you can take to be better prepared.  Resources are available on our website here, with guidance on how to identify an infected individual and what to do if you believe you may have been exposed. We also encourage you to access the materials provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which has been the authoritative voice on this issue.
And for additional research, we suggest you also visit these helpful links:
Please also join the American Hotel and Lodging Association and health and security experts for a members-only webinar on October 30, 2014 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET to help you prepare for health emergencies for all kinds of viruses, including Ebola, and the even more commonplace flu. You can register today by clicking here.
 
We will continue to keep you updated as additional information becomes available.
 
Thank you. 
 
Sincerely,
Katherine Lugar
President & CEO, American Hotel & Lodging Association