WASHINGTON—With the rising use of lithium-based batteries in gadgets like e-bikes, laptops, and cell phones, the American Resort & Lodging Affiliation (AHLA) and Hospitality Know-how Subsequent Era (HTNG) launched a brand new suite of security assets to assist hoteliers stop, put together for, and reply to battery-related hearth incidents, lots of that are induced unknowingly by visitors. The toolkit additionally consists of steering for vacationers to assist improve their consciousness of potential dangers.
Lithium battery incidents—notably from micro mobility gadgets—have develop into a rising concern for accommodations nationwide. In keeping with Nationwide Hearth Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) information, greater than 50 % of lithium-related resort hearth incidents between 2020 and 2024 concerned e-scooters and e-bikes.
“The security of our visitors and staff is our high precedence and that’s why we’re repeatedly updating protocols and steering to handle new and rising dangers. Lithium battery hearth incidents are on the rise and may pose vital dangers with out the right training and procedures,” stated AHLA President & CEO Rosanna Maietta. “Our new instruments will assist hoteliers take sensible steps to guard visitors and staff, whereas staying forward of this rising difficulty.”
The newly launched supplies embody:
• A finest practices information for charging and disposal of lithium-based batteries
• An government abstract overview of finest practices
• An industry-facing briefing video highlighting the protection dangers and the way accommodations can reply
• A key card insert template for properties to offer guest-facing training
• An emergency response guidelines for resort workers
• A printable Protected Keep one-pager designed to be simply posted or distributed
These assets had been developed by way of the collaboration of HTNG workgroup members, comprising greater than 25 hoteliers, distributors, and material specialists who convey {industry} experience to create sensible, hotel-focused steering on managing lithium battery security.
AHLA encourages its members to undertake secure dealing with protocols—together with temperature regulation, on-site monitoring, and correct storage—and to coach workers on emergency response procedures.
