SAN DIEGO—Hotels and resorts struggling with loss of towels have a new option for their guest’s makeup removal and hygiene needs. Continuing in its spirit of innovation, Nimbus has debuted a new plant-based towel that can be used on the face, body, and even surfaces to clean away dirt and germs while also carrying several eco-friendly credentials including being FSC Certified, compostable, reusable, plastic-free, and flushable. These towels come in a compressed form when shipped and expand when water is added so companies looking to reduce their carbon footprint and improve their ESG ratings stand to benefit by replacing...

WILSON, WYO.—WaterIQ Technologies, a leader in next-generation ultrasonic solutions to combat harmful algae and biofilm without the use of chemicals, announces its partnership with Audubon International. Through this partnership, the parties will mutually promote algae-free water sustainability practices for communities, municipalities, and golf courses. Audubon International is a leading environmental sustainability organization committed to educating, empowering, and energizing its members to better manage land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources. Its award-winning educational and certification programs help golf courses and communities protect and preserve the environment. WaterIQ Technologies’ solutions control algae and biofilm and help restore water ecosystems to their natural...

SAN CARLOS, CALIF.—Wynd Technologies, Inc., a California-based maker of proprietary AI-powered indoor air monitoring and purification technologies, announced the launch of Sentry, its latest proprietary indoor environment sensor and the only monitor of its kind that can reliably detect cigarette and marijuana smoke, vape usage and excessive noise. Sentry’s groundbreaking features afford property owners peace of mind by acting as a deterrent to unwanted smoking and disturbances, providing evidence for damage claims and assuring guests that they are staying in a verifiably smoke-free property. Sentry’s airID smoke speciation technology sends alerts to property owners’ smartphones about unwanted smoking, while Sentry’s noise...

For years the EPA has been relaying evidence that indoor air can be more seriously polluted than outdoor air even in the largest and most industrialized cities. Given that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, that is not a good thing—especially for the young, the elderly and the chronically ill. These groups often spend time in your hotels. With the coming of COVID-19 and its many related variants, air quality (and surface quality) has finally got the attention it deserves, says Randy Mount, Owner & CEO of Extreme Microbial Technologies, who I spoke with for this column....

ORLANDO, FLA.—While COVID-19 raised awareness about the importance of indoor air quality and effective disinfection practices, the mass use of chemical disinfectants and wipes also poses a threat to the environment. However, companies can adopt sustainable cleaning practices that protect against current and future threats while still protecting the planet for future generations. Violet Defense, a UV disinfection company with patented and proven technology to help make the world healthier, is playing a role in this critical effort through its ultraviolet (UV) germ-fighting offerings. Violet Defense replaces the need for chemical disinfectants, which have detrimental effects on health and the environment and are...

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS.—Excel Dryer, Inc., manufacturer of the XLERATOR Hand Dryer, announced that Sybil Jandette has joined its growing team as New Business Development Manager, Latin America. A current resident of Mexico with extensive experience in supply chain management for manufacturers in Latin America and China, Jandette will be responsible for developing Excel Dryer’s strategy and growth in the Latin American market. “Sybil brings her own unique experience working in the Latin American market to Excel Dryer, and we are so excited that she will be able to share her knowledge as a trusted member of our team,” said William Gagnon, Vice President of...

NORTHBROOK, ILL.—UMF Corp. recently announced that Mabel Castro, guestroom attendant (GRA) at the Chicago Marriott Downtown, has earned the company’s third annual Guest Room Attendant Excellence Award. UMF established the GRA Excellence Award in 2020 to acknowledge the crucial role GRAs play in ensuring hotel guest safety, satisfaction, and loyalty in the COVID-19 era. “In the more than 15 years that Mabel has worked for Marriott, she has been recognized countless times by our guests for going above and beyond,” said Chicago Marriott Downtown Director of Services Victoria DeSantis. “She consistently exceeds our guests’ expectations, exuding positive energy, remembering our return...

Like it or not, when a hotel’s next Quality Assurance Inspection rolls around, Employee Safety Device (ESD) compliance will now be part of the checklist if the property is managed or franchised by one of the 60 hotel companies that made a pledge to the AHLA’s 5-Star Promise initiative. That means if the hotel has not equipped certain associates with an emergency alert device or panic button platform by the time the brand inspector shows up, chances are likely it can fail. Those who thought QA Inspections were nerve-wracking before may be gob smacked when they see the new brand mandated ESD...

Housekeeping was highlighted in the news prominently the last few weeks. First, the Los Angeles City Council in late June passed a measure to limit the daily workload of housekeepers, offer overtime pay under certain circumstances, provide “panic buttons” to protect their workers from sexual harassment and do away with policies that automatically forgo daily cleaning. Many hotels and hotel companies across the nation did away with daily cleaning when COVID-19 first struck to reduce the spread of the disease and because of labor shortages. The measure, according to the Los Angeles Times, was strongly supported by Unite Here Local...

NATIONAL REPORT—An American Hotel & Lodging Association survey showed that 97 percent of respondents were experiencing a staffing shortage. The most critical staffing need is housekeeping, with 58 percent ranking it as their biggest challenge. Just about everything to do with housekeeping needs a do over, with its reputation for low pay, exposure to chemicals and a high rate of injuries due to repetitive tasks. Several companies have come up with solutions for one of the most back-hurting tasks of a housekeeper—the lifting of the mattress. According to Yonatan Guy, CEO of Beddingo, a housekeeper typically changes 20 to 25...