The
Ambassador Hotel on Milwaukee’s near west side is reopening its doors this week, having been shut down for the past four months due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The hotel announced Wednesday that operations at its
2308 W. Wisconsin Ave. property will resume Thursday, Aug. 13. That includes lobby-level bar and lounge Gin Rickey and its adjoining outdoor patio, which will run lunch and dinner service with a new limited menu. A separate carry-out menu is available for contactless curbside pick-up, according to a news release.
The Ambassador's two other dining concepts, The Fitz and Deco Cafe, will reopen in phases as demand increases.
In light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the hotel reopens with a number of new health and safety protocols.
Guests will have their temperature taken before entering the building, and are required to wear masks (in accordance with the City of Milwaukee's mask mandate) and practice physical distancing in public areas. For contactless check-out, guests will call the front desk and leave keys in their room.
On the operations side, common areas will be cleaned frequently with hospital-grade products while rooms will be cleaned prior to use with disinfecting methods that "go beyond leading hospitality industry standards and the Center for Disease Control guidelines," according to the release.
Standard amenities such as extra bedding, pens and note pads have been removed from rooms, now only available upon request. Daily housekeeping and minibar services have also been paused.
"The safety of our guests and team members is our top priority, and we are confident we have put into place a plan where everyone will know we are doing our absolute best to protect them," said general manager Jon Jossart in a statement.
Jossart said all management, service and kitchen staff has
undergone the National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe COVID-19 safety training.
"Another point worth noting is that our HVAC system was designed for when smoking was allowed indoors and features an air handling system that constantly circulates fresh air offering one of the safest possible indoor spaces for our guests," he said.
The Ambassador's website notes that staff are instructed to report all presumed cases of COVID-19 on the property to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and to notify a manager if they notice a coworker or guest with a cough, shortness of breath, or other known symptoms of COVID-19. Employees are instructed to stay home if they are feeling sick.
If the hotel is alerted to a presumptive case of COVID-19, it will work with WDHS on next steps.
The 132-room Ambassador Hotel opened in 1928. The property underwent a $14 million renovation in the mid-1990s after being purchased by local developer Rick Wiegand.
The historic hotel would have served as home base for Wisconsin's delegation during the 2020 Democratic National Convention this summer, before the event was derailed by the coronavirus pandemic.
