A little more than two weeks ago I added a wellness section to Green Lodging News. Just a few days ago I added a COVID-19 news section. You can find the link to the new section at the far right of the green navigation bar on the Green Lodging News website. There are already 90 articles in the section—focusing on topics ranging from new cleaning and maintenance procedures to new technologies, to socially responsible steps companies are taking in their communities and within their companies. Be sure to bookmark this section as I will be adding new articles to it...

BROOMFIELD, COLO.—As individuals and communities contend with the severe impacts of COVID-19, Vail Resorts’ CEO, Rob Katz, and his wife, Elana Amsterdam, New York Times bestselling author and founder of Elana’s Pantry, announced a donation of more than $2.5 million to provide immediate support for both Vail Resorts employees and the mountain towns where the company operates. Katz will donate $1.5 million in immediate emergency relief grants that will benefit more than a dozen local organizations providing critical services in Eagle, Summit and Gunnison counties in Colo.; Park City, Utah; Lake Tahoe, Calif.; Whistler, B.C.; Vermont; Stevens Pass, Wash.; and Jackson...

MIAMI—The Global Wellness Institute launched the first in a series of weekly Q&A interviews with wellness leaders and thinkers across the globe seeking to discover the impact of COVID-19—now and far into the future. The series is part of GWI’s PositivelyWell online resource and initiative to empower health and wellness in the age of Coronavirus; the interviews will be conducted and curated by Beth McGroarty, VP Research & Forecasting. In the first Wellness Q&A, world-renowned architect Bill Bensley explores how the travel industry will change post-virus and cites critical silver linings that will emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, not only for the tourism industry...

I will be chatting soon with someone from Dyson about the importance of handwashing and, just as important, proper hand drying—both extremely important in this new COVID-19 world. According to the PR person who contacted me about handwashing and Dyson, damp hands can transfer up to 1,000 times more bacteria than dry hands. I found a press release from 2009 that backs this up. The hand dryer versus paper towel for public restrooms debate has been going on a long time. I have written about it previously for Green Lodging News. With COVID-19 everything is about touch points and of...

RALEIGH, N.C.—With COVID-19 mandated closures and slow re-openings, many of North Carolina’s tourism and hospitality businesses are struggling to cut operating costs, including utilities. This webinar on Thursday, May 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. provides a real-time, peer-to-peer forum to hear from leading hospitality businesses and Duke Energy. Learn, hear and Share: How hospitality businesses are managing utilities under their current operational constraints. Smart approaches to controlling utility use and costs during closures and upon re-openings. What are the latest savings programs and advice offered by Duke Energy. How businesses are renegotiating waste services for improved cost controls. Panelists...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Florida For Good (FFG), an organization that helps bolster the business for good movement in the state, has just launched the B Tourism resource platform for sustainable tourism businesses to connect, share best practices and during these trying times, provide free resources to those companies dealing with negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the For Good Movement Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit, FFG was founded on the principles of helping businesses in Florida become more conscious, sustainable and focused on people and the planet instead of just profit while putting a strong sense of community at the core...

NEW YORK—American Express and Hilton recently partnered together to donate up to 1 million hotel room nights to medical professionals on the frontlines fighting COVID-19. Since April, hundreds of thousands of room nights have been booked. Now, the two companies are extending this important work through a $1 million contribution from American Express to José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen (WCK), to provide healthy, freshly prepared meals to the frontline healthcare professionals who are staying at participating Hilton properties in cities across the United States during the coronavirus pandemic. World Central Kitchen began this free meal program at select Hilton properties...

PETALUMA, CALIF.—We know that washing our hands is the most effective way to prevent the spread of bacteria and diseases such as COVID-19. But hands-free hand washing can even further reduce the spread of harmful germs that can make us sick. Bacteria and viruses can linger on faucet handles for days, where they can easily be picked up when turning the water on and off. Sonoma Forge’s Sans Hands Automated Faucet Technology eliminates the need to touch the faucet handles, thereby eliminating the transfer of harmful pathogens from turning on and off a traditional faucet. With no visible sensors, Sans Hands...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) introduced Safe Stay, an industry-wide, enhanced standard of health and safety protocols designed to prepare America’s hotels to safely welcome back guests and employees as the economy reopens. Safe Stay represents the top priority for the industry, the health and safety of guests and employees. The standards of Safe Stay were developed under the guidance of an Advisory Council, comprised of industry leaders representing all segments of the hotel industry, and in conjunction with public health experts to advance best practices for protecting against the coronavirus. This initiative represents a new level...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Highlighting its continued commitment to hotel owners, team members and guests, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,300 hotels across 90 countries, launched “Count on Us,” a new long-term, multi-faceted initiative to build confidence among guests and to support franchisees as it begins making preparations to welcome travelers back to its more than 6,000 U.S. hotels. Launch of the new initiative follows dialogue and collaboration with Wyndham franchisees, members of its Franchise Advisory Councils, leading industry partners, and key trade organizations like the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). The immediate focus is to...