Hoteliers and technology advisors discuss top-of-mind employee safety issues as properties reopen post pandemic; Fast-paced weekly episodes start mid-July and tackle workforce retention, service delivery, brand reputation, technology implementation and more
Seattle, June 30, 2020 — Even before COVID-19, a new safety culture began emerging in hospitality that placed employee protection at the core of operations. As hoteliers readied to meet legislative mandates or honor commitments to the American Hotel & Lodging Assn.’s 5 Star Promise, the 2020 pandemic hit. Now, as properties prepare to reopen, operators are asking: How do we get employees back to work? Which technologies are ‘must haves’ to reopen? What are my competitors doing and how can I afford to do the same or better? How long will it take to implement all these changes and why? Are there existing technologies to leverage without having to buy everything new? What will happen if we just say “no”?
To provide answers and discuss other top-of-mind security concerns, React Mobile is launching a series of webcast episodes featuring video interviews with hospitalitiy experts. In each episode, React Mobile CEO Robb Monkman will have candid discussions with technology consultants and executives from hotels, management companies, ownership groups, and brands to reveal their new employee safety cultures and share how they are tackling safety issues amidst the new normal.
“New World, New Employee Safety Culture — Series One” will launch Monday, July 13. To view each Webcast episode, click here.
“Throughout COVID-19, we’ve encouraged hotel companies to use this time of low occupancy to tackle technology projects that they didn’t have time to prioritize previously,” Monkman said. “Many took advantage of the opportunity to roll out enhanced safety standards and technology to ensure their people are safe upon return. Through this webcast series, I will talk with employee-centric operators and hospitality advisors about today’s new safety culture and discuss how technology is positioning them to meet staff and guest demands going forward. We encourage anyone with employee safety concerns — from sexual harassment to virus containment — to listen and learn from their peers so that collectively we can all emerge from this crisis stronger than before.”
Here’s a sneak peek at the first two episodes:
Episode 1: “Understanding the New Employee Safety Culture” — Posting July 13
It’s a dangerous world. New threats are making it challenging to reduce risks facing hotel employees. Even with heightened cleaning standards and sanitizing technology, it may be difficult to lure frontline workers – especially housekeepers – back to work. In this episode, Jay Reed of CIO Suite and former tech head of Aimbridge Hospitality, Omni Hotels & Resorts, Pillar Hotels & Resorts, Trammell Crow Residential, and Wyndham International, will help define the new employee safety culture and discuss how building employee confidence today via technology will help bring travelers back tomorrow.
“Kudos to those operators who are using this time of quarantine and low occupancy to establish strong employee safety cultures and honor their commitments to industry safety programs. Deployment of this technology ― at the cost of owners ― is the right thing to do, just as eliminating adult content in guest entertainment was the right thing to do years ago despite the additional revenue that it brought to owners. If you want to get your people back to work quickly, you will need to raise the bar on employee safety . . . period.
“I am encouraging my peers ― especially those with an employee-centric culture ― to listen to this webcast starting July 13th. If you believe adding employee safety devices isn’t important today, I hope to change your mind.”
Episode 2: “Las Vegas Isn’t Gambling on Safety” — Posting July 20
A month ago, one could ride a bike down the middle of Las Vegas Boulevard and not worry about cars. Today, casino properties are opening, with most visitors driving from surrounding states. In this episode, Shannon McCallum, Chairman of the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Foundation and former Vice President of Hotel Operations for ARIA Resort & Casino and Vdara Hotel & Spa, will discuss the new employee safety culture in this leading convention destination.
“People visiting Las Vegas today are doing so because they have COVID fatigue. Although properties have stringent safety procedures in place to keep guests safe, many visitors are reluctant to heed operator instructions to wear masks, use provided hand sanitizer, or keep elevator occupancy to a minimum. It’s concerning. If 100 percent of hotel employees wear masks but only 10 percent of guests comply, there’s going to be a problem, especially for those workers’ manning the front lines. While we are doing everything possible to be proactive, there still needs to be technology in place that is reactive to staff and guest alerts for help. Equipping employees with safety devices will help them feel safer, while also safeguarding the guest experience.
“Please listen in and share this July 20th webcast as we discuss why hotel and casino operators cannot afford to gamble on employee safety today. Our people should not assume all the risk without any reward.”
Future webcast episodes will be announced in the coming weeks. To learn more about the React Mobile Webcast Series, click here or visit www.reactmobile.com/webcasts.
