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...

ROCKVILLE, MD.—Minibar Systems presents the microSURE family of persistent sanitizers and disinfectants that use unique mechanical-kill spikes that act as a barrier to provide better protection against germs and viruses beyond hand washing and chemical-kill alcohol based products. The 8-HOUR Defense hand sanitizer has proven up to 8 hours of defense against germs when properly used and will not crack, dry or burn skin. microSURE All Purpose Cleaner and Disinfectant provides nanotechnology micro-crystalline structure for revolutionary surface protection with an EPA registered mechanical-kill device that kills germs, viruses and other harmful microorganisms including Coronavirus and prevents future contamination—the surfaces continue...

DALLAS—G6 Hospitality, the parent company for the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands, has launched “Clean@6,” a comprehensive initiative designed to ensure that guests feel confident when staying at any of the brands’ nearly 1,400 locations across the United States and Canada. Recognizing the need for even greater vigilance related to cleanliness, disinfection and sanitization as the country continues to navigate the impact of COVID-19, the company has undertaken a comprehensive approach to protect against the spread of viruses by partnering with a renowned combination of medical advisors, industrial cleaning providers and housekeeping specialists. “We want Motel 6 and Studio 6...

Some random thoughts about a couple of matters after another interesting news week: A subtle but potentially significant change in how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discusses the importance of surface touching in the spread of COVID-19. Whereas it previously mentioned surface touching in the same breath as person-to-person contact, the CDC now lists touching infected surfaces under a section entitled, “The virus does not spread easily in other ways.” In a nutshell, touching surfaces or objects is now not thought to be a main way the virus spreads. “It may be possible that a person can...

SOLON, OHIO—The month of May has been declared “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month” by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) to raise awareness about the effects of these diseases. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, where the concentrations of some pollutants are often two to five times higher than typical outdoor concentrations. Tarkett, a worldwide leader in innovative and sustainable flooring, understands the impact this can have on the health and wellness of those with asthma and allergies and remains the only flooring...

ATLANTA—Oxy-Gen Powered, a leader in innovative odor eliminating solutions, has published an educational e-book, “The Impact of Odors on an Organization’s Bottom Line.” The free e-book reveals the effects of malodors on the perception of various types of facilities, such as restaurants, hotels, and retail stores. It also highlights different approaches to odor control, and recommendations for removing unpleasant indoor odors. It is available for download here. “As facilities reopen and welcome customers back, having the right odor elimination system is more critical than ever,” said Chris Whiting, Executive Vice President-North America, Oxy-Gen Powered. “Our e-book offers a closer look at not only how odors become a bigger issue for organizations, but specific strategies managers can implement to successfully avoid the issue altogether.” Informative for facility managers and building service contractors, Oxy-Gen’s e-book is an...

LONDON—As the world adjusts to new travel norms and expectations, IHG Hotels & Resorts is enhancing the experience for its hotel guests around the world, by redefining cleanliness and supporting guests’ personal wellbeing throughout their stay. Using new, science-led protocols and service measures, partnering with industry leading experts Cleveland Clinic, Ecolab and Diversey, and launching a global IHG Clean Promise, the strengthened measures will give guests greater confidence and hotel teams the protection needed. IHG Clean Promise Keith Barr, CEO, IHG, commented: “The future of travel may look different, but a safe, secure stay is fundamental to deliver True Hospitality—and that will...