NATIONAL REPORT—The U.S. hospitality industry is one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with hotels having already lost more than $29 billion in room revenue and 7.7 million jobs since the issue began escalating in mid-February, according to the American Hotel and Lodging Association. The industry is facing one of the toughest periods in history—occupancies are down to zero for many hotels, tourist arrivals have dropped, and mass gatherings have either been canceled or postponed. But, just like the many other challenges that the hospitality industry has faced—such as the SARS virus of 2003, 9/11, and the 2008 market...

NORTHBROOK, ILL.—The Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, introduced its GBAC STAR facility accreditation program on cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention. It is the industry’s only outbreak prevention, response, and recovery accreditation. GBAC STAR establishes requirements to assist facilities with work practices, protocols, procedures, and systems to control risks associated with infectious agents, such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. Accreditation criteria and facility applications are now available at www.gbac.org. “GBAC STAR is the gold standard of safe facilities, providing third-party validation that ensures facilities implement strict protocols for biorisk situations,” said GBAC Executive Director...

ATLANTA—In direct response to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, GP PRO, a division of Georgia-Pacific and a leading provider of advanced dispensing solutions for commercial facilities, will soon release KOLO Hygiene, an innovative new feature of its KOLO Smart Monitoring System specifically designed to help facilities successfully manage, monitor and measure heightened cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting practices. “Advancing hygiene has always been a core value of our company and a key driver of our innovation,” said Michael Slawson, Vice President and General Manager, Smart Restrooms and Connected Devices for GP PRO. “We know that a facility’s ability to achieve and demonstrate...

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA—For nearly 40 years, Sandals Resorts has continuously implemented and strengthened health and safety protocols to ensure guests are able to enjoy their Caribbean vacation worry-free. In preparation to welcome guests back to the beauty and warmth of the Caribbean, the company introduced Sandals Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness, building on its existing practices to guarantee cleanliness standards and heightened health and safety measures that address changing consumer expectations amidst COVID-19. “At Sandals Resorts, cleanliness and safety have always been priority number one. Our loyal guests and incredible team members are part of the Sandals family, and we take...

NEW YORK—MCOMS, acknowledging the recent COVID-19 challenges that have come to shape again the hospitality industry, has designed some innovative solutions to enable hoteliers to provide tailor made guest interactive services to mobile devices, and communicate directly with their guests. With the recent Corona virus global outbreak, the public has become increasingly concerned with public health, hotel room cleanliness and sanitation. Through MCOMS’ HOTstream Mobile solution, guests have access to multiple features and services, eliminating the need to contact the hotel staff directly. Features of the solution include the ability to make reservations to hotel facilities, restaurants, spa or golf, order...

TORONTO—Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has entered into a collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, the global division of health care and research leader Johns Hopkins Medicine, to validate its new global health and safety program, Lead With Care, and provide ongoing, real-time guidance on the evolving COVID-19 situation. Grounded in the principles of care, trust and service, the Lead With Care program will be reviewed and validated by Johns Hopkins Medicine experts and implemented by teams at Four Seasons properties around the world. “Within this new environment, our singular goal is to provide guests, residents and employees with the confidence and...

NATIONAL REPORT—One of the main ways to slow the spread of COVID-19 is through the wearing of face masks. Face masks prevent you from spreading respiratory droplets and help reduce, but not eliminate, the wearer’s exposure to airborne particles. In recent months, many suppliers have emerged selling different types of masks. A review of supplier sites found at least a half-dozen different mask types. Ray Burger, President of Pineapple Hospitality, a company currently selling several mask varieties, says his customers are primarily buying 3-ply and KN95 for non-medical use masks. Both N95 and KN95 masks are available in the marketplace...

TORRANCE, CALIF.—Mockett’s new Door Handle Cuff offers a hygienic approach to opening traditional interior doors to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. Simply rest your forearm into the cuff and press down on the door handle and push or pull to minimize possible contact through contamination. Easy-to-install forearm shield slips over the handle and is screwed into place. New health and safety considerations in design are shaping our collective conscious of our relationship with hardware and how we operate it. DHC1 is a quick and easy way to retrofit door handles and keep any health-related concerns at bay...

As the economy continues to open, the competition to capture the attention of travelers will intensify. “Instead of location, location, location, it is now perhaps cleanliness, sanitization, and security, or piece of mind,” Ray Burger, President of Pineapple Hospitality, told me this past week. The companies and hotels that best tell that story are going to put the most heads in beds. One of the best ways to tell your story is to visually depict what changes you have made in operations by video. “If you want to have your market share, produce a video and put it on your...

NEEDHAM, MASS.—Reopenings have started across all 50 states, and in a matter of weeks, many commercial buildings, including office buildings, hotels and restaurants, will become active again after weeks of being closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Triple Clear Water Solutions, a leader in commercial water filtration with patented technologies that deliver safe, clean and filtered water, offers the following tips for building managers, business owners and real estate developers to ward off potentially harmful drinking water conditions. “Buildings that were closed or operating at reduced occupancy for the last few months due to Coronavirus restrictions create the perfect environment...