Home COVID-19 Copper & Silver & the Ever-Changing Mattress

Copper & Silver & the Ever-Changing Mattress

924
0
SHARE
Glenn Hasek

Beyond topical or air spray cleaning and disinfection in the guestroom, how far have you gone to accommodate your guests during this pandemic? I am curious to know. I have traveled some in recent months and certainly touchable items such as pens, and pads have been removed. I have stayed at a Hilton Home2 Suites in Orlando a couple of times and the TV remote was wrapped to indicate it had been sanitized. The hotel bathroom there still had its soap, shampoo, and conditioner dispensers. Have you backtracked on dispensers and transitioned back to the wasteful individual plastic containers? I have not heard of that happening but have heard about hoteliers putting off the transition to dispensers. I am sure the folks who sell dispensers would tell you that is not necessary if proper cleaning and disinfection is done.

Have you invested in air purification machines for your guestrooms to give guests more piece of mind? If so, you had best be sure that the machines kill and not just filter the virus.

There is certainly no better time than the present to step up your emphasis on wellness in the guestroom. This past week I interviewed Rebecca Hewitt, VP of Business Development of Hospitality, Corsicana Mattress Co. Her company offers a COPPERProTech line of mattresses that include copper infused into the mattress foam. According to Corsicana, the addition of copper adds anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties to the mattress, resists the formation of odors, and provides superior temperature regulation for a cooler sleep.

HeiQ Viroblock Technology

I will soon be chatting with the folks at Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB) about the HeiQ Viroblock technology it is using in many of its mattresses. Over in Europe the technology has been independently tested as 99.99 percent effective in 30 minutes against SARS-CoV-2. According to SSB, virus particles and bacteria are invisible to the human eye (SARS-CoV-2 is only 90 nanometers large) and they easily penetrate sheets. They can persist and stay infectious for days on textiles, such as traditional mattresses. HeiQ’s Viroblock technology solves that problem by using microsilver technology that attracts virus particles, combined with vesicle technology that breaks down the viral membrane within seconds.

A year ago who would have thought we would be talking about the use of silver and copper in mattresses? Just so you know, Corsicana’s Hewitt told me there is no price premium for the use of the copper. “They can buy something with copper that will still save them money,” she told me.

Staying around the mattress, at least one company, Protect-A-Bed, offers mattress and pillow encasements with a “viral barrier.” The pillow is certainly one item in the hotel room that had better be virus free, whether using encasements or high temperature drying.

We are all living and doing business in incredible times. Guest expectations about every item in the guestroom has changed. It is fascinating watching suppliers adapt to these changes.

I would love to hear from you regarding your experiences with COVID-19 and the guestroom. I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Who is Your Sustainability Champion?

Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Looking for Guest Columnists

Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Get in the Green Suppliers Spotlight!

Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes Green Suppliers Spotlight, an e-blast to 24,727 subscribers that features the lodging industry’s leading green products and services. The e-blast features multiple vendors—unlike the current Green Supplier Spotlight that allows one supplier to “own” the Green Lodging News subscriber list for one e-blast. (Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample.)

Green Suppliers Spotlight is published weekly on Thursdays to general managers, owners, management companies, directors of sustainability, directors of engineering, facilities managers and many others who are either in purchasing positions or who influence purchasing decisions. Suppliers of green products and services throughout North America and beyond are invited to participate in the e-blast. (Minimum two suppliers per e-blast.) Green Suppliers Spotlight was created to give vendors an opportunity to reach a high number of industry purchasers at a very low cost—as low as $200 per e-mail. (Click here for rate sheet.)

Those advertising in Green Suppliers Spotlight can include up to 100 words, one image, contact information and multiple links to their website in their ad. At the end of each month, a report will be sent to each supplier with information on delivered e-mails, opens and click-throughs.

Planning Advertising for 2021?

Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2021. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2021 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Media kits can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.

Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation

The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlight currently stands at 24,727. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail greenlodgingnews@gmail.com to be added to our list.

Green Lodging News & Social Media

Green Lodging News now has 1,779 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has 981 Facebook likes.

As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

LEAVE A REPLY