Some of the most read articles on Green Lodging News address the hand dryer versus paper towel debate. The articles have had thousands of page views. There are various ways to approach the debate—from a waste standpoint, for example, or a hygiene standpoint. It is certainly a topic of interest today given COVID-19 so hygiene has become topic No. 1. I received news from Excel Dryer this past week of the results of a University of Arizona Health Sciences research team study entitled, Comparison of electric hand dryers and paper towels for hand hygiene: a critical review of the literature....

DENVER—Scott Milne*, Lead Energy Auditor and Commercial Consultant for Denver-based Rocky Mountain Efficiency Group, has launched the Elite Room concept to give hoteliers—“even the Days Inns of the World are looking for a solution,” he says—a leg up on their competition in the race to provide the safest and cleanest rooms for guests. “You have got to make people think your guestrooms are cleaner than their own home,” says Milne, a LEED GA. Now available, the Elite Room package consists of elements ranging from air purification to room disinfection to filtering chlorine from the shower you bathe in. “I came up...

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS.—After an exhaustive two-year process, a University of Arizona Health Sciences research team has announced the publication of their work, Comparison of electric hand dryers and paper towels for hand hygiene: a critical review of the literature. The review culled the current breadth of data, including published studies, news reports and online content, seeking to uncover which hand drying method, hand dryers or paper towels, is more hygienic and safer relative to human health risks. The researchers found that, while studies in the public arena generally favor paper towels over hand dryers, the conclusions are largely misleading...

MGM Resorts International’s announcement this past week that it would open its Park MGM/NoMad resort as a 100 percent nonsmoking resort was good news for travelers who prioritize good, clean air to breathe. According to MGM’s press release about the opening, it is the Las Vegas Strip’s first fully smoke-free casino resort. While a long time coming, I applaud MGM for taking this step and strongly encourage the company to repeat it at its other remaining properties around the world. (Listen up other gaming companies as well.) The announcement comes at a critical time—with the West experiencing its worst fire...

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.—CIRQ+ founders dreamed of a world where people can work and live safely, allowing a nation hard-hit by the pandemic to return to the life they knew, and today that dream becomes a reality with the launch of CIRQ+CLEAN. Developed by cloud-based platform CIRQ+ in response to the impact of the global COVID crisis, the CIRQ+CLEAN is a first of its kind solution—a touchless sterilization innovation that dispenses an EPA-registered fluid through an in-room autonomous, connected IoT robot, the Cbot. The all-natural, non-toxic disinfecting solution has the most up-to-date approvals by the EPA for use against Sars-CoV-2, the...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added Spectrum UVC to its Green Product & Service Directory in the Cleaning & Maintenance/UV Disinfection category. Spectrum UVC is revolutionizing sanitation standards for residential and commercial spaces by utilizing the power UV light disinfection, eliminating 99.9 percent of all viruses, bacteria, and pathogens in the safest manner possible to both humans and the environment. The company’s 850M9 is lighter and more mobile than competing units but is at the same time more powerful for better disinfection in less time. The units are user friendly. When guests feel safe occupancy increases. Decrease turnaround time. Proven...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International announced that Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas will open their doors on September 30, completing the reopening of all of its properties around the world following closures earlier this year amid the Covid-19 crisis. Upon reopening, Park MGM/NoMad will be The Strip’s first fully smoke-free casino resort. “Opening Park MGM and NoMad represent significant milestones, as they are the last of our properties to welcome back employees and guests alike,” said Bill Hornbuckle, MGM Resorts CEO and President. “The last six months have presented extraordinary challenges and I could not be prouder of the MGM...

Spectrum UVC UVC Sanitizing—Powerful, Portable, Cost Effective The 850M9 is lighter and more mobile than competing units but is at the same time more powerful for better disinfection in less time. We use these units in contract service and find them to be very user friendly. When guests feel safe occupancy increases. Decrease turnaround time. Proven against COVID-19, bacteria, mold. Reduce chemical use! Call (405) 919-2982 for more information. Spectrum UVC » Email for Details »

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA.—Carrier Global Corporation, a leading global provider of innovative HVAC, refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies, and Cushman & Wakefield, a leading global real estate services firm, have agreed to collaborate to introduce Carrier’s premier healthy building solutions for Cushman & Wakefield’s clients through Carrier’s Healthy Buildings Program. “By working with Carrier, Cushman & Wakefield can offer differentiated services and solutions as part of its 6 Feet Office concept to our clients,” said Bryan Jacobs, President of Global IFM, Cushman & Wakefield. “This collaboration will position us to exceed our clients’ expectations by helping to deliver...

JOHNSON CITY, TENN.—Unscrupulous sellers across the country are falsely claiming both commercial and in-home air purification systems kill coronavirus. While air purification technologies, including GreenTech Environmental’s proprietary methods, have been used successfully to curb the spread of viruses including SARS and even Ebola, no air purification system has published results of singular and scientific testing against the coronavirus. As the United States grapples with reopening plans for schools, restaurants, hotels, and entertainment facilities, GreenTech Environmental is urging air purification buyers, including commercial and consumer buyers, to use air purification as part of a comprehensive mitigation strategy rather than the singular...