BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. announced it has created the Vaccination Care Program, which will provide a financial award to U.S. and Canadian associates at its managed properties who get vaccinated for COVID-19. Employees will receive the equivalent of four hours of pay upon completion of the vaccination. Marriott International supports global vaccination efforts to help bring the devastating COVID-19 pandemic under control. To encourage associates to get vaccinated, Marriott is also providing education on the benefits of vaccination and directing leaders to allow for schedule flexibility for vaccination appointments. Although the company is strongly encouraging associates get vaccinated, vaccination is...

FAROE ISLANDS—For those of you not familiar with their location, the Faroe Islands are a North Atlantic archipelago located 200 miles north-northwest of Scotland, and about halfway between Norway and Iceland. Like Greenland, it is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Last October, the 130-room Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands opened on the islands in Torshavn with a bundle of unique green features. Green Lodging News recently corresponded with Kate Mikesell, VP Corporate Responsibility, Hilton, and Martin Restorff, General Manager of the hotel, to learn about those green gems. For Kate Mikesell, VP Corporate Responsibility, Hilton: Q: Explain how...

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND—Girbau, a world leader in comprehensive professional laundry solutions for the industrial, commercial and vended sectors, announces it will offer HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03, an antiviral and antimicrobial textile technology, that can be applied to industrial laundry services for its clients across the healthcare, hospitality and food manufacturing sectors, where hygiene and safety are paramount. Consorci Hospitalari de Vic (Barcelona) has been on boarded and already started treating their laundry using HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03. HeiQ and Girbau also plan to offer solutions to public launderettes, bringing branded HeiQ Viroblock dispensers to consumers. Swiss textile technology HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 is among...

CHICAGO—Eco Smart Health announced that their Sonic Smart Antimicrobial System can effectively reduce virus transmission within schools, gyms, spas, salons, hotels, and dental/medical offices. Pure Sonic molecules attach and dissolve the virus protein envelope causing the virus to expire. The entire process takes approximately 90 seconds. The company’s patented all-natural EPA exempt (FIRFA) and FDA (GRAS) recognized formulation Pure Sonic is suspended into the air and on all surfaces by way of the company’s patent pending Sonic Smart Aero Cleaner device. With the union of both innovative products, 99.9 percent of pathogens such as SARS Associated Human Coronavirus, Norovirus; Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C,...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The following is a statement from Chip Rogers, President and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recent update to prioritize “Traveler Accommodation” under the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Categories of Essential Workers. “Thanks to AHLA’s ongoing efforts, the CDC has updated its guidelines prioritizing hotel workers under Phase 1c of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. This is a significant achievement that directly impacts the health and safety of hotel workers across the country. It also recognizes that hotel employees continue to be on the front lines of the pandemic. “From housing healthcare...

ITHACA, N.Y.—As with all things 2020, the 11th annual Center for Hospitality Research Sustainability Roundtable took on a distinctively different format, a virtual webinar format. It would have been easy to “take a pass” on holding the Roundtable given the dire state of the hospitality industry and the inability to gather in person. However, even though issues surrounding sustainability may not be at the forefront for operators, brands, or owners of hotels, it is still considered an important pillar in most organizations’ corporate strategy. Therefore, the Center for Hospitality Research at the School of Hotel Administration in the SC...

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped hotel operations in many areas, from contactless check-in to keyless room entry to QR codes for restaurant menus. Hotel gym operations and cleaning protocols have also changed in response to pandemic health and safety concerns. Many of these changes are projected to become mainstays in 2021 and beyond to meet guest expectations for enhanced cleaning and hygiene protocols. For most hotel guests, the best location, five-star restaurants and over the top amenities have taken a back seat to high standards for health and safety. According to a TripAdvisor survey, cleanliness is the most important factor in...

LANCASTER, N.Y.—Building access control solutions have emerged as some of the key measures for making public spaces safer during the COVID-19 pandemic. With combinations of cameras and signaling devices, these building access control solutions can detect and alert users to high temperatures, overcrowding, and more. Technology has been adapted from industrial process control applications to make these functions not only possible but highly accessible to businesses and organizations of all sizes, thus helping to protect the public as a whole. Pandemic Increases Need The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a need for accessible, effective building access control solutions. These solutions, used for...

AVON, CONN.—iCleanse, a leader in chemical-free UV-C disinfection technology for over 10 years, announced that it has expanded into the European market with iCleanse UK Ltd, growing the iCleanse 40+ sales representatives across the United States with an international sales team in the U.K., including representatives in Great Britain, Wales, and Scotland. Currently used in over 100 U.S. hospitals, the iCleanse UV-C technology includes the patented Swift line of disinfection products for mobile devices and other personal items for use in hospitals, government buildings, and other businesses and homes to keep them safe and free of pathogens, such as...

LAS VEGAS—UBTECH Robotics, a global leader in intelligent humanoid robotics and AI technologies, recently introduced the newest additions to its portfolio of humanoid robots at CES 2021: ADIBOT: UV-C Disinfecting Robots; and AMR: Intelligent Logistics Robotic System. ADIBOT UV-C Disinfecting Robots—The ADIBOT robotic disinfection system provides a superior, effective, hospital-grade solution against COVID-19 to help businesses and schools safely reopen in the midst of the pandemic. It combines the robotics and AI expertise from UBTECH with UV-C technology that disinfects targeted surfaces and air by deactivating the DNA and RNA of harmful pathogens. Available in stationary and autonomous models,...