ATLANTA—The hotel industry was among the hardest hit by the pandemic. As travel rates increase, hotels are turning to science and technology to create environments that make guests feel safer. Honeywell, a leader in connected buildings, released findings of a computer modeling study that examined indoor air quality in hotel common areas, focusing specifically on filtration and purification methods used to help mitigate potential airborne contaminants. The study found that mobile HEPA air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants by capturing particles as small as 0.3 microns and even smaller. In addition, placing purifiers in high-traffic areas is an...

OAKLAND, N.J.—Amerlux, an award-winning design-and-manufacture lighting company, launched an innovative, UV-free lighting solution that kills viruses, bacteria and other microbes on surfaces while providing crisp, white, comfortable illumination and meeting international standards for continual and unrestricted use around people. ActiveClean combines Amerlux’s commercial-grade LED lighting engineering with the UV-free, antimicrobial lighting technologies of Vyv, a leading health tech company that recently announced independent testing that demonstrates its 405-nanometer (nm) lighting capabilities are effective against non-enveloped viruses, which are the most difficult to kill. “ActiveClean is an attractive and valuable asset for companies looking to welcome hesitant workers back to the office, classroom and an assortment of other workplaces,”...

TAMPA, FLA.—In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many hotels have enacted enhanced cleaning procedures and housekeeping standards, including the promise of cleaning high-touch surfaces. But are those hotels delivering on that promise? AAA—which conducts annual anonymous in-person inspections at more than 26,000 hotels across North America—will now test sanitation levels of high-touch surfaces, as part of its evaluation. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on travelers’ expectations for cleanliness,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Travelers trust AAA for recommendations that focus on their safety and security. The Inspected Clean enhancement to our Diamond Program...

The hospitality industry has been greatly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. As facilities begin to reopen, guests must receive clear communications that show everything possible is being done to protect them during their stays. Many facilities are cleaning and disinfecting utilizing harsh chemicals such as bleach and ammonias, which are not environmentally friendly and are hazardous to human health. In addition, utilizing paper towels and alcohol-based wipes has produced copious amounts of waste. Cleaning and disinfection can be done in an environmentally friendly way as well as effectively and efficiently. Safer plant-based disinfectants can provide environmentally friendly and healthier...

ADDISON, TEXAS—Industry innovator CASPR Group is literally raising the roof on air and surface disinfection with the introduction of CASPR Blu Tile. This innovative new product offers game-changing simplicity to building managers, owners, and HVAC engineers. CASPR means Continuous Air & Surface Pathogen Reduction, and the introduction of the Blu Tile is representative of the innovative solutions the company has always offered. CASPR’s patent-pending technology converts oxygen and moisture in the air into low but effective levels of hydrogen peroxide, which are dispersed continuously throughout a building, reducing pathogens in the air and on surfaces. This unique technology produces no...

CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels Corp. announced that Hyatt hotels across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Southwest Asia regions have launched more than 160 Hyatt Loves Local collaborations in a continued effort to help revitalize and advance care to communities and small businesses recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the success of the 2020 community-driven initiative, which provides complimentary resources and exposure to select local businesses that have struggled during the pandemic, Hyatt Loves Local has evolved to further meet the current needs of Hyatt communities and guests, including collaborating with more minority-owned and female-owned businesses, and delivering reimagined...

INCLINE VILLAGE, NEVADA—Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, the only full-service waterfront resort in North Lake Tahoe, has received CovidClean Certification from Safehotels, a world-leading hotel safety and security certification company. Based on World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, the CovidClean Certification verifies key standards of cleaning, hygiene, social distancing, and on-site resources, training, and awareness for hotels during the pandemic. “In a time when confidence and trust are a top priority for travelers, Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe is proud to receive CovidClean Certification from Safehotels,” said Michael Murphy, General Manager at Hyatt...

DENVER—Kärcher North America, a subsidiary of global cleaning technology leader Alfred Kärcher, GmbH & Co, announced a partnership with biosafety company, R-Zero, to distribute R-Zero’s hospital-grade UV-C disinfection system, Arc. Kärcher will leverage its robust North American presence to deliver Arc’s sustainable disinfection technology to more organizations as the nation reopens. Kärcher makes powerful and efficient cleaning solutions for home and professional use. Founded in 1935, Kärcher has a simple innovation philosophy: innovation is what benefits the customers. Today, approximately 90 percent of all Kärcher’s products are five years old or younger, and R-Zero’s Arc is the latest example of Kärcher’s...

CHEVY CHASE, MD.—One of the fastest growing hotel management companies in the United States—PM Hotel Group—also happens to be one of the ones most committed to corporate responsibility. The Chevy Chase, Md.-based company has its own Director of Sustainability + Facilities (Christie Berlin), manages four LEED hotels, including one LEED Platinum (Home2 Suites by Hilton Silver Spring, Md.) and purchases 100 percent green energy. “We started 10 years ago with 11 hotels,” Berlin says. “We now manage 51 and are working on three development projects at the moment.” “This company has always been committed to corporate responsibility,” Berlin adds. “It definitely...

SKOKIE, ILL.—Nominations are open for the second annual Guest Room attendant (GRA) Excellence Award, acknowledging the contributions of GRAs at hotels across the United States. Sponsored by UMF Corp., the award takes on even more importance in a year that upended the hospitality industry. GRAs serve as the first line of defense in cleaning and disinfecting guestrooms and common areas in hotels, and their role has been crucial as the world battles the pandemic. Nominations are open through July, 31, 2021. “We established the National Guest Room Attendant Excellence Award to honor the hospitality housekeeping departments that work to ensure guest safety, satisfaction and...