BOCA RATON, FLA.—National Bio-Safe, which for over 35 years has been dealing with infectious disease, compromised physical locations, mold remediation and pathogens and which has developed protocols to provide the most up-to-date safety, cleaning procedures and products, announced the availability of its breakthrough cleaner Bio-Stop. Bio-Stop meets the CDC.gov recommendations as one of the ways to clean because its solution contains at least 70 percent alcohol, to disinfect commercial and residential spaces. “Bio-Stop has a fast-acting proprietary solution infused with 70 percent alcohol with the remainder being natural ingredients. Alcohol solutions with at least 70 percent are a critical choice,...

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...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton announced a new program to deliver an industry-defining standard of cleanliness and disinfection in Hilton properties around the world. In a first for the hospitality business, Hilton will collaborate with RB, maker of Lysol and Dettol, and consult with Mayo Clinic to develop elevated processes and Team Member training to help Hilton guests enjoy an even cleaner and safer stay from check-in to check-out. Hilton CleanStay with Lysol protection, as the program will be called in North America, will be a rigorous system that incorporates RB’s trusted know-how and scientific approach to cleaning practices and product offerings. Experts...

“Let me start by making it clear that today and for the coming months every government and industry action must be focused on a total response, repeat total response, to the global enemy of COVID-19. To health issues: livelihood issues: family issues and business survival issues. It is war. Nothing is more important than coherent national and international response, where coordinated, joined up action is the only path open.” As the pandemic crisis intensifies, pulling the world economy towards recession, it’s clear that the travel and tourism sector is in the center of the maelstrom. Airlines are slashing flights. Cruise...

CARY, N.C.—Washington Representative Joe Fitzgibbon (D-34) joined the Association of Washington Cities and INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, in applauding Governor Inslee’s signing of HB 2565, a law intended to address the labeling of certain disposable wipes. The law, spearheaded by Rep. Fitzgibbon, Chairman of the Washington House Environment and Energy Committee, represents a months-long cooperative effort between a coalition of Washington wastewater and municipal sector stakeholders led by the Association of Washington Cities and INDA, the trade association representing the wipes industry. The groups came together to tackle the problem of consumers flushing baby wipes, surface cleaning...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As COVID-19 continues to devastate the hotel industry, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) released new data showing that 70 percent of hotel employees have been laid off or furloughed as eight in 10 hotel rooms across the nation remain empty. As this crisis progresses beyond what anyone could have projected, the impact to the travel industry is nine times worse than 9/11, with forecasted occupancy rates for 2020 hitting record lows worse than rates in 1933 during the Great Depression. “With the impact to the travel industry nine times worse than September 11, the human toll of this...

WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.—While restaurants, gyms, schools and other buildings are closed indefinitely to prevent the spread of COVID-19, water left sitting in pipes could change in quality. It’s possible that water left sitting for long periods of time could contain excessive amounts of heavy metals and pathogens concentrated in pipes nationwide, say researchers who have begun a field study on the impact of a pandemic shutdown on buildings. Purdue engineering professor Andrew Whelton holds up a water sample from a building faucet. The pink color indicates the presence of chlorine, a disinfectant. Whelton’s team is investigating how water quality might change...

When you open your property again (I know some are still open), will it be certified clean to the level of standards that travelers in a COVID-19 world expect? I ask this because of several developments I came across this past week. First, Accor announced that it had joined forces with Bureau Veritas, a provider of testing, inspection and certification, to develop a label designed to certify that the appropriate safety standards and cleaning protocols have been achieved to allow businesses to reopen. The label will apply to Accor hotels in Europe and first to Accor hotels in France. The...

CHICAGO—For 30 years, ServSafe has been at the forefront of preparing restaurant and foodservice employees to deliver safe dining experiences for their guests while also keeping themselves safe. This mission is as important as ever during the service disruptions caused by the coronavirus. As restaurateurs focus their businesses on takeout and delivery during the pandemic, ServSafe, the National Restaurant Association’s food-safety training and certification program, has released two new training videos to help reinforce safe food handling and safe delivery practices for all operations. In addition to the videos, ServSafe also is offering its online Food Handler training program free through...

READING, PA.—As the country continues to face the threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the health and safety of employees and customers is of the utmost importance. Ambius, a global leader of creating enhanced commercial spaces, launched a new disinfection service to help provide peace of mind and create safe work environments. The Ambius Disinfection Service is ideal for businesses implementing precautionary cleaning, those required to perform disinfection before reopening and for businesses with confirmed cases of COVID-19. “We’ve seen such a high demand for disinfection service with our commercial customers,” said Ambius President & CEO, John Myers. “The protection of their...