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COVID-19

COVID-19, caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, has hammered the lodging industry harder than any event ever before. Every element of a hotel’s operation has been impacted—from cleaning & maintenance to food and beverage. Many hotel companies are responding aggressively with revamped operations plans. What we all can agree on is that hotels may never be the same again. This area of Green Lodging News highlights the latest news and trends. Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

COVID-19

Home COVID-19
COVID-19, caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, has hammered the lodging industry harder than any event ever before. Every element of a hotel’s operation has been impacted—from cleaning & maintenance to food and beverage. Many hotel companies are responding aggressively with revamped operations plans. What we all can agree on is that hotels may never be the same again. This area of Green Lodging News highlights the latest news and trends. Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Hygienic Approach to Door Opening: Mockett’s New Door Handle Cuff

TORRANCE, CALIF.—Mockett’s new Door Handle Cuff offers a hygienic approach to opening traditional interior doors to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. Simply rest your forearm into the cuff and press down on the door handle and push or pull to minimize possible contact through contamination. Easy-to-install forearm shield slips over the handle and is screwed into place. New health and safety considerations in design are shaping our collective conscious of our relationship with hardware and how we operate it. DHC1 is a quick and easy way to retrofit door handles and keep any health-related concerns at bay...

Four Examples of Company Cleaning Commitment Videos

As the economy continues to open, the competition to capture the attention of travelers will intensify. “Instead of location, location, location, it is now perhaps cleanliness, sanitization, and security, or piece of mind,” Ray Burger, President of Pineapple Hospitality, told me this past week. The companies and hotels that best tell that story are going to put the most heads in beds. One of the best ways to tell your story is to visually depict what changes you have made in operations by video. “If you want to have your market share, produce a video and put it on your...

American Airlines, Hyatt Surprise Healthcare Workers with Complimentary Vacations

CHICAGO—In recognition of the extraordinary care they provide to their community, American Airlines and Hyatt Hotels Corp. recently announced they will award thousands of healthcare professionals from NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst three-night complimentary vacations to help them recharge and reconnect with their loved ones, once they are able to take time for themselves. American Airlines and Hyatt are coming together to show their appreciation to one of the hospitals hardest hit by COVID-19 in the United States. From doctors, physician assistants and nurses to facilities and food service teams, the staff—more than 4,000—at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst will be treated...

Triple Clear Offers Tips for Safely Reopening Commercial Buildings

NEEDHAM, MASS.—Reopenings have started across all 50 states, and in a matter of weeks, many commercial buildings, including office buildings, hotels and restaurants, will become active again after weeks of being closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Triple Clear Water Solutions, a leader in commercial water filtration with patented technologies that deliver safe, clean and filtered water, offers the following tips for building managers, business owners and real estate developers to ward off potentially harmful drinking water conditions. “Buildings that were closed or operating at reduced occupancy for the last few months due to Coronavirus restrictions create the perfect environment...

Minibar Systems Introduces microSURE Family of Sanitizers, Disinfectants

ROCKVILLE, MD.—Minibar Systems presents the microSURE family of persistent sanitizers and disinfectants that use unique mechanical-kill spikes that act as a barrier to provide better protection against germs and viruses beyond hand washing and chemical-kill alcohol based products. The 8-HOUR Defense hand sanitizer has proven up to 8 hours of defense against germs when properly used and will not crack, dry or burn skin. microSURE All Purpose Cleaner and Disinfectant provides nanotechnology micro-crystalline structure for revolutionary surface protection with an EPA registered mechanical-kill device that kills germs, viruses and other harmful microorganisms including Coronavirus and prevents future contamination—the surfaces continue...

G6 Hospitality Announces Clean@6 Program

DALLAS—G6 Hospitality, the parent company for the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands, has launched “Clean@6,” a comprehensive initiative designed to ensure that guests feel confident when staying at any of the brands’ nearly 1,400 locations across the United States and Canada. Recognizing the need for even greater vigilance related to cleanliness, disinfection and sanitization as the country continues to navigate the impact of COVID-19, the company has undertaken a comprehensive approach to protect against the spread of viruses by partnering with a renowned combination of medical advisors, industrial cleaning providers and housekeeping specialists. “We want Motel 6 and Studio 6...

Hotel Industry Veterans Launch New Traveler PPE Company

JERICHO, N.Y.—Hotel industry veterans Steve Blidner and Willie Singh announced their new company, Guest Care Solutions, created to provide traveler-friendly personal protective equipment (PPE) for hotel operators. “The world has changed quickly, and we wanted to help our industry meet new challenges in a way that put guests first,” said Steve Blidner, Co-Founder and Senior Managing Director of Guest Care Solutions. “Because Steve and I have been in the hotel business as owners, operators, and partners for more than 75 years combined, we felt uniquely able to supply hotels with attractively packaged, FDA- and CDC-approved PPE that would not only appeal...

Wynn Resorts, University Medical Center Announce Partnership for Expanded COVID-19 Testing

LAS VEGAS—Wynn Resorts and University Medical Center (UMC) announced a unique partnership, which will allow all employees of Wynn Las Vegas to have access to testing for the COVID-19 virus at no cost to the employee. UMC’s investment in a new lab has increased the capacity to perform thousands of tests per day. Wynn employees initially had direct access to COVID-19 testing at UMC designated locations in Las Vegas beginning the week of May 4. As the company works with government officials to determine an opening date for Wynn Las Vegas, it will set up on-site testing in coordination with UMC...

U.S. Travel Industry Releases Guidance for ‘Travel in the New Normal’

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Following a collaboration between medical experts and a broad array of businesses and organizations, the U.S. travel industry submitted to the White House and governors a document containing detailed guidance for travel-related businesses to help keep their customers and employees safe as the country emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic. Entitled “Travel in the New Normal,” the document describes vigorous measures the travel industry will follow to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and help to communicate across each and every step of a traveler’s journey. The goal: to allow travel to safely resume as states and municipalities relax physical distancing guidance. “We...

Patronscan Develops Contact Tracing Guest Registry

CALGARY, ALBERTA—Patronscan, a leading manufacturer of I.D. scanning technology, has developed a contact tracing guest registry that can help the hospitality, sports and entertainment industry transition from an era of stay-at-home orders to open for business. “To restore economic growth and jobs, public healthcare experts are wrestling with how best to transition bars and restaurants from take-out to dine-in and how to reintroduce the public to gathering safely in public spaces as stay-at-home orders are relaxed,” said Alberio Bathory-Frota, CEO of Patronscan, a worldwide I.D. scanning firm. “To assure customers that a place of business has social distancing protocols in place...