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To assuage fears of guests that will return to hotels, a flurry of organizations and individual companies have come forward with detailed operational plans on how they plan to welcome guests back to their properties and how they’re striving to provide a safe environment for both guests and employees. Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Wyndham have each communicated their plans to the public, and while IHG hasn’t released an official plan to the public yet, it has a section in its COVID-19 advisory explaining that its properties “have increased the frequency of cleaning public areas (including lobbies, elevators, door handles, public bathrooms) and high-touch points in guest rooms. Highlights of its plan include identifying 18 high-touch areas to receive enhanced cleaning protocols, a minimum of three checks daily on property-level adherence to enhanced cleaning standards, use of advanced technologies to sanitize guest rooms, maintaining social distancing at each property, imposing regulations on suppliers to minimize contact and the spread of germs and dedicated “Quality Inspection Teams” and “Environmental Health and Safety Managers” at each property to maintain compliance with guidelines established by the CDC, WHO and local governments. The initiative will roll out “in the coming weeks” and will focus around four main objectives, including a stepped-up cleaning and disinfection protocol of all guest rooms and public areas, shoring up its supply chains to make sure hotels are equipped with all the materials they need, adhering to the “Safe Stay” criteria outlined by the AHLA and making sure guests are aware of these new procedures and that they’re also doing their part by doing things such as continuing to practice social distancing.

Norwegian Air has a dress policy that bars female flight attendants from wearing flats outside the plane without a doctor’s note. A spokesperson for Norwegian Air told TPG that when it comes to the on-board footwear policy “cabin crew have to wear flat shoes in the aircraft cabin for safety reasons. The spokesperson for Norwegian defended the airline’s policy, saying, “Like all global airlines, Norwegian has a comprehensive set of uniform guidelines to ensure that our flying crew represent our brand in a smart and consistent manner. Aer Lingus made an announcement that it would no longer require women cabin crew members to wear skirts or makeup on International Women’s Day.

As we plan international travel throughout the year, it’s important to revisit the travel advisories that have been issued by the US Department of State, especially as these advisories are constantly being updated. ”; “Level Two: Exercise Increased Caution”; “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” and “Level 4: Do Not Travel. In order to help you keep up, TPG has compiled a list of all the advisories that have been issued or updated as of April, 17, 2019, (you can also find the complete list of travel advisories on the State Department’s website) as well as ALL of the Level 4 advisories to date. Featured image of the map of US travel advisories by the US Department of State.

However, if you’re booking Avianca-operated flights and have access to Amex or Citi points, be sure to compare award rates through Avianca LifeMiles, as certain destinations to the US are just 45,000 miles each way in business class. United, Avianca LifeMiles and Air Canada’s Aeroplan program charge 45,000 miles to fly from the US to Hawaii in economy class and 80,000 miles for business class. Flights within the United States and Canada (excluding Hawaii) are priced at 40,000 for first class on a two-class flight or business class on a plane with a separate first and business class cabin. As a result, you can transfer points earned on a number of different cards to Singapore to lock-in these award tickets: • American Express Membership Rewards: Earn points on cards like the American Express® Gold Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express.