Four Seasons has announced each of its hotels will have a hygiene officer appointed as it looks to enhance its health and safety across all properties.

The new role has been created as part of a series of new measures the brand has put in place.

Rooms will be disinfected daily with blacklight inspections carried out, while public areas will be cleaned hourly. The hotelier is also set to re-train housekeeping staff to ensure standards are maintained for when travel restrictions are lifted.

Each guest will be provided masks, hand sanitiser and sanitisation wipes, with additional masks available on request. Social distancing measures will also be implemented with spaced fitness equipment, modified spa menus and contactless check-in services. Restaurants and bars could operate with reduced capacity to ensure social distancing. 

Four Seasons is working with Johns Hopkins Medicine International and has introduced an initiative called Lead With Care. It will work with medical experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine to ensure the best protocols are enforced across all hotels in light of the Covid-19 crisis. 

Four Seasons and Johns Hopkins have created a Covid-19 Advisory Board to ensure informed decisions can be made based on scientific knowledge.

The hotelier said it had already enforced “commonplace measures” such as more sanitzer, masks and heightened cleaning and hygiene, but claimed the new partnership would ensure its team was trained to the highest standard. On-property hygiene officers will help implement new processes and ensure “all appropriate infection control safety measures have been taken”.

Four Seasons is also investing in its app and chat functions to allow guests to control how they engage with others and in term limit face-to-face interactions.

The Four Seasons Chat app launched in 2017 and is supported by actual employees rather than chatbots. It allows guests to make and manage reservations, request luggage pickup, airport transfers, room service and more. 

John Davison, president and chief executive office of the group, said: “Within this new environment, our singular goal is to provide guests, residents and employees with the confidence and assurance that their health and safety is our first priority.

“We are incredibly proud to work alongside the renowned experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine International, leveraging their global expertise to strengthen our already stringent health and safety measures through our new Lead with Care program.

“For nearly 60 years, Four Seasons has set the global standard for excellence in hospitality and service. Lead With Care is a continuation of this high standard, building upon the strong foundation of trust and confidence that we have established through decades of experience. This new program is about offering genuine care and the highest levels of service, enhancing procedures to protect our guests, residents and employees, while also ensuring that they feel safe and reassured.”