Despite Lifting Of State Mandates, These Hotel Brands Continue Mask Requirements

by SharonKurheg

It’s been an encouraging time for the U.S. in terms of COVID. For the past several weeks, cases have been generally on a downward trend, although the scientists aren’t exactly sure why. However, they have a few hypotheses:

  • About 15% of U.S. citizens have now been vaccinated, either partially or fully, against COVID (although that number is still too small to make the dent that we’ve seen in our numbers, it would account for a part of the decrease)
  • The virus’s seasonality (scientists say that may allow it to spread faster in colder weather)
  • There’s more talk about getting vaccinated and less about being tested. That’s resulted in fewer people getting tested (remember when the former president suggested that, “by having more tests, we have more cases?” Well, we don’t – the number of cases is whatever they are. But with less testing, not as many cases are detected)

The governors of some states are willing to take any good news and use it to their advantage, or at least as an excuse to lift mask mandates or to justify earlier decisions regarding mask use. As of this writing, the following states do not have mask mandates: Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee.

However even as those mandates end (or, for some states, had never been), local governments continue with their own rules for their own areas. And that’s to say nothing of individual businesses.

Despite the lack of mask rules in some states, etc., most, if not all hotel chains still require masks. Here are the current rules for the most popular hotel brands in the U.S.:

Hilton

In accordance with CDC and WHO guidelines, we are requiring face coverings in all indoor public areas of all our hotels throughout the U.S., the Caribbean and Latin America, for guests and Team Members. Additionally, we continue to encourage the use of face coverings at our hotels throughout the rest of the world.

Hyatt

Following medical expert guidance to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, face masks or coverings are required in hotel indoor public areas and when moving around in outdoor areas at all Hyatt hotels globally, with some exceptions, based on local laws or guidance. For specific requirements, please contact the hotel directly or visit the hotel website.

Public areas may include hotel lobbies, meetings and events spaces, restaurants and bars, and fitness centers. Some guests may be exempt from this mandate, including but not limited to guests with medical conditions, guests consuming food or beverages in restaurants, guests who are seated outdoors and socially distant, meetings and events guests who are seated and socially distant, and children under the age of two (2). Contact a Hyatt Global Contact Center for more information.

IHG

All IHG branded hotels are required to adhere to comprehensive cleaning and safety procedures intended to reduce the risk of Covid-19 exposure and transmission. In addition, effective Monday, July 27 {ETA: 2020}, face coverings will be required in all indoor public spaces at our hotels in US and Canada.

Marriott

To promote the health and safety of our communities, face coverings are required for guests and associates in all indoor public areas in North America, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Wyndham

As part of our response to COVID-19, all hotel guests in the U.S. and Canada are required to wear a mask/face covering when in indoor public areas…

Of course, rules are only as effective as they’re followed and enforced. Some places are excellent at reinforcing what needs to be done. Others, not so much. The same goes for people who choose to follow the rules. Hopefully, people will continue to wear masks where they’re required, to help continue to slow the spread until COVID is no longer an issue. For as long as it takes.

Feature Photo: Marriott

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#stayhealthy #staysafe #washyourhands #wearamask

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary

6 comments

Mak March 10, 2021 - 9:40 am

I think these hotels have a perfect right to continue to demand masking to stay at their properties, and people can decide whether they want to stay there or elsewhere in a more relaxed property. Personally, I’ll take the later every time – extremely tired of the Covid theater and employees who enjoy wielding their authority a little to much that I’m encountering too often as I restart to travel – but the market should decide and not be imposed by government.

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SharonKurheg March 10, 2021 - 11:57 am

I wholeheartedly agree. I would never stay in a hotel that doesn’t require mask use indoors. It’s such a minor inconvenience yet people aren’t willing to potentially save someone else’s life. So self-centered.

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Ralph March 10, 2021 - 6:33 pm

Title should read “Despite states lifting mask mandates prematurely, these chains are still doing the right thing by requiring mask wearing as recommended by the CDC.

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Clyn6 March 10, 2021 - 4:18 pm

I will gladly choose the hotels that DO still encourage mask use. I and my husband are both immune compromised as well as my 86 year old mother. So sad that some anti-mask/anti-Covid believer could easily kill us. My mom’s sister got Covid was hospitalized 2 weeks, and 4 months later still has to use oxygen at home. She was fairly healthy before Covid.

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Tom W May 5, 2021 - 12:36 pm

My wife and I will never again patronize any business that won’t let us in without a mask. I have a condition (in my medical record) that is exasperated by a mask or respirator.
Another thing that the uninformed don’t realize is that the cdc says that the flu is almost nonexistent now. From 60,000 flu deaths to zero is hogwash.

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SharonKurheg May 5, 2021 - 12:46 pm

Welp, you have to remember that as of this writing, that article is already 2 months old – that’s a long time in the age of COVID. In early March, very few people had been vaccinated. Over time, as more and more people get their COVID vaccinations, it should be less of an issue.

But yes, it’s true that the flu was almost a non-entity this year. My best friend is a pharmacist. In a typical flu season, she sees about 10 prescriptions PER DAY for Tamiflu. This season? Two. Total. Two Tamiflu prescriptions. People stayed home, most socially distanced and wore masks when they went out, etc.

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