GRAPEVINE, TEXAS—Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center has announced that it has achieved Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities. Under the guidance of GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, Gaylord Texan has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention throughout its resort facility. As the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response, and recovery accreditation, GBAC STAR helps organizations establish protocols and procedures, offers expert-led training, and assesses a facility’s readiness for biorisk situations. The program verifies that Gaylord Texan implements best practices to prepare...

LONDON—A major social media campaign has been launched to raise awareness of  the wide-ranging social benefits of travel by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The new initiative asks travelers to think about the positive social impact that travel makes to people, places and communities dependent upon the travel and tourism sector for their livelihoods. It also encourages people around the world to share stories of how tourism has made a difference and changed their lives. The campaign strapline “Travel the world. Make a difference” is inspired by the deeper positive socioeconomic and cultural benefits, which each and every trip can...

TORONTO—Tersano, Inc. announced its patented Stabilized Aqueous Ozone (SAO) solution is compliant with the requirements established in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), to eliminate SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen that causes COVID-19. Tersano’s SAO solution kills over 99.99 percent of the MHV coronavirus within one minute. FIFRA is managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The SAO solution was tested against Murine coronavirus/Murine Hepatitis Virus (MHV-3), one of the approved ASTM/CDC surrogates for SARS-CoV-2. Tests were performed using ASTM protocol E1053-11 and results showed the Tersano’s SAO solution kills over 99.99 percent of the coronavirus within one...

Different recessions have different reasons for happening but there is one thing they all have in common: the need for government stimulus and bailout if necessary, to preserve industries and jobs. The numbers we have all been seeing in recent months and especially recent weeks have been just plain scary and I strongly encourage you to support the efforts of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and other travel organizations in their efforts to get our government to come together on some type of aid for travel. Please write to your congressional representatives to ask for it. This...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International announced a comprehensive plan designed to facilitate the safe return of meetings and conventions at the company’s properties in Las Vegas and throughout the United States, subject to local regulations and restrictions. MGM Resorts’ “Convene with Confidence” plan is the result of months of work with experts and builds on the company’s Seven-Point Safety Plan to provide a comprehensive approach to health and safety. This includes the option for a multi-layered health screening process using CLEAR’s Health Pass and utilizing on-site rapid, molecular COVID-19 testing that can deliver results within approximately 20 minutes. “The health and safety...

TROY, OHIO—Hobart understands that health and safety issues are more top of mind now than ever before in a world dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. With last month recognized as Food Safety Month, Hobart is offering a free download of its Food Safety Fact Book as a resource for restaurants and kitchen operators to focus on the dish room and commercial dishwashers and better understand the terminology, procedures, best practices and technologies that help deliver a safe and quality dining experience. “Knowing that cleanliness and sanitization are integral parts of food safety for every foodservice operation, it’s crucial to be...

MIAMI—ABCO Cleaning Products, a leader in sustainable cleaning tools, today released five key considerations for making the switch to a more eco-friendly approach to cleaning. “As a company that fully integrates sustainability, we understand the positive impact that environmentally and socially responsible cleaning programs have on a business’s bottom line and brand reputation,” said Carlos Albir Sr., President, ABCO. “These recommendations will help facilities implement cleaning programs that are better for the environment, and better for business.” Five important considerations when making the shift to sustainable cleaning include: Assess the entire cleaning program. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be tempting...

LEXINGTON, KY.—Tempur Sealy International, Inc. announced plans to introduce Surface-Guard Technology, an antimicrobial and antiviral technology expected to be included on select Sealy products beginning in early 2021. The EPA-registered antimicrobial technology kills 99 percent of bacteria on mattress surfaces and, in testing, has also shown to be at least 99 percent effective against killing viruses (including human coronavirus) on textiles within five minutes. The company is pursuing antiviral-efficacy claims approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.* This technology will add enhanced mattress protection across the Sealy Posturepedic and Sealy Posturepedic Plus mattress collections and...

CINCINNATI—While travel slowed and many other major hotel brands had to close some or all of their locations, Extended Stay America, the leading mid-priced extended stay hotel company, has kept the doors of all 600+ locations open throughout the global pandemic. The company’s longstanding partnership with P&G Professional, the away-from-home division of Procter & Gamble, supports Extended Stay America’s STAY Confident initiative designed to keep its hotels healthy, safe and comfortable for guests and staff. The comprehensive program utilizes trusted brands like Spic and Span, Comet and Mr. Clean Professional to clean and disinfect all guestrooms and common spaces,...

Some of the most read articles on Green Lodging News address the hand dryer versus paper towel debate. The articles have had thousands of page views. There are various ways to approach the debate—from a waste standpoint, for example, or a hygiene standpoint. It is certainly a topic of interest today given COVID-19 so hygiene has become topic No. 1. I received news from Excel Dryer this past week of the results of a University of Arizona Health Sciences research team study entitled, Comparison of electric hand dryers and paper towels for hand hygiene: a critical review of the literature....