Statements and Procedures for COVID-19

Below we’ve included a log of our communications, actions and procedures that have been put in place for our Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition community regarding COVID-19. We will continue to keep this page up-to-date to ensure you have the latest information about how we and our partners are taking action to ensure health and safety is continuously top priority.

Venue Update: April 22, 2020

Dear Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition Community,

We received an update from Marriott about procedures they will be implementing to enhance cleanliness and technology to improve health and safety. We wanted to share this with you and will continue to post updates here about detailed measures that both we and the venue will be putting into place for the live Summit in November.

Press Release from Marriott International:

Marriott International Launches Global Cleanliness Council to Promote Even Higher Standards of Cleanliness in the Age of COVID-19 

Company to roll out enhanced technology to help counter virus spread 
New multi-pronged platform details increased safety measures for guests and associates 

Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR), which for 92 years has been recognized as a hospitality leader for its commitment to quality, exacting standards, and rigorous training, announced today that it will be rolling out a multi-pronged platform to elevate its cleanliness standards and hospitality norms and behaviors to meet the new health and safety challenges presented by the current pandemic environment. 

“We are living in a new age, with COVID-19 front and center for our guests and our associates,” said Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International. “We are grateful for the trust our guests have shown us through the years. We want our guests to understand what we are doing today and planning for in the near future in the areas of cleanliness, hygiene and social distancing so that when they walk through the doors of one of our hotels, they know our commitment to their health and safety is our priority. It’s equally important to us that our associates know the changes we are making to help safeguard their health as they serve our guests.” 

A New Way of Looking at Cleanliness 

Marriott, which has long had a reputation for high standards of hotel cleanliness with well-established cleaning processes and training in place, has created the Marriott Global Cleanliness Council to tackle the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic at the hotel level and further advance the company’s efforts in this area. The Marriott Global Cleanliness Council is focused on developing the next level of global hospitality cleanliness standards, norms and behaviors that are designed to minimize risk and enhance safety for consumers and Marriott associates alike. 

The Council is chaired by Ray Bennett, Chief Global Officer, Global Operations, Marriott International, and will benefit from knowledge and input from both in-house and outside experts including senior leaders from across Marriott disciplines like housekeeping, engineering, food safety, occupational health and associate wellbeing. The Council also includes advisory members Dr. Ruth L. Petran, Senior Corporate Scientist, Food Safety & Public Health for Ecolab, a global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services; Dr. Michael A. Sauri, Infectious Disease Specialist at Adventist Healthcare; Dr. Richard Ghiselli, Head of the School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Purdue University; and Dr. Randy Worobo, Professor of Food Microbiology in the Department of Food Science at Cornell University. 

“Marriott has a long tradition of emphasizing cleanliness in our care of guest rooms and in the public spaces of our hotels,” said Bennett. “Through the council and scientific advice of experts, we are taking a thoughtful approach to set an even higher bar of cleanliness and develop new guest interaction protocols. The Marriott Global Cleanliness Council is focused on more than just disinfection across the hotel, we are providing a holistic approach designed to take care of our guests and associates.” 

Enhanced Technology to Counter Virus Spread 

Marriott is rolling out enhanced technologies over the next few months, including electrostatic sprayers with hospital-grade disinfectant to sanitize surfaces throughout the hotel. Electrostatic spraying technology uses the highest classification of disinfectants recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) to treat known pathogens. The sprayers rapidly clean and disinfect entire areas and can be used in a hotel setting to clean and disinfect guest rooms, lobbies, gyms and other public areas. In addition, the company is testing ultraviolet light technology for sanitizing keys for guests and devices shared by associates. 

Cleanliness Changes 

Over the next few months, when guests are in hotels within the Marriott portfolio, they will notice a number of additions to our cleaning regimen designed to set an even higher standard of cleanliness for the hotels. Specific areas of focus include: 

  • Surface Areas: COVID-19 has raised awareness about the importance of high-touch surface cleanliness. In public spaces, the company has added to its already rigorous cleaning protocols, requiring that surfaces are thoroughly treated with hospital-grade disinfectants and that this cleaning is done with increased frequency. In guest rooms, the company has likewise added to its rigorous protocols, requiring that all surfaces are thoroughly cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectants. Marriott will also be placing disinfecting wipes in each room for guests’ personal use. 

  • Guest Contact: The CDC and WHO warn about direct, person-to-person contact as the primary way COVID-19 is spread. To help alleviate the risk of transmission this way, the company will be using signage in its lobbies to remind guests to maintain social distancing protocols and removing or re-arranging furniture to allow more space for distancing. Marriott is also evaluating adding partitions at front desks to provide an extra level of precaution for our guests and associates and is working with supply chain partners to make masks and gloves available to associates. The company is installing more hand sanitizing stations at the entrances to its hotels, near the front desk, elevator banks and fitness and meeting spaces. In addition, in over 3,200 of Marriott’s hotels, guests can choose to use their phones to check in, access their rooms, make special requests and order room service that will be specially packaged and delivered right to the door without contact. 

  • Food Safety: Marriott’s food safety program includes enhanced sanitation guidelines and training videos for all operational associates that includes hygiene and disinfecting practices. At Marriott, all food handlers and supervisors are trained on safe food preparation and service practices. Marriott’s food and beverage operations are required to conduct self-inspection using the company’s food safety standards as guidelines, and compliance is validated by independent audits. In addition, the company is modifying its operational practices for in-room dining and designing new approaches to buffets. 

