Many people look forward to dreamy hotel pools and spas to destress and relax while on vacation. In the winter, hot tubs and spas can be a great attractor for guests looking for a chilly weather escape; however, they can also be a risk to visitors and pool and spa managers if not properly handled. These much-beloved amenities can be breeding grounds for bacteria like E. coli, giardia, and algae, making using pool and spa chemicals, including salt, imperative. If these chemicals are mishandled, they can cause respiratory problems, chemical burns, and eye irritation. Managers of these amenities must be...

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND—Sweeply, a leading innovator in housekeeping and task management solutions for the hospitality sector, announced its strategic partnership with Hotels for Trees, an eco-conscious initiative dedicated to global reforestation efforts. This collaboration signifies a significant leap forward in fostering sustainability within the hospitality industry. With a presence in over 12 countries and serving more than 150 clients, Sweeply is an industry specialist in housekeeping and task management. Hotels for Trees, founded in 2021 by industry veterans Linde Borger and Floris Licht, is committed to counteracting the hospitality sector’s environmental impact by planting trees for every stayover room cleaning skipped...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc., a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life, announced it has again earned a place on the annual Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI). Ecolab ranks on both the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) and the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (DJSI North America) for its continued competitive sustainability performance. Out of more than 13,800 companies invited to participate, Ecolab is one of roughly 300 companies across all sectors and one of 26 companies in the chemical sector named to...

Growing up, it was common for my father to have a couple of his buddies over for a card game. Sometimes I would join them. My father and his friends would all be smoking like chimneys. When my father joined the air force during World War II, the military gave enlisted men cigarettes for free. (Today I wonder, sarcastically of course, whose side the military was on.) Eventually, our ceiling turned quite dark from the toxins. Maybe you had a similar experience as a child. Today, when I travel, I am very sensitive to cigarette smoke in hotels. My wife...

NATIONAL REPORT—Even though guests may sign a waiver acknowledging that smoking is not permitted in the guestroom, that policy is increasingly being violated—by cigarette smokers, marijuana users, and by those who vape. In fact, currently 24 states and Washington, D.C. have legalized recreational marijuana use for adults 21 years and older, while 38 states have legal medical marijuana programs. Fortunately for hoteliers, there are now smoking detection systems that can send an alert immediately if smoking is taking place and that can provide time-stamped, scientific proof that a room has been smoked in—critical information when a guest or even...

If you own a building, be it a hotel or the site of another business, chances are you’ve toyed with the idea of reducing your energy costs by installing solar panels. Maybe you’ve already taken this step. This strategy makes a lot of sense, as solar energy is more cost-effective than the conventional power grid, allowing you to start saving money from the very first gas bill after installation. Since solar systems pay for themselves after only a few years, yet have very long lives, they keep money in your pocket for each additional year. Solar energy also has the advantage...

MIAMI—ABCO Cleaning Products, a leading provider of sustainable cleaning tools, won two 2023 ISSA Innovation Awards for its Natura Yarn Wet and Dry Mops—the Environmental & Sustainability award and the Distributor’s Choice award. “For over 40 years, we’ve been dedicated to providing innovative and sustainable products that help people maintain clean and healthy facilities, sustainably,” said Carlos Albir, Jr., Director of Operations, ABCO Cleaning Products. “Winning not one, but two ISSA Show Innovation Awards, was an incredible moment for our team during this year’s ISSA Show.” The mops are produced using sustainable manufacturing processes at ABCO’s plant in Choloma, Honduras and are...

NATIONAL REPORT—Minimizing the spread of germs should be top-of-mind for facility managers, especially this time of year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that up to 11 percent of the U.S. comes down with the flu each year. Businesses can help facility occupants stay safe from infections, like influenza or the common cold, by taking the time to analyze and enhance their cleaning programs. Upticks in infections lead to increased absences in schools, offices and other businesses, resulting in lost productivity. Outbreaks can also negatively affect the public’s perception of a business. Implementing cleaning and hygiene best...

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN—Scandic has reached a sustainability milestone by recertifying all of its previously ecolabeled hotels according to the Nordic Swan Ecolabel’s new, tougher environmental requirements. More than 88 percent of Scandic’s hotels are ecolabeled and the company is continuing its efforts to ensure that all hotels are certified by the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is the official environmental certification in the Nordic countries. It updates its requirements approximately every four years, and the most recent update in 2023 included higher environmental goals. To continue to be certified, Scandic’s ecolabeled hotels have now undergone a rigorous recertification process...

PHILADELPHIA—Tork, an Essity brand, exhibited at ISSA Show North America 2023, the leading resource for information, education, innovation, networking, and commercial opportunities within the worldwide cleaning industry, in Las Vegas. At ISSA Show North America 2023, Tork carbon neutral dispensers were nominated for the ISSA Innovation Awards, a program recognizing the latest advancements in the cleaning industry and were recognized as an honoree for the Environment & Sustainability Award. As of October 2023, a select range of existing Tork brand innovative dispensers in North America are carbon neutral certified. Carbon emissions have already been reduced by using purchased renewable electricity...