Association of Lodging Professionals

Coronavirus Scams

2020 Scams

Social media quizzes could be gateway to identity theft

Covid-19 Series, Part 4: Resources for your furloughed or laid off staff

Ten Step Rx for the Hotel Pandemic

Pinterest Highlights New Resources to Help Businesses Maximize Their Pin Presence

Introducing ALP Development Day

There is no doubt the COVID-19 pandemic is testing our industry's resolve. Our plan was (and still is) to visit and deliver regional one-day educational meetings around the country. During these times however, we will turn to technology to convey valuable, engaging, and practical information to our members, nearly 1,000 strong. Mark your calendar to join us on May 6, from 11AM-5PM ET. Learn more here....

Potential Use of Hotels for COVID-19 Medical Care: What You Need to Know

Want to get your Coronavirus relief check? Scammers do too.

Find a state/regional SBA office for help with who is SBA lendor approved

100 most active SBA 7(a) lenders

As of April 6, 2020 PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM LOANS

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Other Options for Financing

SBA Express Bridge Loans: Enables small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly. https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/sba-express-bridge-loans

SBA Debt Relief

-The SBA will automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of current 7(a), 504, and microloans for a period of six months.

-The SBA will also automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of new 7(a), 504, and microloans issued prior to September 27, 2020.

Additional Debt Relief

For current SBA Serviced Disaster (Home and Business) Loans: If your disaster loan was in “regular servicing” status on March 1, 2020, the SBA is providing automatic deferments through December 31, 2020.

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/sba-debt-relief

Thank you to the NC Restaurant & Lodging Association for this Side-By-Side Comparison of PPP and EIDL 

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Q&A 

Department of Homeland Security Makes a Master List of Coronavirus Knowns and Unknowns (page 5 addresses the how long the virus stays on surfaces)

Coronavirus Small Business Guide 

From the ADA (the other ADA) has a good breakdown of information on the Loans/Grants

KROST Accounting also has a good side by side comparison of EIDL vs PPP/PPL

[Updated] The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program vs The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) 

PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP) INFORMATION SHEET: BORROWERS 

We are re-posting this one because a lot of people have been asking questions addressed in this:

The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act  

COVID-19 ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN APPLICATION STREAMLINED PROCESS REQUIREMENTS

• The Small Business Owner's Guide to the CARES Act
• Evaluating the Trade-offs of Unemployment Compensation Changes in the CARES Act
• Carranza Implements Automatic Deferment on Existing SBA Disaster Loans Through End of 2020
• Government Response to Coronavirus, COVID-19
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers
• Nav’s Small Business Grant
• Facebook Small Business Grants Program
• Get Local Assistance: The SBA works with a number of local partners to counsel, mentor, and train small businesses. 

AHLA Urges Congress to Adjust CARES Act to Improve Aid for Hotel Industry

A FREE Opportunity for YOU!

Acorn IS, with the support of ALP, is excited to announce the launch of a new website to help support small businesses during this unprecedented global crisis. The Acorn team is very concerned about the well-being of B&B's, inns and independent lodging properties across the country, so we wanted to find a way to help you grow revenue at this difficult time.

https://www.support-small-biz.com/

ServSafe is offering FREE food handler certification thru April 30th. Course & exam are online and will take a few hours. If you're due for certification, or you want your staff to be certified - it's a great time to get this done.

They also have new training for COVID-19 re: take-out & delivery (also free).

https://www.servsafe.com/access/ss/Catalog/FreeFoodHandlerProducts

• How to Temporarily Close a Google My Business Listing
• Google My Business Changes Due to COVID-19
• 211 / United Way: Get quick, detailed information and referrals to health and human service organizations in your area.
• Preparemybusiness.org
• Your Hotel’s Social Media Reputation is More Important Than Ever
• New platform helps hoteliers offer beds for coronavirus-related needs
• 8 Ways for Your Business to Stay Ahead During the Coronavirus Outbreak
• FBI Sees Rise in Fraud Schemes Related to the Coronavirus Pandemic
• FDA issues hand sanitizer manufacturing guidelines
• 6 Tips for Writing a Guest-friendly Coronavirus Email
• Hotels Are Now Virtually Sharing Their Programs To Enlighten/Entertain Those At Home
• Deaconess Hospital: How to make a mask for doctors, nurses and health care workers for COVID-19
• COVID-19 “CoronaVirus” Small Business Survival Guide: Practical Defensive and Offensive Strategies to Survive and Thrive
• Key Points Easy To Use For Independent Hotels During The Current Pandemic

• AH&LA projects COVID-19’s state-by-state jobs impact

• Preparing for a Disaster (Taxpayers and Businesses)
• Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist-CDC

Several people asked for cleaning checklists for hotels for this crisis, we could not find one, but the Healthcare facilities checklist is very adaptable to lodging.

Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008)

• 5. Cleaning and Disinfecting Environmental Surfaces in Healthcare Facilities
• Antimicrobial Products Registered with EPA for Claims Against Common Pathogens
• List G: EPA’s Registered Antimicrobial Products Effective Against Norovirus
• Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings (2007)

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• Destination Development Association: Webinar – “What to do immediately to help save your tourism industry, and downtown businesses”
• eHotelier Free Course: Coronavirus Awareness for Hoteliers
• Coronavirus Survey Results: Impact on Hotels

• Live Updates: What Congress is Doing & How it Affects Small Businesses
• Coronavirus Tax Relief
• PR Campaign to Help B&Bs
• How hotels should handle loans amid COVID-19
• SBA Information Notice: Deferments on SBA 7(a) and 504 Business Loans and Microloans (Thank you to Rick Newman from Commercial Capital Network/https://innfinancing.com/ provided the notice)
• 7 Ways Hoteliers Can Mitigate Damage From COVID-19
• Smith Travel Research -“Impact of the COVID-19 on the US Hotel Industry”
  
• Good rules of thumb when writing up cancellation policies or revisions
• We Don’t Have Coronavirus Here – How to Avoid False Advertising Claims

• Credit card issuers offer customer assistance in response to coronavirus

• American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)-Coronavirus Page
  

Credit Card/Bank Policies 

• Capital One 
• Chase 
• Citibank 
• Fifth Third Bank 
• PNC  
• Truist  
• U.S. Bank  
• Wells Fargo  

If you have a national bank that is providing some information about what are doing to help businesses and it is not listed here, please email marketing@alplodging.org

Fraud Indicators in a time of Economic Uncertainty (this is from an insurance company and meant more from the perspective of a lot of the scams going to be targeting small businesses)

The presence of an indicator (or several indicators) do not prove fraud. Indicators of possible fraud are not actual evidence, they only “indicate” the need for further investigation.

Property

• Mysterious disappearance claims for expensive scheduled or non-scheduled items
• Homeowner claims that appear inflated, for example – multiples of same item reported
• Fire or significant water losses to home and/or property

Auto

• An increase in owned or leased vehicles reported stolen, burned or immersed
• Claims of possible virus transmission during rideshare (Lyft) ride
• Excessive vandalism all around, for example – key scratches
• Theft with prompt recovery and excessive damages and/or mechanical issues reported

Liability

• Unusual claims of business interruption or loss of income on a business policy
• Claims of virus transmission during visit to retail location or business
• Slips/trips/falls that are unwitnessed or that occurred at closed location

Workers Comp

• Unwitnessed workplace injury that appears unlikely
• Allegations of virus transmission in the workplace when there are no known carriers
• Late reporting of workplace injury or reported during pending layoff situation

These are State Government Sites or State Department of Health Sites

• Alabama 
• Alaska 
• Arizona 
• Arkansas 
• California 
• Colorado 
• Connecticut 
• Delaware 
• Florida 
• Georgia 
• Hawaii 
• Idaho 
• Illinois 
• Indiana 
• Iowa 
• Kansas 
• Kentucky 
• Louisiana 
• Maine 
• Maryland 
• Massachusetts 
• Michigan 
• Minnesota 
• Mississippi 
• Missouri 
• Montana 
• Nebraska 
• Nevada 
• New Hampshire 
• New Jersey 
• New Mexico 
• New York 
• North Carolina 
• North Dakota 
• Ohio 
• Oklahoma 
• Oregon 
• Pennsylvania 
• Rhode Island 
• South Carolina 
• South Dakota 
• Tennessee 
• Texas 
• Utah 
• Vermont 
• Virginia 
• Washington 
• West Virginia 
• Wisconsin 
• Wyoming 

• U.S. hoteliers adjust as COVID-19 changes the game
• Coronavirus: Train Your Front Desk & Reservations Team To Respond To Guest Comments & Questions
• How Can Hotels Survive the Coronavirus? Some good advice if your property is concerned: Six lessons emerge:
• asae-Issue Roundup: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
• COVID-19 and the global hotel industry: A roadmap to recovery, part 2
• Google Provides Guidance to Businesses Affected by Coronavirus
  
• Coronavirus outbreak prompts steep travel discounts — but is it worth it?
• How Hotel Cancellation Policies Are Changing Amid Coronavirus

• Crisis Management: Preparing Your Hotel for Coronavirus (COVID-19)

• Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)—Fighting Products

• CARE-Check and Record Everyday

• Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• How Small Businesses Can Prepare for the Coronavirus