Skift Take
Thousands of hoteliers have jumped at the opportunity to offer underutilized properties to the government, but the measure is almost certainly not enough to offset coronavirus business losses.
Coronavirus fears have shut down hotels around the world, but some operators are able to keep at least a few lights on due to healthcare demand.
With business and leisure travel depleted, many U.S. hoteliers are positioning their largely vacant properties for healthcare or social service functions. The American Hotel & Lodging Association launched the Hospitality for Hope Initiative March 24 to connect hotels with local healthcare providers and governments. About 15,000 properties have already registered with the program, according to the AHLA.
“There are a lot of parties at the table, and one of the biggest challenges is any deal has