As the world fights the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the world’s largest hotel company, Marriott International, is shifting to help healthcare workers and caregivers, Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson said. 

Marriott has launched a new initiative called “Rooms for Responders,” which gives free rooms in some of the areas of the United States most affected by the pandemic, including New York City, New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Las Vegas and Newark. 

The program, launched in partnership with the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Emergency Nurses Association, matches and doctors and nurses with free accommodations at participating hotels. 

Marriott has also launched the “Community Caregiver Program,” which provides significantly discounted rates to first responders and healthcare professionals who want to book rooms at hotels in close proximity to the hospitals where they’re working. 

That includes Latin America and the Caribbean, along with Canada and the United States. 

In a statement, Sorenson said that Marriott was committed to ensuring “flexibility” to customers during “these challenging times.”

That means the company has extended its cancellation policy, allowing guests to make full changes or cancellations up to 24 hours prior to arrival as long as the change is made before June 30, 2020. 

Guests who make future reservations between March 13 and June 30 can change their reservations at no charge up to 24 hours before arrival. 

“We will travel again, and we can’t wait to welcome you back,” Sorenson said. 

— CJ