Aimbridge collab puts focus on guest, employee well-being

Third-party hotel management company Aimbridge Hospitality has launched a collaboration with the International Well Building Institute, enrolling the first 100 portfolio hotels in the Well Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management and building a foundation for enrolling additional properties from Aimbridge’s portfolio. 

This collaboration aims to advance health and safety in the hospitality sector, address the challenges and expectations presented by COVID-19 and create well environments for associates and guests.

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“Aimbridge Hospitality is pleased to endorse the IWBI program, leveraging our scale and expertise to create a more comprehensive and rigorous approach to wellness, health and safety standards for this era and well beyond the pandemic,” said Elie Khoury, EVP of operations for Aimbridge Hospitality. “The Well Health-Safety Rating program will propel Aimbridge and the industry in both supporting and aligning the efforts of [the American Hotel & Lodging Association] and the brands.”

“Hotels and resorts are among the hardest hit by COVID-19, yet this moment offers the hospitality sector an opportunity to define how its buildings, and those who own and operate them, can play a pivotal role in supporting people’s health, safety, and well-being,” said IWBI President and CEO Rachel Gutter. “By participating in the IWBI advisory established to shape the Well Health-Safety Rating for this sector and enrolling in the Well Health-Safety Rating, Aimbridge Hospitality is raising the bar for hotels and resorts across the globe, signaling to guests and employees that their health is a top priority.”

Launched in June, the Well Health-Safety Rating is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating for all new and existing building and space types and focuses on operational policies, maintenance protocols, emergency plans and stakeholder engagement strategies to help organizations prepare their spaces for re-entry and beyond. Created by IWBI, the Well Health-Safety Rating is informed by guidance developed by the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, global disease control and prevention centers and emergency management agencies, recognized standard-making bodies such as ASTM International and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, and leading academic and research institutions.