NATIONAL REPORT—As concern about COVID-19 has skyrocketed, so too has interest in wellness and one of the places that interest has been focused is the guestroom—specifically the mattress. Any company today must be careful about its anti-viral/anti-bacterial/anti-microbial claims but at least two mattress companies are offering options that include at least one or more of the above “anti” properties. The first company, Corsicana Mattress Co., is offering its Copper ProTech collection to the hospitality market. Corsicana, one of the top few mattress makers in the United States, has nine mattresses and a topper engineered with copper-infused foam. The copper included...

SKOKIE, ILL.—UMF Corp. announced that testing from award-winning contract research organization Integrated Pharma Services confirms that UMF’s Micrillonâ sheath and core fiber demonstrates significant antiviral properties against Human Coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, and Human Influenza A H1N1 virus in just minutes. The Micrillon sheath and core fiber, spun into a yarn and knitted into a material, also demonstrates significant antibacterial efficacy (100 percent kill) against Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and E. coli 0157:H7. These findings have significant implications for numerous applications, including various yarn types for woven and knitted textiles such as towels, privacy curtains and personal protective equipment (PPE). “We...

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—ScentAir, a global leader in scent marketing, announces the launch of ScentAir ION Protect active air purifying systems, using patented GPS Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization (NPBI) technology. The patented needlepoint bipolar ionization indoor air purifying technology has been tested to confirm a 99.8 percent reduction rate on a static SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) surface strain within 30 minutes, plus many other common airborne pathogens such as Norovirus, MRSA, E. Coli, Staph Bacteria and more. “ScentAir ION Protect active air purifying systems work to safely clean the air inside buildings of many sizes and types. This technology can give business owners comfort and...

NEW YORK—A new survey shows that workers are not willing to take the risk that the spaces they work in will prevent them from getting coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many workers to leave offices and employer facilities and instead work from home. Around the world many employees have returned to the workplace, which will become even more common as people receive vaccines and it is safe for colleagues to work side-by-side once more. But a majority of the global workforce—68 percent—does not feel completely safe working in their employer’s buildings, according to a Wakefield Research survey. The poll of 2,000 employees in buildings...

OAKLAND, N.J.—Amerlux, an award-winning design-and-manufacture lighting company, announced a partnership with Vyv, a health tech company whose signature continuous-use, non-UV antimicrobial light technology will be added into Amerlux’s lighting fixtures. The partnership represents a groundbreaking venture for Amerlux, which in recent months has sought to broaden its product portfolio in response to customer demand for lighting that can help clean environments. Within 90 days, Amerlux will integrate Vyv’s antimicrobial light technology into a variety of existing and new product lines. The antimicrobial lighting targets microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, yeast, and mold while also meeting international standards for continual and...

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?...

DALTON, GA.—Zeftron Nylon, a premium nylon 6 solution-dyed yarn system for commercial carpets, is introducing an educational eBook, “4 Reasons Carpet Matters Now.” The free resource provides insights on how designers and facility managers can utilize carpet to improve the health and safety of commercial environments. The easy-to-read document consists of articles, research, and practical tips. It shows how carpet can be designed to create socially distanced and wellness-focused spaces. Research contained in the eBook shows how carpet contributes to improved indoor air quality, and how carpet can best be properly maintained to achieve maximum performance and aesthetics. “With the onset...

There is not one aspect of society that has not been significantly challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the hospitality industry has undoubtedly been hit harder than most. When the pandemic reached our shores, thousands avoided travel and local governments instituted regulations at restaurants and other venues to ensure health safety. But slowly, as restrictions ease and the public grows more comfortable venturing out, hospitality will make a comeback, and visual communications—digital signage, wayfinding, video walls—will lead the way towards a safe return. Here are a few things hospitality professionals should consider when working with technology providers to adopt necessary...

CAMBRIDGE, MASS.—Promoting employee and customer confidence in the workplace through new health and safety standards is a prominent business priority for 2021. A leader in creating intelligent robots for the workplace, Ava Robotics is now accepting pre-orders for its newly launched ultraviolet (UV) disinfection robot to manage COVID-19-related and other cleaning needs. Allowing for autonomous UV disinfection in workplace settings, including corporate offices, warehouses, and other work spaces, the UV robot features: Applications that disinfect both air and surfaces. A disinfection rate of approximately 9,000 square feet per hour, with 99 percent effectiveness against COVID-19. Full autonomous operation and safe...

LEBANON, N.H.—FreshAir, an industry leader in the development of sensors to detect and alert for hazardous chemicals, announces the release of its new FreshCheck room inspection verification app. Using FreshAir's connected devices and an easy-to-use mobile app, managers can now verify room inspections. “It is common knowledge within the hotel industry that cleanliness drives guest satisfaction and thus customer loyalty. This has become even more important with COVID-19,” said Joseph BelBruno, Chief Technology Officer of FreshAir. “By developing this new app-based technology, we are enabling hotel management to ensure those high levels of cleanliness by verifying daily room inspections.” The FreshCheck...