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San Francisco sued over ‘dangerous’ hotel hygiene rules
Hotel industry leaders are suing the city of San Francisco to block a new health and safety ordnance they class as ‘dangerous’ for the industry.
The ‘Healthy Buildings’ ordinance, signed by Mayor London Breed last week requires hotel workers to receive training in the new standards and are protected if they refuse to work in unsafe conditions.
The Hotel Council of San Francisco, the California Hotel and Lodging Association, and the American Hotel and Lodging Association reckon the ordnance could risk jobs.
The lawsuit alleges the new rules actually increases potential contact between employees and guests and doesn’t meet local and federal infectious disease guidelines such as those issued by the CDC.
"This harmful ordinance left us no option but to defend the safety and well-being of our 25,000 San Francisco employees and our valued hotel guests," said Kevin Carroll, CEO of the Hotel Council of San Francisco.
"It contradicts the advice of public health experts and would cause enormous economic hardship to our already struggling hotels trying to keep employees on the payroll."
The American Hotel and Lodging Association calls the ordnance ‘unnecessary and dangerous’ while touting its own nationwide Safe Stay program, which it says is designed in accordance with the CDC.
AHLA estimates it will cost the city’s hotels an extra $220,000 on average, which is on top of costs to implement new cleaning protocols and social distancing measures as recommended by the CDC.
These extra costs and work required to conform will result in hotels staying closed longer and extended furloughs for workers.
by Ray Montgomery, US editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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