With fall semester approaching, Student Housing Business hosted a webinar titled, “Best Practices for Re-Activating Student Housing Amenities.” Top student housing owners and operators weighed in on best practices for reopening student housing amenities and protocols for stopping the spread of COVID-19.
Moderated by Randy Shearin, editor of SHB, the discussion included thoughts from Kristen Gibson of Greystar, James Whitley of Landmark Properties, Adam Byrley of The Preiss Company and Jason Balzer of Matrix Fitness.
Panelists discussed a range of challenges and necessary considerations as students return to gyms, pools and other amenities. Topics include reservation systems to support social distancing, the importance of and best practices for communication with customers and teams and budgeting in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our residents want our amenity spaces open, but we have found that the vast majority of them have been very patient,” said Whitley of Landmark Properties. “They understand what’s necessary and that the measures that we —and many of our peers — have put in place are for their own well-being. Parents are certainly supportive of that, as well. We look to reopen our amenity spaces utilizing a three-phase plan in concert with state and federal guidelines.”
“We’ve been utilizing a system that allows us to put in place ways of tracking those that come and go, creating reservation opportunities for using the fitness center and our other shared amenity spaces,” Whitley continued. “That’s been one of the technological pieces of our reopening plan. It’s been really helpful. At the end of the day, we’re moving slowly and being nimble about our reopening process.”
Webinar sponsor: Matrix Fitness offers a complete line of cardio, strength and group training equipment for health clubs, luxury resorts and collegiate athletic teams, plus club-quality equipment reimagined for the home.