VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - According to the Virginia Beach Hotel Association, tourism is a $1.4 billion industry in Virginia Beach, with 6.4 million overnight visitors each year.
"We are happy they are coming back, it was a rough few months," said John Uhrin, general manager at The Schooner Inn on the Oceanfront. "We lost about 50 percent in revenue."
As vacationers start to trickle in, they'll be greeted with lots of notable changes when they check in at The Schooner Inn and dozens of other hotels in Virginia Beach.
"At all public spaces, we have a grounds crew wiping everything down three times a day," said Uhrin.
The hotel has installed Plexiglas partitions in the lobby and new safety signage. Then as guests arrive in their rooms, robust new cleaning measures have taken place, especially on common touch points like phones and remote controls.
"We are now using special chemicals we were not using before that are certified to kill the COVID virus, and one-use wipes at the end just for reassurance," he said.
Uhrin also has signage up at elevators asking patrons to ride the elevator only with those whom they traveled with or opt to take the stairs.
"Safety and that sense of security is always important, not just in terms of sanitation but in everything that we do," Uhrin explained.
The Virginia Beach Hotel Association says hand sanitizer stations have also been installed in hotels, as well as seating arrangements in common areas and gyms all to promote social distancing. Many hotels are also taking the temperatures of all of their employees.
"I don't think it's been a wild inconvenience by and large for the guests," he said.
Necessary steps to stop the spread, and peace of mind for those venturing out for their summer stay.
"People need to get away. All families across the country are feeling shut in," he said.
