Mask up: Marriott expands face covering requirement to more regions, with more brands likely to follow
Editor's Note
Editor's note: This post has been updated with new information.
While the country's major hotel chains have required staff to wear masks for months, they are finally turning their attention toward guests.
As of July 27, Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG have been requiring hotel guests to wear face coverings in public areas of hotels in the United States and Canada.
Marriott has since quietly expanded its policy to include all properties in North America, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Marriott was the first chain to announce a mask requirement and it's likely that its peers will follow suit with this expansion as well.
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On Monday, July 20, Marriott became the first chain to announce a start date for the new mask requirement policy, when president and CEO Arne Sorenson said the mandate would go into effect on July 27. Hyatt, IHG and Hilton have joined Marriott in announcing similar requirements shortly after.
This requirement will be in effect for "the foreseeable future" at Hyatt hotels in the two North American nations, according to a statement from the brand.
"Guests who are not wearing face coverings indoors will be asked to wear one, and at all Hyatt hotels, face masks will be made available to guests who do not have one," a Hyatt spokesperson told TPG.
These individual announcements come on the heels of a new set of guidelines for hotel guests released late last week by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA). Known as the "Stay Safe Guest Checklist," it calls for, among other best practices, a face-covering requirement for guests in public spaces.
Other large players in the hotel industry including Loews Hotels & Co., Radisson Hotel Group and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts have endorsed the plan released by the AHLA as well. A spokesperson for Loews told TPG that the chain has been requiring guests to wear face masks in public areas of its properties since it restarted operations.
The majority of the guidelines in AHLA's Stay Safe Guest Checklist have already been part of existing pandemic policies hotels began implementing several months ago. These include stepped-up cleaning protocols, social distancing in public spaces, sanitization stations, contactless food-delivery options, increased use of mobile check-in, check-out, digital keys and more.
Related: What your hotel stay will look like after coronavirus
These plans required staff at the country's major hotel chains to wear face coverings while working for months, though now they are finally turning their attention toward guests — and that's not surprising. The U.S. has seen a major resurgence in the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections since lockdown restrictions were lifted.
With the pandemic still very much a public health concern, the industry is shifting more of the responsibility to practice safe travel habits onto guests with the mask requirement for indoor public areas.
The hotel industry joins the airline industry with these mask mandates. All major airlines now require passengers to wear a mask while flying, and many have said they'll consider banning passengers who do not comply.
Delta recently said it will ask anyone who refuses to wear a mask to consult with medical personnel before flying.
Bottom line
We've seen many states, territories and high-profile retailers announce face-covering requirements of their own as the numbers of infections continue to spike across the nation.
Now, the nation's hotel chains -- deeply affected by the travel-industry crisis that's resulted from this pandemic -- are joining together to do what they can to continue the modest recovery the industry has seen over the summer months and, more importantly, to protect their team members and guests from contracting COVID-19.
Additional reporting by Benji Stawski
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.