Hygiene and cleanliness

How airlines and hotels are keeping business travellers safe during their travels

In the absence of a unified set of hygiene safety standards agreed by governments globally, many hotels and airlines have led the way by implementing their own cleanliness procedures, many in collaboration with hygiene experts, to enable essential travel following COVID-19.

To help you travel with confidence, we’ve collated a list outlining the steps many of our key partners are taking to keep you safe and well throughout your journey.

Airline safety and hygiene procedures

Air Canada’s CleanCare+ biosecurity programme is designed to protect customers and employees. These include health screening questions and pre-flight infrared temperature checks, and disinfection of frequently touched areas such as check-in counters and kiosks.

Air France introduced safety measures under “Air France Protect“, including mandatory face masks on all aircraft, Plexiglas protective screens, temperature checks, long-haul sanitary kits and like many other airlines, its planes are equipped with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters which eliminate more than 99.97% of bacteria and viruses.

American Airlines is the first airline to achieve GBAC STAR™ Accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council. This ensures there are proper procedures to respond to biological threats like COVID-19. Its new Clean Commitment includes plexiglass shields, touchless check-in, hand sanitising stations, face coverings, and more.

Austrian Airlines introduced ”boarding by group” to maintain distancing,  mandatory face coverings, new check-in and boarding procedures and HEPA in-air filtration.

British Airways’  measures include mandatory face masks, touchless journeys, antibacterial wipes and more.

Delta and its partner airlines change their HEPA filters twice as often as is recommended and electrostatically spray aircraft interiors each night with high-grade disinfectant to ensure no surface goes unnoticed, as well as other safety measures. They also continue to test new innovations.

Emirates’ safety and hygiene standards include thermal scanning at check-in, an enhanced cleaning and disinfection process onboard all aircraft and additional cabin crew cabin dedicated to cleaning the lavatories.

Kenya Airways safety measures include passenger temperature checks at check-in, mandatory face coverings at all times, regular in-depth cleaning, and much more.

KLM’s health protection measures include all planes being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, HEPA in-air filtration, temperature checks to some destinations, and face masks for everyone aged 10+.

Lufthansa’s protection measures include contactless boarding, HEPA in-air filtration, disinfectant wipes for cleaning the surfaces in and around your seat, and mandatory face masks.

Qatar Airways aircraft are disinfected after every flight with cleaning products recommended by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). All bedding and linen items are washed, dried, and pressed at temperatures up to 100 degrees centigrade after every flight and economy class pillow covers are disposed of after every flight. This is in addition, to many other safety mesasures.

Swiss allow you to print your own baggage tag at home and offers Self Bag Drop in some airports. Other safety measures include compulsory face coverings, HEPA in-air filtration, and new in-flight service arrangements.

United Airlines’ CleanPlus℠ commitment sees them teaming up with Clorox to upgrade its cleaning and disinfection procedures, and rolling out Clorox products onboard its aircraft and across US airports.

Virgin Atlantic  introduced new aircraft cleaning standards and offers HEPA in-air filtration among other measures to keep passengers and employees safe.

Hotel safety and protection measures

Accor Hotels’ ALLSAFE cleanliness and protection programme includes stringent new hygiene standards and hospital grade cleaning products.

Clayton and Maldron Hotels’  Keep Safe Programme introduced advanced sanitisation procedures, rigorous health and safety employee training, contactless check-in and out, ‘click and collect’ dining service and much more.

GLH, which includes Amba, Guoman, Hard Rock, Thistle and Thistle Express hotels, offers heightened professional cleaning standards, new contactless services and distancing measures – including for business meetings.

Hilton has partnered with Reckitt Benckiser, makers of Lysol & Dettol products, to deliver an even cleaner stay for guests through its new CleanStay programme.

IHG’s global Clean Promise includes using new science-led protocols and service measures in partnership with Cleveland Clinic, Ecolab and Diversey.

Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotels share a Stay Safe, Stay Happy programme which includes heightened standards across hygiene, physical distancing, cashless operations, meals and drinks, and employee training to official standards.

Macdonald Hotels and Resorts offer fully trained staff and enhanced cleaning and housekeeping procedures in collaboration with Shield Safety Group, ECOLAB and The National Laundry Group.

Marriott’s Commitment to Clean brings together experts in food and water safety, hygiene and infection prevention, and hotel operations, to redefine cleaning and safety standards through its new Cleanliness Council.

Native introduced a range of new measures, including keeping in touch with guests through WhatsApp, online payments and fully contactless check-in.

NH Hotel Group announced a comprehensive roadmap for keeping guests and employees safe, based on 10 mandatory pillars for enhanced health and safety protocols.

Premier Inn’s enhanced hygiene promise, CleanProtect, includes a rigorous, daily cleaning regime across its hotels, developed with global cleaning and hygiene product supplier Diversey.

Quality Inn is part of Choice Hotel’s Commitment to Clean, which introduces heightened cleaning protocols for high-traffic, high-touch areas using guidance from the World Health Organisation, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and national health services.

Roomzzz Aparthotels has briefed all employees on local health authority and Public Health England guidelines and developed an extensive internal coronavirus contingency plan including daily review meetings.

Staycity ApartHotels’ measures include sealing your room until you enter with a special door sticker and using “Just Sanitised” labels across its rooms and apartments.

Travelodge created TravelodgeProtect+, a cleaning and distancing programme developed by a dedicated cross-functional hygiene strategy team, designed to keep guests and teams safe in line with government guidance.

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts have elevated their health and safety protocols, including in partnership with disinfectant-supplier ECOLAB and by appointing ‘Hygiene Heroes’ in its hotels.

General travel tips

Always follow your country’s official government travel advice, both before booking and regularly until the day you travel.

To support you with your travel preparations, we’ve also created Top Tips including a checklist for safe business travel.