WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement on the announced bipartisan agreement on a COVID relief package: “Washington is delivering a huge holiday gift to U.S. businesses and workers after an incredibly challenging year. It’s been a difficult road to get another round of much-needed legislative relief moving in Washington. We applaud the bipartisan group of senators that drove progress forward, and the congressional leadership for striking a bipartisan agreement to produce this desperately needed assistance. The agreed-upon provisions will give many suffering businesses a bridge to 2021. More will be needed to restore...

BETHESDA, MD.—As part of ongoing steps to help instill confidence and provide exceptional experiences and solutions for meeting professionals and attendees, Marriott International has identified health protocol options, including COVID-19 testing, which meeting professionals may select for group meetings at certain Marriott branded hotels in the United States beginning in January 2021. These optional health protocols build upon initiatives already in place as part of the recent launch of Connect with Confidence, a program empowering meeting professionals to identify and tailor solutions that best meet the needs of their attendees. Meeting professionals may select optional health protocols for meetings and...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added Donastar Enterprises LLC to its Green Product & Service Directory in the Cleaning & Maintenance/Ozonated Water category. Donastar is a North American leader of hot and cold beverage service and installations. Donastar is working with Enozo (see video). The Enozo is a perfect way for any business to stop using plastic bottles and aerosol cans. The EnozoPRO is a portable spray bottle that replaces six cleaning products and kills 99.9 percent of all viruses and bacteria including the virus that causes COVID-19.* One need only fill it up with tap water and then recharge...

RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF.—Forbes Travel Guide (“FTG”), a global authority on genuine Five-Star service, and Sharecare, the digital health company that helps people manage all their health in one place, announced that Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage is the only resort casino in the United States to successfully become Sharecare Health Security VERIFIED. The newly established Sharecare Health Security VERIFIED with Forbes Travel Guide badge is addressing the critical need to establish confidence with guests and travel planners in the age of COVID-19. The recognition seal will be on display throughout Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa and on the...

LINCOLNSHIRE, ILL.—Combining its core competencies in robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles with a deep understanding of customer needs, LG Electronics announced that it is developing an autonomous robot that will use ultraviolet (UV-C) light to disinfect high-touch, high-traffic areas. LG Business Solutions USA plans to offer the UV robot to U.S. hospitality, education, corporate, retail, restaurant, and transportation customers in early 2021. “We hope LG’s first UV disseminating robot will give our customers, and in turn their customers, peace of mind,” explained Michael Kosla, Vice President, LG Business Solutions USA. “Whether it’s hotel guests, students in classrooms or patrons...

LONDON—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and major international industry bodies have joined forces to call for the immediate restoration of international travel using proven processes and without waiting for or requiring vaccinations. WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, along with Airports Council International (ACI), the World Economic Forum (WEF), and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), say the world cannot wait for the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. WTTC recognizes that public health is paramount and welcomes the recent rollout of the game changing vaccines, which in the long-term will play a major role in combating coronavirus and restoring international...

LANGLEY, U.K.—Travelport, a leading technology company serving the global travel industry, has added a new Stay Safe feature for agents connected to its API or industry leading Smartpoint agency desktop solution. Stay Safe is a searchable amenity which enables hotels to highlight to travel agents that they have signed up to industry-wide safety initiatives, within the agent’s booking workflow, making it easier for travel agents to share information important to travelers in their hotel shopping decisions. Jason Toothman, GVP and Managing Director, Sales at Travelport said, “One of the key imperatives in the industry right now is ensuring our customers...

If real, achievable, disinfection measures increase confidence, the public will return. People are placing health as a top priority. Almost 85 percent make their travel decisions based on health safety. Some 40 percent are unsatisfied with the communications they’re currently receiving about safety protocols according to PWC. Half of consumers are also willing to pay extra for more safety. To get the public back, business has to have high level safety protocols and make people aware of them. The devastation to the hospitality industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic is illustrated in a survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association...

Green cleaning has certainly been one of the most talked about subjects in the history of this publication, especially in the last year. Oftentimes the cleaning solution involves just water, electricity, ozone and/or minerals. When compared to the cleaning chemicals that have been used for the most part in our industry, these options are safer to use, just as or more effective, better for your bottom line, and better for the environment in many ways—less waste, smaller carbon footprint, etc. Until this year I was only aware of cleaning systems that required larger machines but have since found very...

OTHELL, WASH.—Vioguard, Inc. released a consumer survey report that shows the importance of increased sanitary protocols really matter to travelers ahead of the 2020 holiday season. The leader in UV-C technology conducted a survey with over 1,000 respondents to better understand the importance of heightened sanitary protocols and implementation of sanitation technology to travelers during the pandemic. Key findings from the survey: A strong majority (more than 79 percent) of travelers believe it is very important to understand a travel company’s sanitation protocols before a purchasing decision is made. Three out of every four consumers (74 percent) state that...