Tourism may have a big impact on the air quality of popular destinations, but it works the other way around, with pollution having potentially harmful effects on the competitiveness of chosen destinations—as reported in a study by C. Eusebio and colleagues. Whether your B&B accommodation is located in a busy city center or it is ensconced in a natural zone, there is plenty you can do to make it more appealing to health-conscious travelers. The Environmental Protection Agency has warned that many homes have air pollution levels that are two to five times higher than the air outside. The good...

If real, achievable, disinfection measures increase confidence, the public will return. People are placing health as a top priority. Almost 85 percent make their travel decisions based on health safety. Some 40 percent are unsatisfied with the communications they’re currently receiving about safety protocols according to PWC. Half of consumers are also willing to pay extra for more safety. To get the public back, business has to have high level safety protocols and make people aware of them. The devastation to the hospitality industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic is illustrated in a survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association...

I am currently working on an article on the Hotel Marcel. It is expected to open next year in New Haven, Conn. The hotel will have many unique features—net-zero energy, LEED Platinum, etc. One of the most unique features about the hotel is that it is expected to be the first Passive House certified hotel in the United States. I just came across the certification in another article I read so I thought I would share a bit about the certification. The Passive House certification program is run by PHIUS (Passive House Institute US, Inc.) It is a nonprofit 501(c)(3)...

CHICAGO—Blueair, a leader in air purification for home and professional use, announced it has donated more than $1 million in cash to U.S. hospitals, schools and a Chicago nonprofit in alignment with Giving Tuesday 2020. The company is also donating air purifiers to organizations it is supporting, extending clean indoor air access to the communities they serve. At a time when more than ever people are in need, a recent Gallup poll found that fewer people are able to provide support through charitable giving—with giving expected to be down nearly 10 percent this year. Blueair was founded on the principle...

NATIONAL REPORT—For safe, non-toxic cleaning you cannot get much better than water—but it first must be converted to aqueous ozone. The cleaning and disinfection properties of ozone have been known for a long time, but it has often been inconvenient to access. At least two companies have recently introduced sleek rechargeable, reusable spray bottles, however, that make using aqueous ozone portable and easy. The first company is Donastar Enterprises, LLC. Its EnozoPRO, after an AC charge, detaches from its base and kills 99.9 percent of most harmful bacteria and viruses on hard surfaces in 30 seconds.* “Ozone is capable of...

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA.—Carrier Global Corp., a leading global provider of healthy, safe and sustainable building and cold chain solutions, announced that its OptiClean Dual-Mode Air Scrubber & Negative Air Machine has been named as one of TIME’s 100 Best Inventions of 2020. The OptiClean was developed through rapid innovation in early 2020 to help support infectious isolation rooms in hospitals. TIME featured OptiClean in the Medical Care category of its prestigious annual list that recognizes 100 ground-breaking inventions that are making the world better and smarter. “We are honored the OptiClean is being recognized by TIME for a product...

MIAMI—The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), the annual gathering of international leaders in the multitrillion-dollar global wellness economy, has received rave reviews for its first-ever hybrid event, which promises to be a new model for conferences. Notable as one of the first U.S. meetings to take place both in person and virtually, the hybrid “Safe Summit” was held at The Breakers Palm Beach from November 8 to 11, and attracted 100+ in-person delegates and 500+ highly engaged virtual attendees. “We knew the only way to host a Summit this year was to create a new model for how a conference can...

ATLANTA—ASHRAE, a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment, announced a move to its new global headquarters, located at 180 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners, Ga. The Society began renovations in January 2020 on an existing 66,700 ft2 building, originally built in 1978, on 11 acres of land. Located 10 miles north of its previous headquarters building, ASHRAE joins other innovation and sustainability-focused organizations based in the popular Technology Parkway corridor. A short video on the new global headquarters can be viewed on ASHRAE’s YouTube channel. “ASHRAE’s new global headquarters is a prime example of how we are helping to...

CHICAGO—Chicago-based company AEX Technology Solutions LLC, a leader in innovative business technology, announces the launch of the AiroDoctor photocatalytic UVA LED air purification system for the United States and Canada. “We are extremely excited to bring AiroDoctor to North America,” says Vishal Goyal, Co-founder of AEX Technology. “Despite the significant increase in the demand for air purifiers, many of the units on the market are consumer-grade only yet are being used in commercial settings. AiroDoctor is a scientifically tested and cost-effective solution specifically designed for commercial environments, providing significantly cleaner air and a sense of comfort to you, your colleagues,...

FORT McDOWELL, ARIZ.—On October 29, the new We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort opened its doors, unveiling a contemporary ambiance and visitor-centric experience that raise the bar for Valley casinos. All gaming areas, hotel rooms and public spaces, dining outlets and entertainment venues are 100 percent smoke-free, with four comfortable outdoor areas designated for smokers. In addition, full compliance with all mandated COVID-19 precautions includes taking patrons’ temperatures (only granting entry to those with 100-degree temperatures or less), requiring masks, providing ample sanitation stations, encouraging social distancing, and limiting elevator and outlet occupancy. In addition to offering a full complement of slot machines, tables, bingo and gaming...