PRINCETON, N.J.—Miele USA, a subsidiary of the global leader in state-of-the-art home and professional grade appliances, announced the North American launch of its newest and most versatile laundry system to date. Miele Little Giants washers and dryers offer short cycle wash programs (25-minute Express wash cycle), high temperature disinfection (up to 200°F) and high spin extraction (G-Force up to 704Gs), providing a superior hygienic clean in less time. Miele Little Giants offer the ultimate solution for all laundry demands across a range of hospitality and wellness applications including salons, spas, B&Bs and small resorts to restaurants, bakeries, cafes and catering...

QUITO, ECUADOR—After three-and-a-half months with its doors locked, curtains drawn, and only a skeleton crew onsite, Mashpi Lodge has begun welcoming explorers to experience the beauty of the rainforest again. A cocoon in the clouds within the 6,000-acre Mashpi Rainforest Reserve near Quito, Ecuador, Mashpi Lodge has spent the pandemic pause productively, implementing more than 30 protocols and measures designed to prioritize the health and safety of guests and staff, surpassing even the “Safe Travels” protocols recommended by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Team members of Mashpi Lodge have been thoroughly trained and tested on every new detail...

NATIONAL REPORT—One thing that COVID-19 experts agree on is this: the fewer the touch points, the fewer the opportunities for infection. Much has been written so far about touchless check-in but another touch point beginning to receive attention is the water filtration system. Earlier this month, Vero Water, a leading provider of luxury still and sparkling water, introduced its VERO+4 featuring Touchless Technology to meet the heightened sanitation and safety requirements for HORECA establishments because of COVID-19. Similarly, FloWater announced the addition of a foot pedal mechanism to its already self-sanitizing FloWater Refill Stations, making them fully “Touchless.” In the...

FORT WASHINGTON, PENN.—Sofidel, a leading global provider of paper for hygienic and domestic use, launched its Papernet Heavenly Soft Door Tissue and Defend Tech hand towel dispensers. With heightened concerns around hygiene in public facilities—particularly in restrooms—the Door Tissue promotes cleanliness by turning restroom doors into touchless exits and eliminating contact with other high-traffic touchpoints such as elevator buttons. The Defend Tech dispensers feature unique silver-ion technology that repels germs and helps further reduce the risk of contaminated hands and surfaces. “Some customers form perceptions of a business based on the level of hygiene in the facility, especially its restrooms,”...

NEW YORK, N.Y.— Infor, a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry, announced a fully contactless suite of applications for the hospitality industry, specifically designed for hotels and resorts, gaming, restaurants and food service, and event sales and table reservations. With guest and hotel staff safety in mind, Infor Hospitality Cloud solutions are designed to address hotel operational needs for social distancing and contactless processes—including mobile check-in/check-out, digital keys, and the ability to order room service via one’s own device. “Guests are seeking frictionless options that will allow them to circumvent long lines or crowded lobbies, preferring self-service...

COSTA MESA, CALIF.—A year ago, hotel summer marketing and advertising efforts were in full swing with images of epic pools, zen-like spas and cozy bed linens. Today, hotel ads are filled with images of electrostatic sprayers, updates on new cleaning protocols and offers for free last-minute cancellations. These are smart moves, according to the J.D. Power 2020 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index (NAGSI) Study, just released, which finds that meeting guest expectations for cleanliness and proactively communicating with guests prior to arrival continue to be critical drivers of guest satisfaction. “While the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly amplified the importance of...

TRENTON, N.J.—Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has proven indispensable in the wake of COVID-19 but this surge has led to littered PPE flooding streets and marine habitats. To address this unintended public health crisis of potentially hazardous litter, TerraCycle Regulated Waste has launched an easy-to-use recycling solution for single-use gloves and masks through their line of EasyPak Containers. Designed as a recycling system for businesses in need of a turn-key solution for hazardous waste disposal, the PPE EasyPack Containers allow property managers to easily recycle used gloves and masks on-site, thereby allowing staff to responsibly dispose of their protective gear instead...

ATLANTA—AAHOA, the nation’s largest hotel owners association, in partnership with P&G Professional, is pleased to announce the launch of a free new training in hotel sanitization and cleanliness. The online training is designed to help hotel owners and employees follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations to mitigate virus transmission. “As our industry progresses on the road to recovery, it is imperative that hotels offer guests clean, safe accommodations so they feel confident as they resume travel,” said AAHOA President & CEO Cecil Staton. “We are grateful to partner with P&G Professional to...

CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels Corp. announced Hyatt’s path forward to welcome back guests and customers to Hyatt hotels, helping them once again experience the joy of travel. With a focus on safety first and wellbeing always, Hyatt is reimagining the hotel journey with new amenities and offerings and taking comprehensive steps to implement enhanced protocols that help colleagues feel comfortable and confident at work. As an extension of Hyatt’s recently announced Global Care and Cleanliness Commitment, Hyatt is collaborating with medical experts from Cleveland Clinic among other trusted medical and industry advisors to fine-tune reopening and operating procedures such as colleague reorientations,...

LENEXA, KAN.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that 13 products on List N, EPA’s list of products expected to kill SARS-CoV-2, have completed laboratory testing for use specifically against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. “As part of President Trump’s all-of-government approach to fighting the spread of COVID-19, EPA is continuing its efforts to approve products that have specifically been tested against SARS-CoV-2,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “Each of these products already appears on the agency’s list of approved disinfectants—this additional step provides critical scientific data and information on the tools that the American public are relying...