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...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added a “Face Masks” category to its Green Product & Service Directory. The first company in the category is Sterling Sleep Systems. Sterling Sleep Systems, a maker of sustainable mattresses with interchangeable, replaceable parts, has switched manufacturing gears to meet the needs of hotels in need of face masks. Its 100 percent cotton face masks are 2-ply and include 1/4″ elastic strips. They are machine washable and made in the USA. The face masks feature SaniCare by Cramer: a special cleaning method for cotton that, when appropriately used, inhibits the production of mildew and...

LAS VEGAS—Caesars Entertainment announced that an assistance fund has been established for purposes of supporting team members at the company’s properties across the United States who suffer unanticipated hardships, including during the closure of Caesars properties as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The company also announced that donations made by Caesars Foundation will support charities addressing COVID-19 issues in the communities where Caesars operates. The Foundation’s initiatives will build on the company’s ongoing efforts to address COVID-19-related needs in these communities. The company has donated hundreds of thousands of pounds of food to local food banks...

CHICAGO—Due to the historic drop in travel demand and the expected slow pace of recovery, Hyatt has made the extremely difficult decision to implement layoffs and restructure roles across its global corporate functions, beginning June 1, 2020. These actions will impact around 1,300 colleagues around the world. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hyatt has taken numerous actions in an effort to meet the challenges the industry is facing including reductions of company-wide expenditures, extended salary reductions for the Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors, and temporary work and/or pay reductions for all corporate colleagues. Unfortunately, with increased...