WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Hilton and American Express partnered to donate up to 1 million hotel room nights across the United States to medical professionals on the front lines in the fight against the coronavirus.
Starting Monday, the two companies said they will make rooms available, free of charge, to doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramedics and other front line medical staff through the end of May.
Hilton is working with 10 associations, which represent more than 1 million health care workers to provide access to the program.
“During this crisis, we have seen so many examples of medical professionals working in the most challenging circumstances, sacrificing their own needs for the greater good. They truly are heroes,” said Hilton President and CEO, Christopher J. Nassetta. “We are honored to extend our Hilton hospitality to them during this difficult time.”
Dr. William Jaquis, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, said the room donation will be welcome relief to medical staff who have enduring long shifts under stressful conditions the last few weeks.
“Knowing that there is a safe, clean and comfortable hotel room waiting for you at the end of a long shift can make all the difference in the world right now,” Jaquis said. “The kind of compassion and caring that Hilton and American Express are offering has never been more welcome.”
Hilton said the donated rooms will be available at Hampton by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, DoubleTree by Hilton and others.
The company said hotel rooms and common areas will continue to be sanitized to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
Hilton’s Florida regional vice president told WPTV this is about appreciating the work of those working in the hospitals.
"We understand the hardships they’re facing. They’re true heroes on the front line, and so we think these million rooms are going to help them get some rest they need so they can go back to the front lines and help everybody,” said John Parkinson of Hilton Hotels.
Geoff Luebkemann, the senior vice president of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, says around 1,500 hotels in the state have offered to help first responders.
"Responding to this has been like an endless hurricane with no end in sight," said Luebkemann. "We had a really strong response certainly from Palm Beach County and Broward County."
Hilton’s DoubleTree location in West Palm Beach is already offering a discounted rate for law enforcement and first responders.
“In hospitality, it’s in our blood to do what we can do to help other people, service to the community, service to help people,” said Parkinson.
Hilton said the following organizations will provide further details about booking rooms through this program, which is currently planned to cover stays from April 13 through May 31:
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses
- American College of Emergency Physicians
- American Hospital Association
- American Nurses Association
- Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association
- Emergency Nurses Association
- National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
- Society of Critical Care Medicine
- Society of Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants
- Society of Hospital Medicine
