LAS VEGAS—In a broad collaborative plan created by business and community leaders, Las Vegas gaming and resort properties will partner with University Medical Center (UMC), the Culinary Health Fund and the Las Vegas Convention Center to provide COVID-19 testing for gaming employees prior to their return to work. The testing will be conducted at the Las Vegas Convention Center as properties re-open following the direction of State officials. “The ability to safely reopen our properties has been our singular focus over the past several weeks,” said Bill Hornbuckle, Acting CEO and President of MGM Resorts International. “This testing partnership will...

LINCOLNSHIRE, ILL.—To help businesses relay important information to their employees, customers, visitors and patients, LG Business Solutions USA has introduced a suite of digital signage packages that allow businesses to dynamically communicate their policies, sanitization standards and real-time updates. Representing the first in LG’s all-new series of Health Protocol Solutions, these digital signage packages are designed for indoor and window-facing use in either landscape or portrait orientation. Each easy-to-use package includes a webOS Signage LG display, a Peerless-AV SmartMount Flat Panel Cart and a limited time free trial of content management software (CMS) that’s compatible with multiple webOS Signage software...

CHICAGO—The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the hospitality industry around the world, leading to temporary leaves or significantly reduced work schedules for many members of the global Hyatt family. In a focused effort to help the colleagues who are most financially impacted by COVID-19, Hyatt has launched the Hyatt Care Fund. The Hyatt Care Fund is a program designed to support colleagues with the most pressing financial needs due to COVID-19, through a series of coordinated efforts around the world. Impacted Hyatt colleagues in owned, managed and franchised hotels and in Hyatt’s corporate offices around the world are eligible to apply. The...

LONDON—As the world adjusts to new travel norms and expectations, IHG Hotels & Resorts is enhancing the experience for its hotel guests around the world, by redefining cleanliness and supporting guests’ personal wellbeing throughout their stay. Using new, science-led protocols and service measures, partnering with industry leading experts Cleveland Clinic, Ecolab and Diversey, and launching a global IHG Clean Promise, the strengthened measures will give guests greater confidence and hotel teams the protection needed. IHG Clean Promise Keith Barr, CEO, IHG, commented: “The future of travel may look different, but a safe, secure stay is fundamental to deliver True Hospitality—and that will...

ALEXANDRIA, VA.—State and local officials are TRSA’s initial targets in its latest campaign to control COVID-19’s spread by promoting responsible linen, uniform and facility services practices. Governors, mayors and city managers have been urged by TRSA to guide hoteliers to clean all textiles daily and handle their linen under OSHA universal precautions, among other tactics to ensure guest safety and confidence. These guidelines were sent to the National Association of Governors, U.S. Conference of Mayors and International City/County Management Assn. All are expected to play a role in writing safety guidance documents for the nation’s hotels. TRSA’s recommendations cover practices...

MILL VALLEY, CALIF.—Kure Products, manufacturer of high-end stainless and aluminum amenity dispensers, is launching hand sanitizer dispensers to help homeowners, hotels and businesses give their guests a visually pleasing and functional hand sanitizer experience. COVID-19 has made washing and sanitizing hands a necessary part of everyone’s daily routine. Kure’s dispensers work indoors and outdoors providing people the option to sanitize their hands before opening a gate to a home, an elevator to an office/hotel room or front doors anywhere. Kure offers discerning homeowners, luxury hoteliers and businesses an elegant alternative to the plastic dispensers that look like they hung in...

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y.—County Draperies, a leading manufacturer of custom window treatments and bedding for the hospitality industry, has for the past two months added a variety of personal protective masks to its production line. “Putting our skilled, New York-based staff and equipment to work for essential front line workers at hotels, restaurants, stores and other locations as well as for the general public is the right thing to do at a time when we all need to work together,” said David Markowitz, President and COO. “Our newest style is the CD-PPEM-4-2 C Me Mask which has a clear, non-porous plastic window...

Here is what hotel managers need to know: After COVID-19, few things will be the same. Hotel guests are going to be concerned that not only are the hotels they stay in cleaned using green cleaning tools, methods, and equipment, but steps have been taken to ensure the entire property is healthy. And one way they will be able to determine this is if the property has been WELL certified. The WELL program is relatively new. The International WELL Building Institute, as it is officially known, is about six years old. It was started by many of the same people that...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—During a recent Earth Day ceremony, President Donald Trump announced that his administration will “open up national parks and public lands,” and Interior Secretary Bernhardt continues to tout the reopening of some national parks. In reaction to these announcements, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, a group representing 1,800 current, former, and retired employees, and volunteers of the National Park Service, said that decision was premature and outlined 10 core principles necessary for reopening. In its principles, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks raises serious concerns about protecting NPS employees, volunteers, visitors, and local community members from the...

SOMERSET, N.J.—What is a company in the lodging industry supposed to do when a virus as harmful as COVID-19 is about to steamroll the travel industry? In the case of Guest Worldwide, a Sysco company and parent of companies including Guest Supply, Manchester Mills, and Gilchrist & Soames, its response was to react quickly, measured and with a large dose of flexibility and innovation. It also positioned itself as a “go to” source for all things COVID-19. Sandy Romoser, President of Guest Worldwide, told Green Lodging News that Guest Worldwide realized the impact of COVID-19 early on with its business...