Ian Schrager’s Hotel the First in New York City to Roll Out Vaccine Mandate for Guests


Skift Take

The U.S. hotel industry’s recovery is volatile heading into fall, especially in major cities. A vaccine mandate like at Ian Schrager’s Public Hotel is an added security blanket — but a bigger hotel company might face legal challenges trying to implement something like this in more anti-vax parts of the country.

Want to stay at one of Studio 54 legend Ian Schrager’s trendiest hotels? Get the jab. The nightclub-turned-boutique hotel mastermind Friday announced plans requiring guests, visitors, and staff to his Public Hotel in New York City to provide proof of vaccination against coronavirus. The plan, set to go into effect Sept. 5 for guests and mid-August for employees, came about from New York City’s own plan to require staff and customers at indoor dining establishments, gyms, and concert halls to provide proof of at least one dose of a vaccine beginning on Aug. 16. Hotels aren’t yet included in that planned city-wide vaccine mandate despite housing many of the indoor activities that would require a vaccine under the city's new rules. “The precipitating factor for me was when the city required vaccinations for the bars, the restaurants, and in the fitness facilities that are inside the hotel,”