OYO partners with Unilever for sanitising regime

Worldwide: Global hospitality chain OYO Rooms has announced a partnership with Unilever to enhance the company’s cleanliness and sanitisation regimes.

In a joint statement, the two companies announced their partnership would begin in India before moving to Indonesia, Vietnam, the US, Latin America, and then Europe.

OYO CEO Ritesh Agarwal told Economic Times India: “We’re pleased that by partnering with Unilever and providing their trusted products, we are able to help customers, as well as our staff, stay as safe as possible. The scientific expertise of Unilever and assurance of their brands are second to none and OYO is confident that its guests will have a quality and stress-free experience with ‘OYO Sanitised Stays’ with Unilever’s leading home and personal hygiene products.”

OYO initially introduced its sanitisation regime in May, creating a “sanitised stay” tag on their website to mark properties which met the company’s standards. The new mark will add to that initial tag, showing where Unilever’s enhanced cleaning options have been implemented.

Unilever plans to bring in additional standards, minimal touch services, and the full suite of Unilever products, which include a variety of cleaning solutions. Products from brands such as LifeBuoy, Domex, Sunlight and Cif will be provided for both staff and guests.

Sanjiv Mehta, Unilever Hindustan chairman and MD, said: “With Hindustan Unilever’s long history in India, we are determined to do our part to protect lives and livelihoods and are glad to have found a strong partner in OYO who shares this vision.”

Neither company has at this time disclosed financial details the partnership may entail.

OYO has been particularly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, placing thousands of employees on furlough in its various markets. Many of these employees are to be laid off, including 90 per cent of its team in the United States.