Swimming pools throughout the Wildwoods can open beginning Monday, June 22nd

PRESS RELEASE

All swimming pools at hotels and other facilities throughout the Wildwoods, NJ are permitted to open to guests beginning Monday, June 22.

"We are excited to see our hotels safely open their swimming pools to guests as another enhancement to Wildwoods visitors' return to our destination," said Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement & Development Authority (GWTIDA) Executive Director/CFO John Siciliano. "It's yet another way to have fun in the sun in the Wildwoods this summer."

Hotels and other facilities with a public swimming pool are required to develop a COVID-19 Pool Operation Prevention Plan that complies with New Jersey Department of Health guidelines, including:

• Staff screenings for fever and symptoms on entering the swimming pool area
• Social distancing of six feet while in the water, as well as on the pool deck, and non-sharing of pool furniture and equipment with the exception of immediate family members, caretakers, household members or romantic partners
• Maintaining a sign-in sheet for staff and guests to facilitate potential contact tracing efforts
• Cleaning and disinfecting furniture and equipment after each use

Facilities are urged to stagger access to entry and exit points to avoid congregation, and reduce capacity to 50 percent for the facility and grounds. At management's discretion, guests may be allowed to use their own water play equipment, such as goggles, snorkels, fins, kickboards, pool noodles and toys; however, sharing is prohibited and such equipment cannot be rented for patrons' use.

Staff and pool-goers are additionally encouraged to wear a cloth face covering outside of the pool when social distancing of six feet cannot be maintained, with the exception of children under age 2 and lifeguards on active duty.

The Wildwoods have over 11,000 room accommodations - including 8,000 hotel and motel rooms, and over 3,000 vacation rentals; dozens of these accommodations offer marvelous swimming pool areas for guest use.

Mid-century themed hotels/motels, as well as other businesses, can be seen throughout the five-mile island. These hotels reflect their original predecessor buildings from the 1950s and '60s in architecture, decor and color - an architectural style known as "Doo Wop."

Plastic palm trees tower over kidney-shaped pools, jutted roof angles, and wrought iron balconies, and whimsical names and flamboyant themes give these similarly styled buildings individual character. Vivid imagery and vibrant aqua, oranges and pinks bombard the eye of the motoring public, as bright neon signs beckon to travelers, each blatantly attempting to outdo their neighbor.

The motels and their ample parking reflect the burgeoning era of automotive travel of the 1950s. The designs and architectural features pay tribute to the post-war pop culture. Their architecture continues to memorialize the bold spirit of the newly restless society, while motel names conjure up tropical paradises and other exotic destinations.

GWTIDA is working collectively with the island's municipalities, the Greater Wildwood Hotel & Motel Association (GWHMA), the Wildwood Business Improvement District (WBID), the Wildwood Special Improvement District (WSID) and the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce to encourage them to implement initiative among the destination's businesses and attractions to enhance the safety of employees and guests as the Wildwoods gradually re-open.

These include increased intensive sanitizing protocols, social distancing procedures and expanding restaurant seating onto the sidewalks and parking lots allowing for social distancing while dining. And, of course, our wide spacious beaches allow plenty of room to stretch out and practice social distancing.

For additional information about the Wildwoods, visit www.WildwoodsNJ.com.