WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) released the “Safe Stay Guest Checklist” for guests on how to travel safely while also creating a standardized safety experience nationwide. This checklist is part of AHLA’s Safe Stay guidelines, an industry-wide, enhanced set of health and safety protocols designed to provide a safe and clean environment for all hotel guests and employees. The Safe Stay Guest Checklist includes: Require face coverings in all indoor public spaces and practice social distancing in all common areas. Choose contactless options, where available, including online reservations, check-ins, and payments. Consider daily room cleaning, only if...

SAN RAMON, CALIF.—According to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation, dust mites are a leading cause of in-home allergies. In a new report, the American Chemical Society advocates the widespread use of UV-C light as a short-term, easily deployable, and affordable way to limit virus spread in the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. RAYCOP’s new Omni Air cordless stick vacuum uses the same UVC technology that hospitals do to eradicate 99.99 percent of viruses, bacteria and dust mites from fabrics and floors in every corner of the room. The lightweight Omni Air is easy to pick up and it can completely remove dust...

Faced with the prospect of disinfecting a space for COVID-19, many are utilizing corded or cordless sprayers of one type or another. I understand the thinking. You can cover an area quickly, be thorough about it, and then move on to the next space. In press releases distributed by our industry’s leading companies in recent months, many have announced they will be using electrostatic sprayers to disseminate disinfectant. I wrote an article about that technology and other spray technologies this past week. Be sure to read my article. A big thank you to Green Seal for adding additional valuable...

Green Lodging News asked Nina Hwang, MPH, Senior Scientist at Green Seal, about the use of foggers and electrostatic sprayers. The following are the questions and her reply. Are there best practices when it comes to user/guest safety? The first step is to understand that foggers are not the same as electrostatic sprayers. Fogging devices use large volumes of air at low pressures to generate a mist of fine disinfectant droplets to fill an entire room. The disinfectant settles on to surfaces over time due to gravity. Electrostatic sprayers are designed for more targeted disinfection. Disinfectant droplets are charged as they exit...

Green Lodging News asked Nina Hwang, MPH, Senior Scientist at Green Seal, about the use of foggers and electrostatic sprayers. Click here to read those questions and answers. NATIONAL REPORT—When MGM Resorts International outlined its Seven-Point Safety Plan for dealing with COVID-19 in a press release last month, it included the use of electrostatic sprayers for large public spaces “so that disinfectant is applied efficiently.” Numerous other companies have also committed to using electrostatic sprayers for public spaces. HEI Hotels & Resorts said it would use them in public and private spaces. Marriott, in its April announcement about its new...

MADISON, IND.—Madison Chemical introduces new literature that details MADISAN 75 (EPA #10324-81-110), a 4-chain quaternary surface sanitizer that kills the Human Coronavirus. The 2-page, full-color brochure explains how this disinfectant, mildewstat, and virucide for hard, non-porous, and inanimate surfaces is ideal for a wide variety of installations, including industrial and manufacturing environments. In addition to the Human Coronavirus, MADISAN 75 kills the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and a variety of animal viruses specified on the EPA registered label. MADISAN 75 appears on EPA List N: Disinfectants for Use Against...

New research shows that higher relative humidity in buildings significantly slows COVID-19 and other airborne infectious disease transmission. However, the way most American buildings are designed, this would cause catastrophic damage and mold issues. A group of designers with LEO A DALY conducted an in-depth study showing how various building types could be retrofitted to increase relative humidity without damage. The results of the study are detailed in a new whitepaper that can be viewed by clicking here. According to LEO A DALY, Compelling new research such as from the Annual Review of Virology shows that relative humidity levels of at...

NEW YORK—The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the world’s leading certification body for healthy buildings, announced the establishment of the WELL Advisory for Hotels and Resorts to provide insights on the application of the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facilities Operations and Management for hotels and resorts. The WELL Health-Safety Rating is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating focused on operational policies, maintenance protocols and emergency plans to address a post COVID-19 environment. IWBI will accept registrations for the WELL Health-Safety Rating from all building and facility typologies later this month. Leveraging guidance on the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory disease...

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND—Leading the international textile industry to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, HeiQ recently launched HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03, an antiviral and antibacterial textile treatment proven to reduce 99.99 percent of human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, along with other enveloped viruses and bacteria. Viruses and bacteria can remain infective on textile surfaces for days. Human Coronavirus SARS-CoV persist for up to two days on surgical gowns at room temperature. Antiviral treatments for textiles contribute to more hygienic and safer textile products and can help mitigate the risk of contamination and transmission. While the global textile industry is rapidly adopting...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Arc, an affiliate of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), has launched Arc Re-Entry in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The new offering provides a set of tools and analytics designed to assist companies with re-entering their buildings and facilities. Arc is a technology platform that allows teams overseeing the sustainability of buildings and places to collect data, manage and benchmark progress, measure impact and improve performance. Arc empowers its users to understand and enhance their sustainability performance, promote human health and wellbeing, and contribute to a higher quality of life. Arc Re-Entry is a set of tools...