The Californer - CHLA Salutes State's Beyond Blueprint Move June 15

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SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The California Hotel & Lodging Association applauds Gov. Newsom's announcement today to move California to fully opening the economy on June 15, easing travel restrictions and bringing leisure and meeting travel back to life.

Under the announced guidance, guests and employees will no longer be required to socially distance, but will be required to wear masks and strongly encouraged to be vaccinated. Newsom and the California Department of Public Health are confident in the move as vaccine availability is strong and California's hospitalizations remain low.

"This is fantastic news for our hotels, their employees and our guests," said Bijal Patel, CHLA chair. "This is the light at the end of the 18-month COVID tunnel our industry has been waiting to see."

"Our steady work with California's leaders has gotten us to this day – one that California hotels and their employees needed to arrive ASAP,'' said Lynn S. Mohrfeld, CHLA president and CEO. "We're thankful to Gov. Newsom and state health officials for today's news and their guidance throughout this difficult pandemic."

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Hotels have been strong advocates for vaccinations once they were available, ensuring employees and guests had access to them and hosting vaccination centers.

California hotels have been one of the healthiest and most-prepared industry sectors since the coronavirus arrived. Our Clean + Safe Guidance – developed to the standards of the Centers for Disease Control and inclusive of the California Department of Public Health and Cal/OSHA guidance – was in place in April 2020, prior to the release of official guidance. Our employees were trained, had implemented safety protocols for guests and were covered with plenty of personal protective equipment well ahead of the first reopening in June 2020. In October, CHLA issued its Clean + Safe Guidance: Meetings and Events, in English and Spanish, to prepare for gatherings and dining in outdoor areas and hotel conference rooms.

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As validation of our preparation, during all of 2020, there were no significant COVID-19 outbreaks at hotels affecting employees or guests throughout the state. That is a testament to the priority our hotels have placed on the well-being of our people and their abilities to implement evolving health standards throughout the year. Our health and safety record is even more significant given that hotels have hosted a multitude of vulnerable populations, including the unsheltered, those quarantining, healthcare professionals, and first responders.

"As we make this welcomed move to loosen restrictions, we'll continue to adhere to the highest-level of health standards to ensure California hotels are safe for employees and guests," Mohrfeld said.

About the California Hotel and Lodging Association

The California Hotel and Lodging Association is the leading resource and advocate for California's more than 6,000 hotels, motels and boutique inns that employ more than 235,000 workers. CHLA, established in 1893, is the largest state lodging industry association in the nation and is a partner with the American Hotel & Lodging Association. For more information, go to www.calodging.com.

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