“Safety for our guests and associates has always been a top priority for Marriott and today that discussion of safety is in the context of COVID-19,” said Bennett. “We want our guests to know that we are doing everything we can to welcome them back to a safe and clean hotel environment when they start traveling again.” 

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,300 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 134 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy™, its highly-awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. 

Update: April 9, 2020

Dear Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition Community,

To maintain the safety of its community due to the global impact of COVID-19, the Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition announced on March 18 that the June Summit was postponed.

Today the Coalition is pleased to announce new fall dates for the 4th Annual Summit, November 10 - 11, taking place at the same location - The Woodlands Waterway Marriott in Houston, TX.

The new dates were determined based on meetings with stakeholders, partners, and other events in the industry to ensure the engaged and robust community can come together in its fullest and provide the highest quality experience.

Planned co-located events from June have all confirmed their group’s participation for the new November dates. These events include:

  • DRONERESPONDERS Emergency Management and Disaster Forum for UAS

  • Industrial Drone Delivery & Unmanned Cargo Forum

  • Energy Corporate UAV / Robotics Team Meetings

The Coalition is working with the venue and all Summit contractors to enact CDC guidelines and detailed measures to prioritize a healthy and safe environment for all participants at the Summit, including audience spacing; additional sanitization procedures for the hotel facility, expo, demos and conference spaces; signage displaying best practices to maintain a healthy environment; and hand sanitizer provided to all in attendance.

In addition to these measures, the Coalition is offering flexibility for everyone who would like to participate in the Summit, including added virtual opportunities for those who cannot physically attend. 

Prior to November’s Summit, the Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition will continue to work with the community to bring the industry together digitally and provide top notch energy drone and robotics content throughout the spring and summer. These initiatives launched immediately with the development and release of the COVID-19 Resource Directory for the industry. Details on the Think Tank Thursday virtual event series will be released shortly, along with additional virtual and live events, to ensure we are connecting unmanned leaders with knowledge and technology solutions year-round.

We look forward to working together to continue to be the best resource on the business and technology of unmanned systems in energy operations from the ‘stars to the sea floor.’ Our market is strong and resilient, and we are already seeing a rapidly growing interest for automation of operations and data / AI with unmanned systems. This will remain a core function in the industrial sector that will continue to be built this year and for years to come.

Thank you for your understanding and patience, and we will get through this time together. Please feel free to reach out if you have any immediate questions.

Take care,

Sean Guerre
Executive Director
Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition

March 13, 2020

Dear Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition Community,

The safety of our Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition community is the top priority, and based on recent and rapidly changing updates surrounding COVID-19 and meetings / events, it is now necessary that we postpone the June Summit.

We have been meeting internally, with our Advisory Board, the city and other events in the industry. We are currently working with The Woodlands Waterway Marriott to finalize future dates to ensure our stakeholders can participate in an excellent event and will keep everyone updated with further details as soon as possible.

Our market is strong and resilient, and we know automation with unmanned systems will remain a core function in the industrial sector that will continue to be built this year, and for years to come.

We are so thankful for the continued support of our community. We will continue to work with you to bring the industry together digitally and provide top notch energy drone and robotics content throughout the spring and summer.

We expect to make a public announcement to the whole community on Tuesday, March 17. Thank you for your understanding and patience, and we will get through this time together. Please feel free to reach out if you have any immediate questions.

Sean Guerre
Executive Director
Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition

March 6, 2020

Dear Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition Community,

In light of the recent developments surrounding Coronavirus/COVID-19, we wanted to provide some information leading up to the 4th Annual Energy Drone & Robotics Summit, taking place June 10-11 at the The Woodlands Waterway Marriott, Houston, Texas.

The Energy Drone & Robotics Summit, like many other UAV/Robotics/Data and Energy events, is proceeding as planned. We are continuously monitoring what the CDC, WHO and US Government (local, state and federal) have recommended and follow their advice. Our attendees’ health and well-being are our #1 priority, and we do not take the current situation lightly.

Therefore, there are several precautions and measures that we will undertake in these months leading up to the event and on site in Houston in June.

Although Energy Drones, Robotics and Data Analytics/AI as topics appeal globally, our attendees are overwhelmingly from North America – including speakers, attendees and exhibitors/sponsors. Our 2019 attendee list is over 90% based in North America, with many from the global energy capital of Houston and the Gulf Coast region.

We’re very grateful for the ongoing support of our exhibitors and attendees who continue to register and plan for the show. Additional new Association and Corporate events are actively in planning phase to co-locate with us in June, and we’ve not experienced any impact despite current news reports on the virus.

All of this is excellent news and speaks to the strength of the Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition community, but despite this optimism, we know that we must be vigilant to ensure that our venue and attendees follow basic good-health protocols, including no hand-shaking and washing hands regularly. We want to stress that if anyone feels unwell, please do not attend, and if they are already in Houston for the event when this occurs, we ask them to please see a healthcare professional immediately.

Additionally, please note the following precautionary and preventive measures are being taken to ensure the event environment is as healthy, hygienic and safe as possible:

  • Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the event.

  • Signage displaying best health and hygiene practices will be placed throughout the venue.

  • Venue staff will be sanitizing common areas frequently throughout the entirety of the event.

  • Additional sanitizing wipes will be provided to exhibitors to clean their booth areas each night.

  • New potential attendees will be monitored for their location of origin and adhering to Department of State travel restrictions.

  • All attendees will receive guidance consistently on sensible health practices for their reference.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Houston in June. 

Thank you very much,

Sean Guerre
Executive Director
Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition