Keeping your property safe and clean

We collected these health and cleanliness guidelines from industry health and safety experts as well as partners from all over the world. They’re designed to support you in keeping your property, staff, and guests healthy and protected.

In this article

Your local responsibilities

Each country has its own rules and laws, so it’s important that you understand what applies in your particular situation, from national guidelines to local municipal requirements.

Informing guests about health and safety measures

Your guests should feel at ease when at your property. You can address their concerns by doing the following:

• Provide up-to-date info about the measures you have in place on the Extranet
• Report any health and safety incidents to your local authorities, as well as to Booking.com by phone or by sending us a message via the Extranet
• Display clearly visible signs reminding both guests and staff about health and hygiene measures
• Keep records of all preventative measures you take, as well as any other changes taking place at your property

Preparing yourself and your staff

Whether it’s just you or a big team taking care of your property, following these guidelines can help you maintain a healthy working environment:

• Support your team’s wellbeing by monitoring their health and your own to ensure nobody is at risk
• Make sure you and your staff are trained to detect and take action on potential incidents related to poor health conditions (e.g. how to report potential dangers to local health authorities and Booking.com)
• Minimize physical contact where possible and encourage your staff to do the same by understanding, respecting, and upholding social distancing guidelines
• Use appropriate protective equipment—such as gloves and masks—and provide them for your staff and contracted workers, like housekeepers.
• Check to see if your local guidelines require asking for proof of vaccination using a QR code or a track-and-trace app

Setting up amenities for safety and cleanliness

Creating and respecting pandemic cleanliness protocols can keep your staff and guests safe. These include:

• Cleaning and sanitizing surfaces to remove dirt and kill bacteria – it’s best to clean high-touch areas first and sanitize them afterwards
• If you have a reception area, install protective screens in areas that are prone to contact, such as between staff and guests
• Using products approved by health professionals to stop the spread of harmful viruses – take a look at the existing guidance from the World Health Organization
• Using disinfectant during routine cleaning of accommodations and—where applicable—public spaces like conference and meeting rooms
• Washing bedding more frequently and using disinfectant
• Providing disposable disinfectant wipes to staff to sanitize surfaces that are also used by or exposed to guests
• Making alcohol-based hand sanitizer easily accessible and clearly marked for guests and staff in all public areas
• Cleaning and disinfecting laundry hampers or carts after they’re used
• Cleaning and disinfecting electronic equipment and appliances such as tablets, touch screens, keyboards, remote controls, and ATMs 
• Regularly disinfecting and sanitizing publicly accessible toilets
• Disinfecting swimming pools, spas, and other recreational facilities
• Installing air purifiers in common areas and regularly changing their filters
• Offering cashless payment as an option, if possible and agreed upon contractually
• Staying informed of the latest news from the World Health Organization
• Helping guests understand the measures you have in place and why they matter

Staying sustainable while taking extra precautions

You may be concerned that taking some of these precautions could lead to more plastic use or waste than usual. To make sure you’re still sustainable and responsible, we recommend reading this United Nations Environment Program handbook. It explains how you can continue reducing your plastic footprint and remain sustainable even while taking extra health and safety precautions.

Download the handbook

The role of your guests

Your guests also play a role in taking reasonable precautions to minimize risks. Our guidelines for guests—which we encourage you to share and practice as well—include these points:

• Guests should follow the government's and the property’s safety measures. 
• The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control recommends informing guests about the local situation when they arrive and telling them how to access healthcare services if they develop symptoms (e.g. provide contact details for local health services and national hotlines)
• If guests experience symptoms before check-in or during their stay, they should isolate themselves and inform you
• If local authorities require or recommend it, guests should register for a track-and-trace app
• Guests should report any health and safety incidents at your property to you