ROSEMONT, ILL.—The Global Biorisk Advisory Council, (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, announced that Dr. Deborah Birx, world-renowned medical physician, infectious disease expert, and diplomat, will be the keynote speaker at the GBAC Symposium on Air Considerations, August 16 to 17, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The inaugural GBAC Symposium will bring together scientists and industry thought leaders to share innovations and best practices for improving indoor air quality in nonhealthcare settings. “The GBAC Symposium is our next step in driving innovation and advancement to make our world safer,” said GBAC Senior Director Michael Diamond. “This event will bring together environmental safety and...

SOLON, OHIO—A worldwide leader in sustainable and innovative flooring solutions, Tarkett is launching a new collection that imagines a more balanced world, one where mankind’s influence on nature is less apparent. Inspired Nature is a new collection of modular carpet and Powerbond hybrid resilient sheet, along with a coordinating digitally printed LVT, that explores the wonder of nature and its ability to heal. The collection was born at the height of global isolation—a time when we saw the natural world beginning to restore itself to a healthier balance. We saw a resurgence of cleaner air. A reduction in water and noise pollution....

NATIONAL REPORT—Ask a child to draw you a house and you’ll get something made up of rectangles and triangles. It’s still recognizable as a house you’d see on any street, but there’s nothing soft about it. Sharp edges and harsh lines dominate the majority of human architecture. It’s an effective form of construction, but it has left us decidedly disconnected from the natural world. This disconnect isn’t harmful, but as the world shifts toward a greener and more sustainable future, we’ve started taking more inspiration from nature. What is biophilic design and what are the benefits of this type of design...

SOLNA, SWEDEN—QleanAir has launched QleanAir Connect; an IoT platform that helps organizations improve air quality at the workplace. By connecting air cleaners to the cloud, organizations can now gain a better understanding and control of their indoor air quality. “We are happy to launch QleanAir Connect as organizations today have higher expectations on air quality. I hope to see more organizations raising their ambitions for healthy indoor air and to be able to support them on that journey with QleanAir Connect,” says Christina Lindstedt, CEO at QleanAir. QleanAir Connect provides full control of indoor air quality by connecting air cleaning units and...

CHICAGO—What will hotels of the future look like and how will they function? The Hotel of Tomorrow Project (HOT Project), a global think tank of industry leaders, seeks to answer that question. After an eight-month collaborative effort, which included regular and virtual reality meetups on a custom-built HOT airship in the metaverse, a team of more than 200 including representatives from Hilton, IHG and Marriott hotels, along with technology experts and hospitality school students has unveiled seven future hotel visions. “When you gather and collaborate with many of the most innovative minds in the hospitality industry from owners to operators to...

CHICAGO—Blueair, a leader in air purification for home and professional use, and the Allergy & Asthma Network, a nonprofit organization advocating on behalf of the 60 million Americans with allergies, asthma and related conditions, announced a long-term partnership stemming from the organizations’ shared purpose to support the health and well-being of those patients and communities most in need, specifically patients impacted by poor air quality. “Blueair was founded on the belief that the freedom to breathe is a basic right. Our mission has always been to provide clean air, with the health of generations to come top of mind,” said...

CHICAGO—Luminii, a leader in the germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) LED lighting space, announced that it is helping businesses including gyms, restaurants, medical offices and daycares around the country. With more than a decade of architectural LED product innovation, Luminii’s germicidal upper air system called Purifii is a contact-free, low-profile GUV product that kills the COVID-19 virus as well as other airborne viruses and bacteria that may be circulating in high-traffic indoor spaces. Since February 28, when Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot rescinded the city’s indoor mask mandate, some Chicago businesses welcomed customers back to restaurants, gyms, and retail establishments with extra risk mitigation layers designed to protect air quality and kill...

LONDON—Zeal Hotels is planning a new hotel concept which follows sustainable principles from the build and throughout its operation to hopefully create a carbon net zero property. The company is in the process of acquiring a site for a 140+ room new build hotel and the group is targeting the U.K. for further growth opportunities. Tim Wheeldon, Managing Director, Zeal Hotels, said that the concept has been welcomed “with open arms by planning authorities and we are in discussions regarding several opportunities at the moment.” “We have been working on the idea of a sustainable hotel for over three years,” Wheeldon...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added Healthway to the “Air Filtration/Purification” section of its Green Product & Service Directory. Located in Upstate New York, Healthway designs and engineers scalable, efficient air cleaning solutions for any environment. For hospitality, Healthway has innovated to protect customers and staff from the spread of airborne viruses. The company’s complete line of air purification solutions is built to solve indoor air quality challenges specific to hosting guests in a hotel space. From plug and play portable units to HVAC retrofit systems, Healthway applies its expertise to outfit a hotel’s environment, wherever that may be. Call (315) 298-2904 or e-mail ccobb@healthway.com for...

CORK, IRELAND—Johnson Controls, a global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, released its 2022 Sustainability Report along with the following message from George Oliver, Chairman and CEO and Katie McGinty, Vice President and Chief Sustainability and External Relations Officer: “As we look back on the unfathomable events unfolding in Ukraine, Johnson Controls recognizes how important it is for countries, communities and world leaders to unite in solidarity during such momentous times. We will continue to collectively uphold our own company values and remain committed to leading with integrity, respect, unwavering moral purpose, and humanity. We stand in solidarity with people around...