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The AHLA is working to ensure its members have current and accurate information about the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resources they need to support their recovery.

Industry Resources

AHLA Tools, Templates & Resources

Sample layoff letter

Sample staff recall letter

Sample property closure checklist (courtesy of an AHLA member)

Staying Safe guide: This guide was developed by the AHLA to help hotel owners, managers, and staff reopen safely and successfully while COVID-19 poses a significant risk to public health. The guide is being updated as new or additional information becomes available. Visit ahla.ca/COVID19 for the most current information.

AHLA Safe Accommodation Promise (ASAP): As the provider of health & safety information and resources for Alberta hotels, the AHLA has developed the AHLA Safe Accommodation Promise (ASAP) to help hotels:

1. Understand their responsibility to provide a safe environment for guests and staff, and what this entails.
2. Provide assurance to guests and staff that their property is a safe place to stay or work.

AHLA Webinars: The AHLA has hosted several webinars to help Alberta hotels manage through the pandemic.

Industry Information

Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy

The Government of Alberta started its relaunch strategy on May 14, which lays out a gradual opening of businesses and activities.

Hoteliers and event organizers should keep informed about the Government of Alberta’s size of permitted gatherings.

Industry Updates

• Hotel Association of Canada
• Travel Alberta

Business Operations

General reopening information for any business owner.

• General Relaunch Guidance (Government of Alberta)
• Risk Mitigation Tool for Workplaces/Businesses Operating During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Government of Canada)

Hotels, Motels & Other Lodgings

Hotel-specific information to help keep staff and guests safe.

• Guidance for Hotels, Motels, Bed & Breakfasts, and Vacation Rentals (Government of Alberta)
• Guidance for Personal Services (Government of Alberta)
• Guidance for Swimming Pools and Whirlpools (Government of Alberta)
• Hospitality Insurance Program COVID-19 Resource Centre (Western Financial Group)

Events

• Guidance for Trade Shows and Exhibiting Events (Government of Alberta)
• Guidance for Indoor Events (Government of Alberta)

Gaming & Liquor

All gaming facility operators and retailers are required to submit an operational plan to Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) prior to opening.

• AGLC COVID-19 Updates
• AGLC’s letter re: required operational plans
• Q & A: Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy — Information for VLT Retailers
• Guidance for VLT Retailers (Government of Alberta)

Food & Beverage

Establishments serving food and beverages need to meet specific requirements to keep staff and customers safe.

• Guidance for Restaurants, Cafes, Pubs, and Bars (Government of Alberta)
• COVID-19 Reopening Best Practices (Restaurants Canada)

Water System Safety

Reduced occupancy in hotels or closures over the last couple of months has also meant reduced water flow. Under these conditions, water may stagnate, creating environments that may support the growth of disease-causing organisms, so you need to flush your water system properly.

• Guidance for Flushing Water Systems (Government of Alberta)
• Water Stagnation Fact Sheet for Larger Buildings. (Government of Alberta)

Skills Development

As you bring staff back and train them on new procedures and protocols, it’s a great time to have them brush up on their skills with some FREE training!

Marketing Resources

Let guests know you’re open for business!

• Alberta at Home: This new website allows tourism businesses to provide special offers to their customers, such as take-home meal kits or buy-now, travel-later deals.

• Gillis COVID-19 Sales Relief Website: Gillis hospitality sales professionals has set up an online sales community to give you access to sales leads, sales tips, and a forum to answer your sales questions. Users will be asked to register and provide their credit card for the 60-day trial, but there will be no charge if you cancel before the 60-day deadline. Also see our webinars web page to watch Gillis’ webinar about Holding the Line & Protecting Your Revenue During COVID-19.

• Bounce Back Canada: Minuteman Press has created the the Bounce Back Canada initiative, which provides free local advertising on your local Bounce Back website.

• 5 Ways for Hotels to Prepare for Recovery and Reopening: TrustYou (Guest Feedback and Hotel Reputation Software) provides some tips about communicating with guests and regaining consumer confidence.

COVID-19 Resources

General COVID-19 Information

Government & Health Authorities

Government of Canada:

• Outbreak Update
• COVID-19: Prevention & Risks

Government of Alberta:

• Coronavirus Info for Albertans
• COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool
• COVID-19 FAQs for Public
• Social Distancing Guidelines
• Frequently Asked Questions on COVID-19 for Young Children & Students

Alberta Health Services

• Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Printable poster of COVID-19 symptoms
• Hand hygiene resources

The World Health Organization (WHO): COVID-19 Situation Reports

Protecting Staff & Guests

Visit our Protecting Staff & Guests web page for more in-depth information about programs, information, and resources.

