ATLANTA—Acuity Brands, Inc. announced that its Care222 filtered far-UVC module with patent-pending dosing electronics is the first germicidal UV (GUV) source in the wavelength range 200-230 nm (i.e., “far-UVC”)  to be UL LLC Certified to meet U.S. and Canadian standards for germicidal equipment for use in occupied spaces. When properly installed and administered, the module is in the Exempt risk group for photobiological hazards, as described in the IEC 62471:2006, Photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems. “This tremendous technical achievement has come at a time when the worldwide awareness of the need to control pathogens has never been greater. Substantive pathogen...

Axxess Industries THE trusted Guest Service System & Smart Room Controls Specialist Hotel Owners and Operators are looking for a variety of ways to reduce the cost of running their hotels and attracting more guests. Axxess Industries manufactures a comprehensive assortment of elegant, practical, tech-savvy products for the Smart Automation and Control of Hotels. Our guestroom control systems combine to save energy and staff costs while wowing guests with comfort and convenience. Our electronic Do Not Disturb systems guarantee guest privacy while making staff more efficient. All systems and room number signs are highly customizable and made in Canada. Think Smart...

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS.—Excel Dryer, Inc., manufacturer of the XLERATOR Hand Dryer, has welcomed a new Director of Global Sales to their team. Tammy Stone joins Excel Dryer with more than a decade of experience. “When looking for someone who could head up our global sales, Tammy was the perfect fit,” said William Gagnon, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Excel Dryer. “In addition to speaking five languages, Tammy holds three degrees, two of which she received at overseas universities. She is knowledgeable, driven and will share her vast expertise in business and global solutions with our team.” Born in the Republic of Georgia,...

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...