(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Hotels are taking an economic hit during the pandemic, and industry leaders are looking forward to when people start traveling again.
The hotel of the future will look different, says Michael Jacobson, president of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association, which represents about 500 hotels statewide.
"You’ll start seeing non-essential items being removed from the guest rooms. So, you’ll walk in and see magazines and pads of paper and decorative throw pillows and blankets — those will be removed.
“And also of course we’ll be providing PPE and other protective gear to our staff, including our housekeepers.”
Room service trays? Left outside your door.
Tipping the bellman in cash? Maybe, but he’ll be wearing gloves and disinfecting the bell cart after each guest.
Jacobson said Thursday the aim is to have guests interact with the staff less.
“Which frankly,” he said, “is a weird position to be in because the nature of our business is hospitality.”