It is not something that is common where I live in Florida but yesterday there was an air quality alert due to a cloud of Canadian wildfire smoke that drifted down my way. The smoke originated in British Columbia and Alberta. It traveled thousands of miles to Eastern Canada by circulating winds and then was dragged southward by the remnants of Ophelia, as the storm petered out in the Atlantic Ocean. Wildfire smoke is just one of many environmental factors that impact outdoor air quality, and indoor air quality (IAQ) as well. IAQ was on my mind recently when the Asthma...

When was the last time you stayed at a hotel with a PTAC and noticed an extra air filtration cover over the PTAC? You most likely have not experienced this but at a trade show earlier in the year I discovered a company, RZ Industries, that makes an air purifying filter that attaches to the front of the PTAC. Called the RZ AIRflow, it improves the air quality of the guestroom by removing 99.7 percent of airborne particulates from inside and outside. The system uses carbon filters and a HEPA filter. There is no added noise when using the...

BOYNTON BEACH, FLA.—As wildfires continue to rage, communities face ongoing indoor air quality problems. Pyure Dynamic Protection, a leader in air and surface purification, safely and efficiently improves indoor air quality (IAQ) by rapidly reducing the harmful smoke, chemicals, and odors that these wildfires emit. Pyure’s technology naturally breaks apart pollutants in the air and complements a building’s filtration system to create fresh breathing spaces. Canada is battling its worst wildfire season on record, and toxic smoke is moving across North America, with 18 states currently under air quality alerts. And the fires in Maui have created another tragic disaster. As...

DALLAS—PURE WELLNESS, a leading provider of turnkey wellness premium rooms, providing a refreshing and relaxing experience to guests, announced its expanded partnership with Atrium Hospitality, one of the nation’s largest hotel operators. The deepened alignment will add approximately 70 new properties to the Pure Wellness portfolio spanning a variety of hotel brands including Hilton, Marriott, IHG, and Wyndham, among others. Over the next six months, 32 hotels (360 rooms) will be converted, with an additional 36 hotels (365 rooms) set to join the portfolio in 2024—bringing the total number of Pure Rooms to 874. “We couldn’t be more excited to...

NATIONAL REPORT—The use of e-cigarettes, vapes, and other “smokeless” tobacco products has increased recently. Unlike traditional cigarettes, the biggest advantage of vapes and these products is that you can enjoy them anywhere. Whether you are out walking or seated with friends, you don’t have to seclude yourself because of vaping. Enthusiasts can also use vapes to smoke other products, including recreational marijuana. Superficially, vaping is considered a viable option compared to traditional cigarettes. Vapes emit vapor, which is thought to help smokers reduce or quit smoking. While there’s an aspect of truth in this, does vaping affect the air quality...

SOLON, OHIO—Tarkett, a worldwide leader in innovative and sustainable flooring solutions, has announced an expanded portfolio for its Color Pop luxury vinyl tile and plank series. With the addition of six new colors—Breeze, Lilac, Sandpiper, Sorbet, Sunbeam, and Very Berry—Color Pop is now available in 30 hues and three tile sizes, allowing tremendous design flexibility. “Color Pop celebrates color’s unique ability to impact the mood of any space, whether it be inspiring creativity in the workplace, encouraging discovery in the classroom, or creating calm for patients and healthcare staff,” said Omoleye Simmons, Vice President, Design. “With the ability to mix...

NATIONAL REPORT—When guests stay at hotels and resorts, they expect to have clean and safe accommodations. But a recent study by researchers from San Diego State University found this might not always be true. After analyzing more than 332,000 reviews left by internet users on 477 lodging properties across the country, it was found that 80 percent of the complaints were related to thirdhand smoke. It is important to note that 96 percent of these hotels advertised themselves as smoke-free. Thirdhand smoke, like its firsthand and secondhand counterparts, can be dangerous. It can be defined as pollutant residue that lingers...

When I first started Green Lodging News, there were still many in our industry who supported keeping a percentage of their rooms as smoking rooms. Many factors have led to the mass elimination of smoking rooms in the industry—consumer demand, legislative action, brand policies, etc. At The Hospitality Show in Las Vegas last month, there were many exhibitors of interest, including a couple of companies that make it easy to catch guests who violate nonsmoking policies. The two companies include alerteer and FreshAir Sensor LLC. The companies’ products function similarly. In the case of alerteer, it provides a system of...

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND—Real estate investor and developer Lamington Group is adding to its pioneering eco hometel brand with the opening of room2 Belfast, the fourth outpost, and first property outside England, set to open later this summer. With the opening just months away, the team are giving a first look at the hometel, which is set to become a hub for the community in the heart of the bustling city, moments away from Belfast’s most popular attractions. The new property will consist of 175 rooms across nine floors as well as a vibrant café, beautifully designed tearoom, meeting and event spaces, a gym,...

SALT LAKE CITY—R-Zero, a leader in healthy buildings and green buildings, unveiled the results of its new “Indoor Air Impact” report, which sheds light on the impact of indoor air quality on physical and mental health, Americans’ attitudes towards crowded indoor spaces, and workplace hygiene. The findings reveal significant concerns around indoor air quality, an underlying health issue that has long gone unaddressed. “Not only are people demanding healthier indoor spaces, but it has become mission critical for businesses to protect their workforce while maintaining sustainability goals and creating spaces that optimize productivity," said R-Zero CEO Jennifer Nuckles. “While we are...