As coronavirus cases continue to rise across the country, at least 312 Arizona hotels have signed up to house emergency and health care workers as they battle on the frontlines to treat people with the virus.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association announced Monday that more than 15,000 hotels across the country have signed up to provide temporary housing for emergency and health care workers as the COVID-19 public health crisis grows.

At least 312 of those hotels were in Arizona, the association said.

Kim Sabow, president and CEO of the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association, said the idea of the initiative, called "Hospitality for Hope," was to create a database where local hotel associations could connect hotels with the health care community and local officials as needs arise.

Different hotels are laid out to accommodate different needs, so state and federal government officials can search for participating hotels based on their location, Sabow said.

If the situation worsens, some hotels could potentially be used as an emergency hospital or places for quarantined individuals to stay if more hospital beds are needed, she said.

"As we monitor the situation on a day-to-day basis the hospitality community can partner with the hospital community and state and local governments and provide solutions," Sabow said. "The idea is to bring these entities together and be prepared in the event that we see this increase in need."

The initiative allows hotels to fill a need as tourism has ground to a halt and occupancy in hotels across the country has plummeted.

Hotels participating

Sabow said the list of participating hotels is not currently being made public.

On Monday, Hilton and American Express announced they would donate up to 1 million hotel room nights through the end of May to doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramedics and other medical staff who need a place to sleep or isolate.

And last week, Caliber, a Scottsdale-based real estate development firm, announced that they would donate hotel stays at their properties through May 31.

The company will offer rooms at each of their properties to employees of local hospital networks and health care providers, including Banner Health, Mayo Clinic, Dignity Health, HonorHealth and Valleywise Health.

Caliber's participating hotels include:

Crowne Plaza Phoenix Airport, 4300 E. Washington St.

Hampton Inn and Suites Scottsdale Riverwalk, 9550 E. Talking Stick Way

Holiday Inn Chandler, 1200 W. Ocotillo Road

Hilton Phoenix Airport, 2435 S. 47th St.

Holiday Inn Phoenix Airport North, 1515 N. 44th St.

Employees at participating hospitals and networks that wish to place a reservation can access a booking code from their respective human resource departments, the company said in a press release.

Valid employee identification is required at check-in. Employees can stay up to 14 days, and rooms will be based on availability.

Sabow said hotels would be connected with local hospitals on a case-by-case basis, as each property had different layouts and amenities to fit different needs.

Sabow said the database is in use in communities in New York and New Jersey that have been hit hardest by the health crisis and are desperate for additional hospital beds and housing for first responders.

But in Arizona, the lodging association is preparing for that need here, she said.

"This has really been a vital lifeline and solution and resource for the crisis we're facing," Sabow said.

Have a tip out of Scottsdale? Reach the reporter Lorraine Longhi at llonghi@gannett.com or 480-243-4086. Follow her on Twitter @lolonghi.

Support local journalism.Subscribe to azcentral.com today.