NEW YORK — Loews Hotels & Co has become one of the first hospitality brands to receive the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management through the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) — a global authority on healthy buildings.
Loews has achieved the WELL Health-Safety Rating across its portfolio, with the exception of hotels in Orlando, which are part of the Universal Orlando Resort. The WELL Health-Safety Rating is an evidence-based, third-party verified assessment for new and existing buildings reviewing operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans to address a post-COVID-19 climate.
“Achieving this rating is a testament to Loews Hotels & Co’s commitment to investing in programs, our buildings and our people, keeping both guests and team members safe, comfortable and healthy, while always keeping the company culture top of mind, honing in on providing a guest experience centred on intuitive service and familial hospitality,” says Jenny Lucas, SVP, Operations, Loews Hotels & Co. “This recognition builds upon the exemplary operations already in place across the brand, while offering the opportunity to refine processes that equip our properties not just during COVID-19, but also for the future.”
To receive a WELL Health-Safety Rating, each hotel building had to meet criteria focused on cleaning and sanitization procedures; emergency-preparedness programs; health services; air- and water-quality management; stakeholder communications promoting health and wellness; and innovation inclusive of enhanced ventilation and particle filtration. Loews Hotels’ properties will prominently showcase a visible seal to affirm the building’s health-and-safety efforts are WELL Health-Safety Rated and validated by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI).
“Loews Hotels’ leading efforts to earn the WELL Health-Safety Rating highlight the critical role that buildings, and those that own and operate them, can play in supporting people’s health, safety and well-being,” says Rachel Hodgdon, president and CEO, IWBI. “At IWBI, we are proud to celebrate this achievement with Loews as they lead the way toward a healthy, resilient recovery and help positively transform the hospitality industry.”
