Proper sanitizing of facilities ranging from airports to theme parks was grabbing the travel industry's attention last week as the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus continued around the globe.
Many suppliers were increasing sanitation processes and procedures and getting the word out about their efforts to keep the public traveling safely.
"While we remain vigilant about the cases being reported, we urge businesses and consumers to understand that travel is still possible," American Hotel & Lodging Association president and CEO Chip Rogers said at a press conference earlier this month.
Before and after a trip, travelers can take matters into their own hands by practicing good hygiene and sanitizing surfaces. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends frequent hand-washing and covering coughs and sneezes.
Amy Stone, assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at Touro University Nevada, recommended that people travel with sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer and use them frequently. Travelers should also remember the "6-foot rule" in public places.
"If someone is coughing, as long as they are 6 feet away from you, you are in good shape," Stone said, noting that Covid-19 is transmitted through respiratory droplets.
Upon returning home from traveling, she recommends washing clothing in normal wash cycles to kill any possible viruses.
Dr. Robert Quigley, senior vice president and regional medical director of International SOS, recommends wiping down suitcase handles. There are a number of factors that play into how long a virus can survive, including the type of surface it's on and its temperature.
The exact time frame for Covid-19 to manifest is unknown thus far.
"But make no bones about it," Quigley said, "it will and it does survive on these inanimate objects."
Airports are often the start of a traveler's journey. According to the American Association of Airport Executives, airports are increasing sanitation and cleaning efforts and sharing health information with passengers.
For example, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority has increased cleaning schedules on top of already-bolstered schedules during cold and flu season, especially for high-touch areas like handrails and in food courts. It also installed hand-sanitizing stations and began using specialized equipment, such as foggers and targeted disinfectant sprayers, to deep-clean areas like restrooms.
Airlines are also implementing more stringent cleaning techniques, including more frequently disinfecting surfaces on planes, at gates and on catering equipment.
For example, Delta Air Lines is using a fogging procedure to disinfect aircraft surfaces.
Public transit systems are also increasing regularly scheduled cleaning as well as making announcements to staff and riders about cleanliness, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
At sea, cruise lines are heightening sanitization practices, as well. For example, Carnival Cruise Line said it is more frequently sanitizing restaurant and bar surfaces, furniture and oft-touched surfaces like handrails. At night, a deep cleaning and disinfection via specialized machines is conducted in all high-trafficked public areas, including crew areas.
Many major hoteliers have ramped up their cleaning standards, though when it comes to sharing specific protocols, most have chosen to remain relatively mum.
A Marriott International spokesperson said the company is following CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines as well as those of local health departments "on appropriate hygiene standards."
Its current cleaning efforts are designed to address "a broad spectrum of viruses, including Covid-19," with policies currently in place to address hand-washing, cleaning-product specifications and guestroom and common area cleaning procedures, among other best practices.
Likewise, Hilton has said it is keeping close tabs on updates from the WHO and other public health authorities.
"Since the outbreak began, we have stood up centralized resources to ensure our team members are informed and supported," a Hilton spokesperson said. "If additional social isolation, enhanced cleaning or other operational actions are required, we put those into action."
Dave Frank, CEO of the American Institute for Cleaning Sciences, a commercial cleaning consultancy, said he believes the hotel industry might need to bolster its efforts on the communication front.
"If the leading hotel chains want to get ahead of this, they probably need to come out with a campaign and say, 'We understand your concerns, and this is what we as an organization are doing to set your minds at ease,'" Frank said.
He recommends that commercial venues use Environmental Protection Agency-registered disinfectants and that they contact the chemical manufacturer to find out if their cleaning products are capable of killing the virus. They should also ask about the product's "dwell time," the amount of time the chemical needs to sit on a surface wet in order to destroy a virus.
"The cleaning industry is always highly ignored until something like this occurs," Frank said. "But cleaning is always at the center of infection prevention."
The Walt Disney Co. and Universal Theme Parks have both announced increased employee training and cleaning schedules, and they're putting more hand-sanitizing units in their parks.
Susan Storey, director of global communications for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, the global association for the attractions industry, said those practices are standard among members to help slow Covid-19's spread. Members have also been sharing best practices with each other.
Edward Marks, founder and co-CEO of the Producers Group, expects that globally, parks will see a 25% to 30% drop in attendance this year, especially as major parks in Asia have been closed. Meanwhile, operating parks have been implementing more stringent disinfecting procedures, including several times a day wiping down surfaces where the virus is likely to dwell, such as handrails.
"It's multiple conversations," Marks said. "It's making sure the guests understand the hygiene requirements on their level. … On top of that, it's the cleanliness of the park in general, the ability of the staff to sanitize and maintain the guest-accessible areas."
Christina Jelski and Robert Silk contributed to this report.