Auro Hotels employees support each other during crisis

EMPLOYEES AT AURO Hotels have not forgotten their teammates who have been furloughed during the COVID-19 pandemic, nor have they turned their back on the needs of others in their communities who have been affected by the outbreak. They have organized food drives and donations and given their time to help.

Along with its outreach programs, the Greenville, South Carolina-based company, led by President DJ Rama, also has implemented its Connecting Safely Program throughout all of its hotels in the U.S. and India to protect the health and safety of guests and workers. It is similar to initiatives begun by several other hotel companies and the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s “Safe Stay” program.

‘Connecting With Families’

Auro Hotels’ “Connecting with Families” initiative raised more than $15,000 in five days to help furloughed employees. Employees assembled and distributed more than 1,300 food packages in 10 cities.

“For the 15 years I’ve worked with Auro Hotels, I’ve always been treated as family,” said Melissa Rosewarne, an Auro corporate associate. “So, when our family members were in need, we jumped in with all the love and support we could give.”

Auro associates also fund the COVID-19 Beacon Fund Campaign that provides cash support, paid time off and gift cards to furloughed and active team members. The company’s employees at its offices in India arrange doctor consultations for those who need them, deliver 500 meals a day to COVID-19 patients and healthcare workers at Surat Municipal Corporation’s local hospital. They also are delivering more than 100 meals a day to local police authorities and volunteers.

“The generosity of our Auro family members is remarkable”, Rama said. “It is overwhelming to see the compassion and love they are showing to each other during these challenging times for our company, the hotel industry and the world."

New standards of cleanliness

Auro’s Connecting Safely Program’s motto is SHIELD, standing for “Safety, Health, Infrastructure, Environment, Logistics and Distancing.” Auro associates must complete mandatory, ongoing training for safety and cleaning protocols. They also must undergo a daily health screening process.

“Protecting the health, wellbeing and safety of our guests and associates is our top priority,” Rama said. “Our new Connecting Safely program strengthens our already stringent cleanliness protocols to inspire trust and meet the changing needs and expectations of our hotel guests.”

Extra procedures include more sanitizing of all surfaces, guidelines to provide social distancing, sanitizing stations throughout the hotels and alternatives to standard buffets and non-reusable menus

Auro Hotels was founded in 2017 when JHM Hotels of Greenville, South Carolina, split into four companies. The other three are Sima Hotels LLC of Orlando, Florida; Sarona Holdings of Orlando; and Siddhi Hotel Group of Greenville.