Accor, the market leading hotel group, has partnered with SGS, the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, in order to guarantee the safety and well-being of its clients in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece by implementing additional cleaning measures in its hotels.
The agreement stipulates that, once the hotels apply the new protocols, they will be verified and audited by SGS professionals, which will make them worthy of the ALLSAFE seal. It is expected that Accor hotels in Southern Europe will start to receive visits from SGS inspectors from June 20.
Focusing on maintaining high health standards, the project, divided into three stages, began with the definition of good practices and the incorporation of local regulations and recommendations. The next stage was the development of a reference guide by Accor. This will ultimately be followed by the creation of an external certificate proving the strict application of the practices.
"Together with SGS, which has one of the world's largest networks of health and safety experts, we will work to make our number one priority a reality at this time: to turn Accor hotels in Southern Europe into places where maximum security for both employees and customers is paramount," said Cristina Ramos, SVP Operations at Accor for Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Malta. "With this joint work with SGS we go beyond good intentions, and to ensure the commitments made in health and safety, we will grant the ALLSAFE seal only to those hotels that have obtained this external certification" points out Ramos.
"As a frequent traveler I appreciate the value of feeling as safe and secure at a hotel as I do at home. Working in partnership with the Accor Southern Europe Group on the 'ALLSAFE Seal' program brings that added value and confidence from staying in hotels which care as much about their guests as SGS does for its customers. With dedicated professional field staff, we are able to quickly assess the compliance of a hotel ensuring it meets Accor's high standards in health and safety", said Peter Possemiers, EVP of SGS Environment, Health and Safety.
Aspects that will be covered by SGS inspections include verification of cleaning and disinfection; waste testing and water safety; indoor air quality; employee safety; emergency response services and long-term continuity planning of the initiative.
To encourage the recovery of traveler's trust and in line with the group's transparency codes, it will be possible to check which hotels have obtained certification on the websites of each property. To facilitate real-time verification, a QR code will be provided to all hotels that meet all the requirements.
About Accor
Accor is a world leading augmented hospitality group offering unique and meaningful experiences in 5,000 hotels, resorts, and residences across 110 countries. With an unrivaled portfolio of brands from luxury to economy, Accor has been providing hospitality savoir-faire for more than 50 years.
Beyond accommodation, Accor enables new ways to live, work, and play, with food and beverage, nightlife, wellbeing, and coworking brands. To drive business performance, Accor's portfolio of business accelerators amplify hospitality distribution, operations, and experience. Guests have access to one of the world's most attractive hotel loyalty programs.
Accor is deeply committed to sustainable value creation and plays an active role in giving back to the planet and the community. Planet 21 – Acting Here endeavors to act for positive hospitality, while Accor Solidarity, the endowment fund, empowers disadvantaged groups through professional training and access to employment.
Accor SA is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACRFY) in the United States. For more information visit accor.com or become a fan and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
About SGS
SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 94,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.
