Note from MHLA:  On April 8, 2021, MHLA sent this letter and activated advocacy to address the 25 person gathering restriction imposed on hotel meetings and events in Montgomery County.  Amy Rohrer, MHLA President & CEO, testified before the Council on April 27, along with one of MHLA's Board Members, in support of an amended Board of Health regulation that would allow hotels in the county to hold socially distanced meetings at a greater capacity.  The 5th amended Board of Health regulation was passed during the same hearing, and represents a significant step toward the start of recovery for Montgomery County hotels.  We are pleased to report this progress!  Members may contact Amy Rohrer for more information.

Montgomery County Press Release:
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Council passes new Board of Health regulation to allow a further phased reopening tied to COVID-19 vaccinations
Rockville, Md., April 27, 2021—Today, the Council voted unanimously to approve an amended Board of Health regulation to allow a further phased reopening tied to COVID-19 vaccinations. The amended Board of Health regulation takes effect on April 27 at 5 p.m.
The Fifth Amended Board of Health Regulation provides guidance for expanded reopenings based on the percentage of the County population receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. Currently, 51.2 percent of the County population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. The expanded reopenings would be automatically triggered when the Montgomery County Health Officer reports that the vaccination benchmarks have been reached to the Board of Health.
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Face coverings and social distancing are still required. The phases would be:

1. At 50 percent of the population receiving at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine:

• gathering limits increase to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
• businesses limited to 25 percent capacity (including theatres) move to 50 percent capacity and may sell food and drink for consumption while seated.
• camps can move to the gathering limits of 50 indoors and 100 outdoors.
• escape rooms can allow 10 people per game.
• museums and galleries may reopen touch exhibits.
• malls may reopen pedestrian concourses and return tables and chairs inside.
• sports move to 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors with a similar number of spectators.
  
  

2. At 60 percent of the population receiving at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine:

• gathering limits increase to 250 people indoors and no limit outdoors.
• most businesses move to 75 percent capacity.
• camps can increase to gathering limits of 250 people indoors with no capacity limit outdoors and may permit campers from outside of Washington, D.C., Maryland or Virginia.
• convention and banquet facilities are limited to 50 percent of the facility's maximum capacity per State restrictions.
• cigar and hookah bars may permit smoking outdoors.
• food service establishments may move to 75 percent of maximum capacity.
• religious facilities may move to 75 percent of maximum capacity.
• sports may increase capacity for participants and spectators to 250 people indoors and no limit outdoors and may engage in play with teams from outside Washington, D.C., Maryland or Virginia.
  
  

3. At 50 percent of the population being fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine, all conduct and business in Montgomery County must follow any State or Maryland Department of Health requirements in place at the time. “Fully vaccinated” means two weeks after a person has received all required doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine.

Montgomery County follows face covering guidelines from the CDC and the Maryland Department of Health, whichever is stricter. The new regulation provides an exception for sports activities that allows the removal of face coverings during vigorous outdoor exercise for high heat and humidity.

If the Montgomery County health officer finds that after reviewing community transmission metrics that continued reopening phases would be contrary to the public health, the health officer must report those concerns to the Board of Health and the continuation to the next phase must be suspended pending a hearing before the Board of Health.

The amended Board of Health regulation can be viewed here. 

View all Council press releases: https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/press_List.aspx?id=01 
​Contact:        
Sonya Healy
240-777-7926, Sonya.Healy@montgomerycountymd.gov

​MHLA is pleased to share the Nominating Committee’s recommendations for the 2021-22 MHLA Board of Directors.  A member vote on the slate below (* indicates new member to the Board) will take place at the Annual Meeting on May 12, 2021.
 
Click here to register for the meeting.

Nominations for Executive Committee:
Chair: Michael Henningsen, Plamondon Hospitality Partners
Vice Chair: Bob Haislip, Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore
Treasurer: Jim Starke, Best Western Plus BWI Airport / Arundel Mills
Secretary: Linda Westgate, The Hotel at the University of Maryland /Cambria Hotel & Suites at College Park
Immediate Past Chair: Chuck Chandler

Nominations for Board of Directors:
Faraz Ahmed*, College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
Peg Bednarsky, Historic Inns of Annapolis (Emeritus)
Beth Brainard, Canopy by Hilton Baltimore Harbor Point
Joel Bunde, Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina
Katarina Burns, Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center
Skip Cerf*, Sheraton Baltimore North
Jason Curtis, Hotel Indigo Baltimore Downtown/Chesapeake Hospitality
Mark Elman, Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel
Rodney Gooden*, Westin Annapolis Hotel
Donte Johnson*, Hotel Revival Baltimore
Peter Mangione, Turf Valley Resort
Dan McKeon*, Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
Patrick Miner*, Courtyard Baltimore Downtown Inner Harbor
Tracey Pool*, Hyatt Regency Baltimore
Barbara Reed, Homewood Suites by Hilton Washington, DC North/Gaithersburg
Ben Seidel, Real Hospitality Group
Junaid Siddiqi*, Presidential Hotel Advisors

Nominations for Allied Directors:
Kathy Konopik, HotelPro
Darryl McCallum, Esq., Shawe & Rosenthal, LLP
Chris Rapp, Triple Crown Construction

Maryland Destination Marketing Organization Representative:
Amanda Hof*, Visit Howard County

Education Representative:
Donnisha Grant*, Anne Arundel Community College – Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism Institute

Pending a vote of approval by MHLA Members at the Annual Meeting on May 12, 2021, the two-year term for new Board Members will commence that day.

​MHLA would like to thank all members for their support of the Association.

​We have received clarification that hotel employees fall into Phase 2C for vaccine prioritization. 
This website, https://covidlink.maryland.gov/content/vaccine/, has been updated with a link to CISA guidance that includes hotels in a comprehensive list of Essential workers falling into Phase 2C.  For more information on the essential workers group as defined by CISA, click here. (See page 22)  

PRE-REGISTRATION FOR MASS VACCINATION SITES OPEN TO ALL MARYLANDERS 16 AND OLDER

“All Marylanders age 16 and older can now pre-register for an appointment at a mass vaccination site by visiting covidvax.maryland.gov or calling 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829). During pre-registration, Marylanders can choose their top two preferred sites.
While pre-registration is now open to all Marylanders, individuals who are currently eligible under Phase 1 and Phase 2 but have not yet been vaccinated will continue to be prioritized for appointments.”

Click here to view the full press release from Governor Hogan's office.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION MAY BE SHARED WITH HOTEL EMPLOYEES
When asked to “Please select all the groups that best apply to you,” hotel employees should check the following box (along with all other groups that apply).
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Essential workers in critical industries, including construction workers, food services, utilities, transportation, financial services, IT and other infrastructure.
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