Health and Safety

Health Procedures at Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba

Boardwalk Boutique Hotel’s new standard operating procedures focus on the health & safety of our guests and team members, it is our top priority. Here’s an overview of the main steps we have taken to guarantee a safe stay with us:

Housekeeping. Boardwalk Boutique Hotel has always ranked 5 out of 5 stars on our housekeeping service. We continue to work with renowned hospitality supplier Ecolab which includes intensive trainings for our housekeeping, supervisor and management staff to stay up to date with the latest cleaning and disinfecting guidance for hospitality. This guidance references CDC and WHO guidelines and is supplemented with Ecolab expertise. The disinfectants and all cleaning products being used at Boardwalk are listed on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) List N6, and CDC recommendations and are effective against viruses, bacteria and other airborne and blood-borne pathogens. 

Our daily guest room and public area cleaning process includes using the EPA & CDC-approved disinfectants on all hard surfaces and allowing the solution to sit for the required time. This process additionally includes allotting for extra time during the housekeeping process and paying close attention to all high touch areas, including light & fan switches, including television remote controls, toilet seats and handles, door and furniture handles, water faucet handles, nightstands, telephones, temperature control panels and flooring. Upon check out each room will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected using EPA & CDC approved disinfectants. 

Employee & Guest Health Concerns. Employees are instructed to stay home if they do not feel well and are instructed to contact a manager if they notice a coworker or guest displaying symptoms or complaining of a cough, fever, shortness of breath, chills, a new loss of taste or smell, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat or other symptoms.

Water Quality and Hygiene. To safeguard guest and staff wellbeing, Boardwalk has established procedures to prevent the growth and spread of Legionella bacteria, which can cause Legionnaires’ disease. High-risk areas for Legionella include showers, taps, swimming pools, decorative fountains, and any water systems where water may stagnate or remain within temperatures between 20°C and 45°C. To reduce risk, our team performs regular flushing of infrequently used water outlets, checks hot water temperatures weekly to ensure they remain above 55°C, and conducts quarterly cleaning of all showerheads and taps. Water testing and full system disinfections are scheduled on an annual basis. Staff involved in maintenance and housekeeping receive training to ensure all procedures are followed correctly and consistently.

Aruba Health & Happiness code. The Aruba Tourism Authority in collaboration with stakeholders and the Department of Public Health have announced the implementation of a new ‘Aruba Health & Happiness Code’ on the island. This new certification program will ensure Aruba’s visitors that the island will uphold the highest health and safety protocols throughout their entire stay.

The objective of the new certification program is to improve the hygiene protocols across the island and to ensure all local tourism related businesses meet the required standards to earn the official ‘Aruba Health & Happiness Code’ seal (HH-Code). Boardwalk Boutique Hotel obtained its ‘Aruba Health & Happiness Code’ seal from the Department of Public Health, as a token of compliance with healthy and safe hotel operations.

Safety Procedures at Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba

Entry & Security. Boardwalk is a gated property; only registered guests, Coco Café guests and team members are allowed to enter the property. All guest rooms are locked using our SALTO system and are only accessible by the current registered guests, housekeeping team members and management. Other entry into guest rooms needs to be approved by a member of management. 

Fire & Evacuation. All Boardwalk employees receive thorough training on the hotel's fire safety and evacuation protocols. Our guest rooms and common areas are fully integrated into the central fire alarm system, which includes multiple fire panels for alarm monitoring. Emergency exits are clearly marked with illuminated signs to ensure visibility in all conditions.

Team members are trained to respond promptly to fire alarms and lead evacuations to our designated assembly point. Specific staff members are appointed to assist with the evacuation of both guest rooms and common areas during an emergency. Between the hours of 8:00 PM and 8:00 AM, a manager on duty remains on call and in communication with the fire alarm monitoring company to respond to any alerts.

PPE. Our team members are equipped with safety glasses and face shields whenever their tasks may expose them to potential hazards such as chemical products, woodwork, or mechanical operations. This precaution helps prevent work-related eye injuries and ensures that our operations do not compromise the comfort or safety of our guests.

Guests may occasionally observe staff wearing this protective gear during activities like landscaping, pool maintenance, or repairs. These practices reflect our commitment to maintaining a secure and professional environment.

In specific situations where strong chemical products are used, such as during pest control, sealing applications, or deep cleaning, employees use respirators and follow proper ventilation procedures. These protective measures are part of our strict adherence to health and safety standards and are implemented with minimal disruption to the guest experience.

Chemicals. At Boardwalk there are strict policies when handling and storing chemicals. There are designated, ventilated storages for chemicals that are equipped with PPE equipment and MSDS safety sheets. The team is also trained how to handle any chemical spills to ensure the safety of the team, guests and environment.

Our Health and Safety policies are regularly reviewed and monitored by our internal team, and undergo an annual audit as part of our Travelife certification process.