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International SOS Supports Four Seasons Hotel New York to Welcome Frontline Healthcare Heroes amid COVID-19 Pandemic
On Thursday, April 2, 2020, Four Seasons Hotel New York became the first Hotel in New York City to reopen its doors for New York’s medical personnel on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team at Four Seasons Hotel New York, alongside the Hotel’s owner Ty Warner, rapidly mobilised to transform the landmark property into a safely-zoned facility for housing healthcare workers. To prepare the Hotel, Four Seasons Hotel New York General Manager Rudy Tauscher enlisted the expertise of Dr Robert L. Quigley, D.Phil. Senior Vice President and Regional Medical Director, International SOS Assistance & MedAire (Americas). Dr Quigley and Mr Tauscher, with the support of the Hotel team, worked diligently to create and implement protocols and operating procedures to provide safe accommodation to frontline medical workers, while preserving the health and safety of the hotel staff.
“Our healthcare workers are working tirelessly on the front lines of this crisis,” said the Hotel’s owner, Mr Ty Warner. “Many of those working in New York City have to travel long distances to and from their homes after putting in 18-hour days. They need a place close to work where they can rest and regenerate. I heard Governor Cuomo’s call to action during one of his press conferences, and there was no other option for us but do whatever we could to help.”
Mr Tauscher added, “Under the guidance of Dr Robert Quigley, we were able to transform the Hotel and properly train all employees working at the property in a matter of days. In accordance with these enhanced safety protocols, we’ve created as low-risk of an environment as possible for both employees and guests. This is uncharted territory and we are so proud of our teams – everyone has come together to support this effort in unprecedented circumstances.”
Dr Quigley explains, “It was a pleasure to work on this ground-breaking project with Four Seasons’ team. We stripped down the entire hotel and simplified the access for the needs of the healthcare professionals in a matter of days. We reviewed every process, from where staff members would rest during breaks to how guests would replace lost keys. Multiple town halls were hosted for the staff and a bespoke manual created. After drills on Wednesday April 1 we went live on Thursday April 2 and the healthcare professionals started to arrive.”
Given the overwhelming demand for accommodations due to the scale of the health crisis, the Hotel has partnered with a network of New York hospitals and medical associations, who are managing the reservation requests directly with their respective staff and affiliated members. These institutions have been proactively reaching out to their staff and members and handling reservation requests internally.
For further details on the Four Seasons New York transformation, click here.
For up to date resources and information on the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.
Notes to Editors
About the International SOS Group of Companies
The International SOS Group of Companies is in the business of saving lives, protecting your global workforce from health and security threats. Wherever you are, we deliver customised health, security risk management and wellbeing solutions to fuel your growth and productivity. In the event of extreme weather, an epidemic or a security incident, we provide an immediate response providing peace of mind. Our innovative technology and medical and security expertise focus on prevention, offering real-time, actionable insights and on-the-ground quality delivery. We help protect your people, your organisation's reputation, as well as support your compliance reporting needs. By partnering with us, organisations can fulfil their Duty of Care responsibilities, while empowering business resilience, continuity and sustainability.
Founded in 1985, the International SOS Group, headquartered in London & Singapore, is trusted by 12,000 organisations, including the majority of the Fortune 500, as well as mid-size enterprises, governments, educational institutions and NGOs. 12,000 multicultural medical, security and logistics experts stand with you to provide support & assistance from over 1,000 locations in 90 countries, 24/7, 365 days.
To protect your workforce, we are at your fingertips: www.internationalsos.com