Self-Isolating Guests

• Recommended procedures for hotels with self-isolating guests– for internal hotel use
• Information for self-isolating guests (Word doc download)- to give to guests
• Information for self-isolating guests (PDF download with AHLA logo)- to give to guests
• Self-Isolation Information Sheet (Government of Alberta)

Personal Protective Equipment, Cleaning & Disinfection

• Cleaning & disinfecting public spaces (Government of Canada)
• Approved hard surface disinfectants & hand sanitizers (Government of Canada)
• Proper glove removal & disposal (Centers for Disease Control)
• “Do not mix these cleaning products” poster (Courtesy of Bluffton Township Fire District, South Carolina)

Food & Beverage

• Public Health Recommendations for Food Establishments (Alberta Health Services)
• Dishwashing Requirements (Alberta Health Services)

Emergency Preparedness

• Emergency preparedness planning (Government of Alberta)
• Key planning recommendations for mass gatherings in the context of the current COVID-19 outbreak (World Health Organization)

Pools & Water Systems

• Guidance for Flushing Water Systems (Government of Alberta)
• Guidance on Temporary Pool Closure (Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group)

Posters, Signage & Educational Materials

• Help Prevent the Spread Posters (Government of Alberta)
• COVID-19 Signage & Posters (Alberta Health Services). Includes:
  • Cover your Cough
  • How to Hand Wash
  • How to Use Alcohol-based Hand Rub
  • COVID-19 symptoms in comparison to the flu & the common cold
• COVID-19 Awareness Resources (Government of Canada). Includes posters on:
  • COVID-19 information
  • Proper hand washing techniques
  • How to self-isolate
• Infection Prevention Poster for Hospitality Industry (Ecolab)
• Stop the Spread of Germs (COVID-19) poster (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Protection Measures Videos (World Health Organization)
• Pandemic Products & Resources: fact sheets, e-learning, posters, publications & podcasts (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)
• Correct procedure for glove removal & disposal (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)
• Do Not Mix These Chemicals (Bluffton Township Fire District, South Carolina)

Liquidity for Your Hotel

Visit our Liquidity for Your Hotel web page for more in-depth information about programs, information, and resources.

Liquidity Programs & Information

• Resources for Canadian Businesses (Government of Canada)
• Deferred tax filing & payment deadlines (Canadian Revenue Agency)
• Protecting Alberta’s families & economy (Government of Alberta)
• Premium relief for employers (Workers’ Compensation Board)
• Support for entrepreneurs impacted by COVID-19 (Business Development Bank of Canada)
• Temporary guidelines for modified operations (Hotel Association of Canada)
• FAQs for Reporting Financial Metrics (Smith Travel Research, PDF download)

Property Closures

• In the unfortunate event that you decide to close your property, the AHLA has prepared a Sample Property Closure Checklist (Word doc file download) to assist you.

Managing Your Staff

Visit our Managing Your Staff web page for more in-depth information about programs, information, and resources.

Staffing & Labour Resources

• Temporary wage subsidy for employers (Government of Canada)
• Work-sharing program (Government of Canada)
• Resources for Canadian Businesses (Government of Canada)
• Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Program (Government of Canada)
• Temporary layoffs (Government of Alberta)
• Payroll & COVID-19 (Canadian Payroll Association)
• Sample layoff letter (Word doc download)

Resources for Employees

Visit our Resources for Employees web page for more in-depth information about programs, information, and resources.

Programs & Support for Employees

• *Employment Insurance (EI) benefits (Government of Canada)
• *EI sickness benefits (Government of Canada)
• *Canada Emergency Response Benefit (Government of Canada)

*For information about the difference between these benefits, please see Resources for Employees.

• Helping Canadians with the economic impact of COVID-19 (Government of Canada)
• COVID-19 supports for Albertans (Government of Alberta)

Mental Health Support

• Mental health help line (Alberta Health Services) (available 24/7 to provide advice and referrals to community supports near you): 1-877-303-2642
• Addiction help line (Alberta Health Services)
• Help in tough times (Alberta Health Services)
• Text4Hope (Alberta Health Services)
• Mental health and coping with COVID-19 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC])
• Talking with children about COVID-19 (CDC)
• COVID-19 Outbreak- Protecting Your Mental Health (Canadian Mental Health Association)
• 6 tips to respond to employee anxiety about COVID-19 (Canadian Mental Health Association)
• Tactics for Maintaining Mental Fitness During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Weekly webinars by AMHSA, CSSE, Howatt HR Consulting & AUMA)
• Mental Health & COVID-19 (Series of videos by the Conference Board of Canada)
• Mental health and psychological resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic (World Health Organization)

Please contact Tracy Douglas-Blowers, Director of Membership & Industry Relations, at tdblowers@ahla.ca or 780.423.9227 if you have other questions or need additional support.