While most hotels, hotel brands, convention centers and others in our industry have developed their own cleaning and maintenance protocols with the help of outside experts, few have gone so far as to seek actual third party accreditation for their cleaning, disinfection and infection prevention. Momentum is building in that area, however, with recent announcements from ISSA and its GBAC STAR accreditation and Ecolab Inc. and its Ecolab Science Certified Program. Some of those that have sought GBAC STAR accreditation include Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Nigel in Dana Point, Calif.; Marriott Marquis Chicago Hotel; The Shilla...

Guestroom attendants (GRAs) had a difficult enough job prior to COVID-19 with the constant exposure to hazardous chemicals, ergonomics-related aches and pains, and guest harassment so common that panic buttons were required. Add on having to wear PPE, dodge guests who might have COVID-19, and deal with even more chemicals and you have got quite an 8-hour day. In my book guestroom attendants should be treated like royalty as frequently as possible. This past week I learned that UMF Corp. is sponsoring the first annual Guest Room Attendant Excellence Award. “The award celebrates the often-unheralded workers who serve as the...

LONDON—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched the world’s first ever global safety and hygiene stamp. The specially designed stamp will allow travelers to recognize governments and businesses around the world which have adopted health and hygiene global standardized protocols—so consumers can experience “Safe Travels”. The landmark move by WTTC, which represents the global travel and tourism private sector, has also received the backing of the influential United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Eligible businesses such as hotels, restaurants, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, restaurants, outdoor shopping, transportation and airports, will be able to use the stamp once the health...

ST. LOUIS—Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are looking for additional ways to protect themselves from getting sick. Business owners are scrambling to add additional layers of protection to instill guest confidence and get people back into their stores and restaurants. Enter the Clean Hands Company, the St. Louis based technology-meets-hygiene manufacturers of the Clean Hands System. This unique handwashing compliance system, developed by Ray Johnson and Fred Striley, ensures employees wash their hands on a regular basis. Launched in 2009, the system was originally created with restaurants in mind, but the founders knew that hand washing was a necessity that encompassed so much more than...

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Extended Stay America announced the debut of a new initiative, STAY Confident, to focus on the health, safety, and comfort of its guests. STAY Confident will build upon Extended Stay America’s experience as the only major hotel brand to remain 100 percent open since the beginning of the pandemic and the already high standards of housekeeping and hygiene at its 634 locations. “STAY Confident is our way of increasing our commitment to provide a stay that is healthy, safe and comfortable,” said Bruce Haase, President and CEO of Extended Stay America. “With so many guests looking to Extended Stay...

SKOKIE, ILL.—Nominations are open for the first annual Guest Room Attendant Excellence Award, which acknowledges the contributions of guest room attendants (GRAs) at hotel companies across the United States. Sponsored by UMF Corp., the award celebrates the often unheralded workers who serve as the first line of defense in ensuring a safe guest environment. The deadline for nominations is Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. “As the world faces an ongoing battle with COVID-19, the hospitality housekeeping department is emerging front and center, ensuring guest safety, satisfaction and loyalty,” said UMF CEO George Clarke. “Industry associations and thought leaders have reacted quickly...

BOTHELL, WASH.—There has been an ‘ick’ factor associated with hotels for a long time. Think TV remotes, shared keyboards, key cards that have touched who knows how many hands, etc. “Ninety-six percent of keyboards have pathogens on them,” says Mark Beeston, VP of Sales and Marketing at Vioguard, a company now offering three solutions that use UV-C, a type of ultraviolet light, for disinfection. “Keyboards are a shared item. Upwards of 40 percent of pathogens transfer.” Think about your own mobile phone. “Ninety-two percent have pathogens on them,” Beeston adds. In a COVID-19 world, it is no longer acceptable for these...

LEBANON, N.H.—FreshAir, an industry leader in the development of sensors to detect and alert for hazardous chemicals, announces its unique and highly effective FreshAir1 Smoking Detection System. The FreshAir system is ideally suited for use in hotels, casinos, and other hospitality industry settings. The only technology available to monitor for, immediately detect, and prove tobacco smoking and marijuana smoking, FreshAir1 Smoking Detection Systems are ideal for enforcing no-smoking policies, protecting infrastructure investments, securing cleaning fees, and avoiding chargebacks. Unlike typical smoke detectors which use light or radiation to detect general particles (dust, smoke, steam, etc.), FreshAir sensors are capable of...

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA.—As people around the world adjust to a new normal, the health of our buildings—and how they influence personal health—is critically important. Carrier has introduced its Healthy Buildings Program, an expanded suite of advanced solutions to help deliver healthy, safe, efficient, and productive indoor environments across key verticals including commercial buildings, healthcare, hospitality, education, retail and marine. In support of this, Carrier also launched Corporate.Carrier.com/HealthyBuildings to help customers consult with Carrier’s experts to take advantage of the broad range of industry-leading healthy building technologies. Carrier Global Corp. is a leading global provider of innovative heating, ventilating...

As businesses prepare to reopen their doors and begin operating in the wake of COVID-19, they should consider the new expectations—and concerns—of their customers. Whether your hotel doors have been closed or you have repurposed your rooms to support nonprofit and government efforts, your hotel requires certain measures prior to re-opening to the public. What those measures are, however, may be less clear. It may be difficult to discern where to begin when making these unprecedented business decisions, especially with 24/7 updates on the virus. Rather than wait to endure the potential consequences of a haphazard plan, consider orienting your...