DOHA, QATAR—Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) recently marked a milestone in its Qatar Clean program, with 100 percent of QNTC-licensed hotels now “Qatar Clean” certified. Launched in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in June 2020, QNTC’s Qatar Clean program ensures the highest standards in hygiene and cleanliness, with rigorous procedures in place to ensure the safety of customers. QNTC’s Secretary General, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, as well as COO Mr. Berthold Trenkel, marked the anniversary with a visit to the W Doha, which was the first hotel to be certified Qatar Clean. With 100 percent of hotels now fully certified,...

AVON, CONN.— iCleanse (formerly ReadyDock), a leader in chemical-free UV-C disinfection technology for over ten years, announced three new customer engagement versions of the patented Swift UV rapid disinfection station for smartphones: Stand, Wall-Mount, and Table-Top. Businesses place the innovative Swift UV disinfection stations anywhere needed to showcase digital video or still image content in tandem with fast and effective smartphone disinfection, keeping their employees and customers safer from infection. While users wait just 15 seconds for Swift UV to kill 99.99 percent of pathogens (including coronavirus, the common cold, and influenza) on their smartphones, businesses will continuously display educational,...

EUGENE, ORE.—Gov. Kate Brown has signed into law House Bill 2344, requiring manufacturers of personal care and household wipes for sale in the state of Oregon to clearly label “Do Not Flush” on those wipes that are not intended for disposal in the toilet. Introduced in January 2021, this legislation received broad support from the wipes industry, as well as Oregon municipal wastewater agencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many municipalities saw an increase in volumes of inappropriately flushed baby wipes, hard surface cleaning/sanitizing wipes and other items not intended to be disposed via the toilet. Elevating consumer awareness of what should...

ENGLEWOOD, COLO.—The recent pandemic has posed never-before-seen challenges for the hospitality industry, requiring owners, managers, and brands to take new precautions to keep both guests and staff safe. Despite tourists’ enthusiasm to travel again, they are more conscious than ever before about sanitation, safety, and cleanliness. Those vital concerns led MicrobeProof, Inc. to introduce Clean-a-Card, a proprietary countertop key card disinfection unit that effectively cleans and refreshes hotel key cards, regardless of the type of lock system. The unit is superior to manual cleaning methods for several reasons. “Hotels that employ Clean-a-Card for guest key disinfection show that they care about the...

RIGBY, IDAHO—An enhanced technology used on the International Space Station to purify and clean the air—Titanium Dioxide Photocatalysis—is being used by Rigby, Idaho-based Pure-Light Technologies, Inc. on its indoor and outdoor LED light bulbs to produce super oxygen molecules that dissolve viruses, bacteria, mold and break down toxic VOCs. The bulbs are coated with an ultra-thin layer of Titanium Dioxide. According to Pure-Light, Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) is one of the more common elements in the world and is rated as inert and non-toxic (MSDS rating). Because it is non-toxic, it is used in a large variety of items including vitamins,...

NEW CASTLE, PENN.—With summer in full swing, many facilities are seeing a sharp uptick in foot traffic coupled with heightened expectations around cleanliness. In celebration of July as National Carpet Cleaning Month, Whittaker, a leader in low-moisture carpet care, highlights six best practices for in-house custodial teams and building service contractors to consider for their carpet care programs. “The right carpet care plan helps commercial facilities uphold cleanliness and enhance brand reputation,” said Joe Bshero, Director of Technical Services at Whittaker. “Proper maintenance also prolongs the lifespan of carpet, which reduces costs and environmental impacts over the long term.” Consider the following recommendations...

NORTHBROOK, ILL.—UL, the global safety science leader, announced that The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, Calif., has become the first hotel globally to earn the UL Verified Healthy Buildings Mark for Indoor Air and Hygiene. Set on 504 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the 332-room resort, operated by Irvine Company Resort Properties, recently underwent an extensive process to earn UL’s Verification, demonstrating that both front and back of house have excellent indoor air quality (IAQ) and hygiene. To achieve the UL Verification Mark, the hotel participated in numerous desktop audits and on-site IAQ performance testing and assessment inspections. These included assessment...

MIAMI—ABCO Cleaning Products, a leader in sustainable cleaning tools, introduced its newest essentials for upholding cleanliness: a professional, lobby dustpan and a 35-quart single-cavity mop bucket complete with side press wringer. These versatile tools help make floor care more efficient and effective in all commercial settings, from hotels to restaurants to schools. “The appearance of a facility impacts the way that occupants and customers perceive a brand,” said Carlos Albir, President, ABCO. “With cleanliness expectations at an all-time-high, facility managers and their teams need high-performance solutions that remove soils and keep indoor environments safe and looking their best.” ABCO’s new dustpan features a 13-inch-wide head to make sweeping easy, along with a convenient broom holder and rear wheels for seamless movement. It also has built-in broom-cleaning teeth that quickly remove debris stuck on broom bristles. Ergonomic Handle The new mop bucket and wringer...

GLENDALE HEIGHTS, ILL.—Gone are the days of toxic and hazardous cleaning chemicals. PathoSans Technologies is leading the world toward a new era in cleaning and sanitizing with proprietary products that are non-toxic, completely safe for people and places, and 99.999 percent effective at killing disease-causing microbes. A provider of electrochemically activated solutions (ECAS) and application equipment for cleaning and disinfecting, PathoSans showcased that mission with a new brand logo and message, “The Clean That Says You Care”. “At PathoSans, we believe that cleaning is truly an expression of caring—about the well-being of your loved ones, your friends, your business, your reputation and even...

As a hotel property, you are already focused on the cleanliness and safety of the facility. You cannot be in business without doing so daily. Couple a global pandemic with weary customers, and your attention to detail is seriously tested. Further, there are so many regulations coming from different organizations that it is hard to both commit to being sustainable and follow the rules. Fortunately, there is one solution that addresses all your pain points. Without using harmful sprays or toxic chemicals, UVC light is the most efficient way to render illness-causing viruses, bacteria, and other airborne pathogens harmless. By...