LINCOLNSHIRE, ILL.—Combining its core competencies in robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles with a deep understanding of customer needs, LG Electronics announced that it is developing an autonomous robot that will use ultraviolet (UV-C) light to disinfect high-touch, high-traffic areas. LG Business Solutions USA plans to offer the UV robot to U.S. hospitality, education, corporate, retail, restaurant, and transportation customers in early 2021. “We hope LG’s first UV disseminating robot will give our customers, and in turn their customers, peace of mind,” explained Michael Kosla, Vice President, LG Business Solutions USA. “Whether it’s hotel guests, students in classrooms or patrons...

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...

Green cleaning has certainly been one of the most talked about subjects in the history of this publication, especially in the last year. Oftentimes the cleaning solution involves just water, electricity, ozone and/or minerals. When compared to the cleaning chemicals that have been used for the most part in our industry, these options are safer to use, just as or more effective, better for your bottom line, and better for the environment in many ways—less waste, smaller carbon footprint, etc. Until this year I was only aware of cleaning systems that required larger machines but have since found very...

OTHELL, WASH.—Vioguard, Inc. released a consumer survey report that shows the importance of increased sanitary protocols really matter to travelers ahead of the 2020 holiday season. The leader in UV-C technology conducted a survey with over 1,000 respondents to better understand the importance of heightened sanitary protocols and implementation of sanitation technology to travelers during the pandemic. Key findings from the survey: A strong majority (more than 79 percent) of travelers believe it is very important to understand a travel company’s sanitation protocols before a purchasing decision is made. Three out of every four consumers (74 percent) state that...

ATLANTA—Forbes Travel Guide, the global authority on genuine Five-Star service, and Sharecare, the digital health company that helps people manage all their health in one place, announced the first hotels in the world to successfully become Sharecare Health Security VERIFIED with Forbes Travel Guide. Also listed at www.forbestravelguide.com/verified, they are: Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage (Rancho Mirage, Calif.) Atlantis, The Palm (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) Auberge du Soleil (Rutherford, Calif.) Baccarat Hotel New York (New York) Boston Harbor Hotel (Boston) Carillon Miami Wellness Resort (Miami) City of Dreams –  Nüwa Manila (Manila, Philippines) Crown Towers Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia) Drake Bay Getaway Resort (Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica) The Goring Hotel (London) Fairmont...

LONDON—Knowcross, the world’s leading service quality management platform, announced the release of the updated, COVID-19 Ready KNOW Housekeeping. The enhanced solution was designed with direct input from Knowcross’s diverse customer base, faced with new challenges to streamline their operations due to ever-changing government guidelines and the introduction of new SOPs related to COVID-19. Cleanliness has always been a core value of any respected hotel, but few could have predicted how important cleanliness, health, and safety have become. In the era of COVID-19, hotels are under extreme pressure to not only raise standards but also to focus on staff and guest...

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...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc., a global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and vital resources, has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World), which tracks the leading sustainability-driven publicly listed companies globally. “I’m proud of what Ecolab’s 45,000 associates do every day to make the world cleaner, safer and healthier,” said Ecolab Chairman and CEO Douglas M. Baker, Jr. “In 2019, we helped our customers conserve 206 billion gallons of water (equivalent to the drinking water needs of 712 million people), conserve 28 trillion Btus of energy and avoid...

AVON, CONN.—iCleanse, the leader in chemical-free UV-C disinfection technology for over ten years, announced the Swift and Swift Mini, two new patented chemical-free UV-C disinfection products for mobile devices and other personal items for use in hospitals, government buildings, and other businesses. Like the original popular Swift XL disinfection unit, but with a much smaller footprint, the Swift and Swift Mini kills 99.99 percent of pathogens, like COVID-19, in as little as 30 seconds. At two-thirds the size of the Swift XL, the Swift and Swift mini are much more portable and versatile for hospitals and businesses that don’t...

NEW CASTLE, PENN.—More than half (53 percent) of Americans say the level of cleanliness in a hotel they visit would impact their intent to book a future stay at the property, according to a new survey. Conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Whittaker, the leader in low-moisture carpet care, from October 29 to November 2, 2020 among 2,047 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, the survey also revealed that the level of cleanliness in a hotel would impact the perception of the hotel for 49 percent of Americans. “Most hotels can’t afford to send half of their...