MADRID, SPAIN—Room Mate Hotels, in collaboration with Quirónprevención, is set to become the first hotel chain to offer free COVID-19 tests to its guests. From mid-October—with the help of fully-qualified healthcare professionals from Quirónprevención—the company will offer rapid antigen tests for guests checking in at its hotels, as well as providing them with a symptom tracking service throughout their stay, using an app. In order to ensure safety and peace of mind for both its external and internal clients, these antigen tests will also be provided for all the company’s employees, to ensure their safety in the workplace. According to...

NORTHBROOK, ILL.—The Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, launched its GBAC STAR Facility Directory. This new web-based tool allows users to identify facilities that have earned or committed to achieve GBAC STAR accreditation, the designation reserved for facilities that have demonstrated a thorough approach to cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention. “We’re excited to unveil this new tool to help the public discover which facilities are taking important steps forward with their approach to cleaning,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “The GBAC STAR program has more than 250 facilities accredited and 3,000-plus committed to accreditation in more than 80 countries,...

NORTHBROOK, ILL.—AmpliVox Sound Systems has introduced acrylic safety shields for lecterns, podiums, tables, and other work surfaces. The new shields are designed to help protect single individuals or many individuals standing or sitting from airborne virus transmission potentially spread by talking, coughing, or sneezing. They are perfect for all conference and meeting rooms, hospitality settings, schools, entry and check-in areas, point-of-sale locations, and more. The see-through safety shields are made in the USA of rugged ¼” acrylic, and are secured to a lectern or table surface easily and securely in minutes using convenient mounting rails and adhesive strips, or clamps....

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Americans are concerned about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on all aspects of the economy, and 90 percent support Congress passing another economic stimulus bill to help distressed small businesses and employees, according to a new survey of registered voters conducted by Morning Consult and commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). A resounding 89 percent agree that Congress should remain in session until reaching an agreement on an economic stimulus package. “Millions of Americans are out of work, and thousands of small businesses are dying,” said Chip Rogers, President and CEO of AHLA. “It is...

LONDON—Red Carnation Hotels, a collection of 20 boutique hotels in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Geneva, South Africa, Botswana and Palm Beach, has implemented Premium Purity, an effective and sustainable self-disinfection solution. Through a proprietary coating, the company renders its hotel surfaces self-disinfecting and they become an active participant in the continuous decomposition of microbes such as bacteria and viruses, and pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This solution also enables an environmentally friendly, daily cleaning system based on water and salt, meaning that traditional cleaning products can be removed from hotels, and further improve the wellbeing of staff and guests. Jonathan...

MIAMI—“No-touch dispensing process helps prevent the spread of COVID 19 in your home or office,” states Russkap Holdings CEO Ed Russo, a leading environmental expert in clean water. The unit is available for schools, hospitals, offices, military, and replaces existing water fountains. “The Tiffany AWG model is currently the only model on the market that offers no-touch dispensing, while using the EPA recommended ozone treatment for clean, safe water for all,” says Russkap President Yehuda Kaploun. Once plugged in, there is no need for anyone possibly spreading germs, bringing water to your home or office. Safe, Secure, Clean Water Source Russkap Holdings is the...

LAS VEGAS—In an Op-Ed published by The Nevada Independent, Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox offers insight on how to get Las Vegas entertainment, nightlife, and conventions back up and running safely. The multi-layered approach is centered around a robust health and safety plan and the implementation of an on-site testing lab located at Wynn Las Vegas. Following is the Op-Ed in full as originally published, detailing how the introduction of rapid tests and the creation of “safe zones” will accelerate Nevada’s recovery: “As a long-standing member of the Las Vegas community and the current CEO of Wynn Resorts, I have been...

As the travel industry slowly starts to recover from the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, it is time for hoteliers to begin thinking about ways to entice cautious travelers who now value health and wellness above all else. Priorities have changed and guest expectations need to be considered moving forward. Prior to the pandemic, wellness was having a moment in the hospitality space, but now the crisis has intensified this priority, putting wellness and the awareness of personal health and well-being at the forefront of guests’ minds. However, the idea of wellness has changed and is now less about superficial spa...

NEW YORK—American Express announced the release of its first Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report, which outlines the company’s approach to responsibly back its colleagues, customers and communities. The report is an evolution of American Express’ Corporate Social Responsibility report and includes updated and enhanced disclosures on a number of key topics, such as the diversity of the company’s workforce, its efforts to support its various stakeholders through the COVID-19 pandemic, continued progress toward its environmental sustainability goals and philanthropic initiatives. “At American Express, we believe the fundamental purpose of a corporation is to serve the needs of society and...

DALLAS—Aerus, a global leader in surface and air purification solutions, announced that independent test results on their Hydroxyl Blaster with ActivePure Technology confirms that the product kills the SARS-CoV-2 virus on surfaces. The testing data conducted by independent Food and Drug Administration-compliant laboratory, MRIGlobal, established a 99.98 percent surface kill rate of live SARS-CoV-2 virus in seven hours. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19. Aerus’ award-winning ActivePure Technology is scientifically proven to destroy microscopic pathogens and contaminants on surfaces and in the air and is available in over 70 Aerus products, including the Aerus Medical Guardian cleared by the FDA as a Class II Medical Device 510(k). The...