American Hotel Association Safe Stay Initiative

We are evaluating the AHA SafeStay protocols. These are designed for large hotels with big housekeeping teams but it is the only National Standard recognized by VRBO. On an island where we utilize independent contractors for cleaning, we will be challenged to hit all of these high marks. We have communicated these standards to our team and will endeavor to come up with these standards with every turnover cleaning we do. Please do your part by observing the CDC guidelines that follow in this post.
More information is here

Reopening & Cleaning Procedures

The safety of our guests and team is our first priority. We will institute enhanced cleaning procedures and update this page regularly to inform our team and guests of best practices for a safe and relaxing stay at our property.

Health and Safety of Guests

• Contact less check-ins are being used to cut down on face-to-face interactions.
• CDC resources provided to any guest while staying on property. These resources are available
in multiple languages at the CDC website.
• CDC guidance  provided to guests traveling with pets and service/assistance animals if the
property is pet friendly.
• All properties will provide local COVID-19 guidance for guests. 
• Employees or contractors working in short-term rentals will be provided CDC related safety guidance to
alleviate the transmission of the virus and provide further protection for employees and guests.

Contact Tracing

• As an extra precaution please keep a log of all visitors and contacts of your guests on a daily basis in whatever manner you find most easy. If an infection happens this information will be critical.

Cleanliness of the Property

• All Business and Professional Regulation sanitation guidelines will be followed:
Sanitation and Safety Requirements of the transient lodging rules.
• CDC related guidelines that are for public spaces, businesses, schools, and homes will be followed.
• Extra time will be allowed for enhanced cleaning procedures to take place between stays based upon the
use of CDC cleaning and sanitization procedures.
• To inform guests signage will be placed at each property highlighting the cleaning protocols between stays.
• Upon exit, all ceiling fans and/or HVAC fans will be turned on automatically to facilitate air circulation.
• Cleaning and/or rental staff present at a property should maintain at least 6 feet apart at all times, and wear masks and gloves.
• Elevators will be subject to frequent cleaning and sanitizing.
• Common areas and high touch areas will be cleaned and disinfected.

Quarantine for Out-of-State Guests is not required but urged

 This is your notice per the ate of Massachusetts requirement listed below:

“Lodging operators must inform guests at the time a reservation is made and at check-in of the Commonwealth’s policy urging travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days when arriving in Massachusetts from out of state.”

Note: This is a request of the state but not a requirement. We are providing this information so that all our guests, regardless of where they are coming from, how to vacation safely and responsibly (state social distancing guidelines, wear a mask in public, beach guidelines, etc.).

Guest Health Concerns

Responding swiftly and reporting to local health officials any presumed cases of COVID-19 at the property shall be a staff-wide requirement. Employees exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 shall remain or return home. While at work, employees who notice a coworker or guest exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 shall immediately contact a manager. At a minimum, vacation rentals shall follow CDC guidelines for employers and businesses, including instructing employees to self-isolate for the required amount of time, as defined by the CDC, from the onset of symptoms and be symptom-free for at least three days without medication.

Case Notification

At a minimum, confirmed cases of COVID-19 shall be immediately reported to local health authorities in accordance with appropriate actions recommended by the CDC.

Physical Distancing & Queuing

Guests who have traveled from a distance should allow at least six feet of separation between themselves and other guests as recommended by the CDC’s social distancing guidelines. Guests shall be advised to practice physical distancing from people not traveling with them.

These guidelines were adopted from the Escambia county Florida guidelines. You may have never heard of Escambia but it is essentially Pensacola and the home to many many vacation rental properties. Here is the county’s plan to reopen the VR industry which is “essential” to the economy of this county.

The original post is here.