PALMA, SPAIN—In celebration of World Oceans Day today, Iberostar is creating a digital space for NGOs and industry alike to discuss why responsible seafood consumption is critical to the wellbeing of our planet. In its online conversation series “Riding the Wave,” these discussions will immediately follow Iberostar’s announcement of its roadmap for 100 percent responsible seafood consumption in its operations by 2025. The roadmap is one of the tourism sector’s most ambitious yet, not only valuing high-volume certified seafood but also building pathways for higher transparency in supply chains, elevating gastronomical excellence, supporting local fisheries, and engaging millions of...

TORONTO—Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has entered into a collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, the global division of health care and research leader Johns Hopkins Medicine, to validate its new global health and safety program, Lead With Care, and provide ongoing, real-time guidance on the evolving COVID-19 situation. Grounded in the principles of care, trust and service, the Lead With Care program will be reviewed and validated by Johns Hopkins Medicine experts and implemented by teams at Four Seasons properties around the world. “Within this new environment, our singular goal is to provide guests, residents and employees with the confidence and...

NEW YORK—Equo Straws, the versatile eco-friendly alternative to plastic and paper straws, are now available on Kickstarter. They are biodegradable, uniquely functional to suit different tastes and behaviors, and made from all-natural ingredients. The Equo Team strove to produce a range of what is possible in the development of eco-friendly straws through the company’s innovative use of materials from nature. The multi-colored Equo Straws’ product line includes four choices with unique characteristics: Rice Straws—Made from rice and tapioca starch and available in plant-based, natural colors including white, green, pink, blue, yellow (After use, these can be cooked down and are fully...

Some random thoughts about a couple of matters after another interesting news week: A subtle but potentially significant change in how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discusses the importance of surface touching in the spread of COVID-19. Whereas it previously mentioned surface touching in the same breath as person-to-person contact, the CDC now lists touching infected surfaces under a section entitled, “The virus does not spread easily in other ways.” In a nutshell, touching surfaces or objects is now not thought to be a main way the virus spreads. “It may be possible that a person can...

NEW ALBANY, MISS.—Refrigerated Solutions Group announced that after a full review of its business opportunities, market conditions and other options, it reached the difficult but necessary decision to begin the process of permanently closing its manufacturing facility located in New Albany, Miss. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused sudden, dramatic, and unexpected conditions outside of the company’s control. The unprecedented and major economic downturn and the governmental-forced closures of many of RSG’s customers have contributed to these unforeseeable business conditions. As a result, product manufacturing will be consolidated to RSG’s Hudson, Wisconsin facility by October 31, 2020. The RSG warehouse...

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...

HILLSIDE, ILL.—The Aqualogic Ozone Faucet Line is the first conventional hot/cold faucet line that is also an ecologically safe way to clean food, and any other water-safe surface without any chemicals or chemical residue. Available as a standard single hole or pull out side spout, the faucets feature a small, thin ozone generator that uses regular house current to economically and naturally produce ozone water. The Aqueous Ozone produced is a powerful, clinically proven and extensively tested broad-spectrum microbiological agent which kills viruses, bacteria, mold, yeast and algae within seconds of contact. An Aqualogic Faucet is the easiest and most...

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...

JERSEY CITY, N.J.—In about a year and a half, Pace Glass Inc. will open the world’s largest glass recycling facility in Andover, N.J. The 250,000 square foot plant will join the company’s Jersey City, N.J. facility and give the Northeast and beyond a means to recycle 800,000 tons of glass annually. George Valiotis, CEO of Pace Glass, says between 6 million and 7 million tons of glass were recycled in the United States last year. “Hotels have a unique opportunity to play an important part of this recycling infrastructure,” Valiotis says. “They have a lot of waste they could divert.” Less...

JACKSONVILLE, FLA.—When crisis hits, fast thinking and a people-first attitude makes all the difference in how a company responds. That’s why, as early as March 17, family-owned Bacardi shifted gears to help produce much-needed hand sanitizers in response to the COVID-19 crisis. What began at one Bacardi-owned site in Puerto Rico quickly expanded to eight sites and, now, 14 Bacardi sites across countries and company brands, including BACARDÍ rum in multiple sites, GREY GOOSE in France, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE in England, MARTINI in Italy, DEWAR’S in Scotland, LEBLON in Brazil, and others have joined efforts to help. Each location is giving back...