LEXINGTON, KY.—Tempur Sealy International, Inc. announced plans to introduce Surface-Guard Technology, an antimicrobial and antiviral technology expected to be included on select Sealy products beginning in early 2021. The EPA-registered antimicrobial technology kills 99 percent of bacteria on mattress surfaces and, in testing, has also shown to be at least 99 percent effective against killing viruses (including human coronavirus) on textiles within five minutes. The company is pursuing antiviral-efficacy claims approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.* This technology will add enhanced mattress protection across the Sealy Posturepedic and Sealy Posturepedic Plus mattress collections and...

CINCINNATI—While travel slowed and many other major hotel brands had to close some or all of their locations, Extended Stay America, the leading mid-priced extended stay hotel company, has kept the doors of all 600+ locations open throughout the global pandemic. The company’s longstanding partnership with P&G Professional, the away-from-home division of Procter & Gamble, supports Extended Stay America’s STAY Confident initiative designed to keep its hotels healthy, safe and comfortable for guests and staff. The comprehensive program utilizes trusted brands like Spic and Span, Comet and Mr. Clean Professional to clean and disinfect all guestrooms and common spaces,...

Some of the most read articles on Green Lodging News address the hand dryer versus paper towel debate. The articles have had thousands of page views. There are various ways to approach the debate—from a waste standpoint, for example, or a hygiene standpoint. It is certainly a topic of interest today given COVID-19 so hygiene has become topic No. 1. I received news from Excel Dryer this past week of the results of a University of Arizona Health Sciences research team study entitled, Comparison of electric hand dryers and paper towels for hand hygiene: a critical review of the literature....

DENVER—Scott Milne*, Lead Energy Auditor and Commercial Consultant for Denver-based Rocky Mountain Efficiency Group, has launched the Elite Room concept to give hoteliers—“even the Days Inns of the World are looking for a solution,” he says—a leg up on their competition in the race to provide the safest and cleanest rooms for guests. “You have got to make people think your guestrooms are cleaner than their own home,” says Milne, a LEED GA. Now available, the Elite Room package consists of elements ranging from air purification to room disinfection to filtering chlorine from the shower you bathe in. “I came up...

SEATTLE—Safeology has announced the formation of a Scientific Advisory Board that includes the medical doctor who gained international attention for treating the first U.S. patient diagnosed with COVID-19. The Board comprises leading experts who help Safeology navigate the use of UVC technology to fight COVID-19 and other pathogens. With M.D. and Ph.D. degrees in infectious disease, microbiology, chemical engineering and electrical engineering, the Board offers a comprehensive approach to fighting the pandemic. “These scientists are highly sought after for their expertise. And now they’re coming together to partner with Safeology to save lives,” said Jim Mischel, CEO of Safeology. “We’re able...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added LATHER to the Hand Sanitizer category in its Green Product & Service Directory. Featured in Allure and chosen as one of Well+Good’s top six picks, LATHER’s Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizing Aloe is as gentle to skin as it is high performing. This botanical-enriched hand gel helps defend against harmful bacteria. Containing premium grade alcohol at higher levels than the CDC’s 60 percent minimum recommendation, LATHER’s antiseptic is infused with citrus essential oil and hydrating glycerin to combat the drying effects of alcohol. It is now available in 1 oz, 2 oz, 10 oz and bulk sizing, as...

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS.—After an exhaustive two-year process, a University of Arizona Health Sciences research team has announced the publication of their work, Comparison of electric hand dryers and paper towels for hand hygiene: a critical review of the literature. The review culled the current breadth of data, including published studies, news reports and online content, seeking to uncover which hand drying method, hand dryers or paper towels, is more hygienic and safer relative to human health risks. The researchers found that, while studies in the public arena generally favor paper towels over hand dryers, the conclusions are largely misleading...

PHILADELPHIA—Monarch Brands has developed the first in a new line of disinfectants to meet the increased demand for antimicrobial products. Isopropyl alcohol is the most common and widely used disinfectant for various medical and specialized industries. Medical institutions, pharmaceutics, hospitals, clean rooms, and electronics manufacturers use it where antiseptic conditions are essential. To survive and thrive within the new standard, businesses must protect their staff and customers. The global community now understands the importance of cleaning and disinfecting. If you’ve tried to buy wholesale isopropyl alcohol disinfectant wipes recently, you will understand the need to secure your pipeline and bolster reserves....

MGM Resorts International’s announcement this past week that it would open its Park MGM/NoMad resort as a 100 percent nonsmoking resort was good news for travelers who prioritize good, clean air to breathe. According to MGM’s press release about the opening, it is the Las Vegas Strip’s first fully smoke-free casino resort. While a long time coming, I applaud MGM for taking this step and strongly encourage the company to repeat it at its other remaining properties around the world. (Listen up other gaming companies as well.) The announcement comes at a critical time—with the West experiencing its worst fire...

It was a little more than 11 years ago that I first wrote about the “Make a Green Choice” program that had been rolled out at a couple of hotels in Seattle and Kauai. For those of you not familiar with Make a Green Choice, it gave guests the option of opting out of housekeeping for a day or more. At the time, in exchange for doing that, guests were given either a $5 gift card for the hotel’s restaurants or the option of receiving 500 Starpoints as part of Starwood’s loyalty program. I applauded the program at the...