NATIONAL REPORT—The hotel industry is one of the most successful in the world, but also one of the most competitive. Statistics show that there are literally hundreds of thousands of hotels worldwide, each competing with the surrounding establishments for the attention of each and every traveler, and all doing what they can do to stay ahead of the game and keep up with the competition. The roles and responsibilities of a hotelier can therefore be varied and numerous, as it’s vital to constantly try to think two steps ahead and explore every avenue to improve your service, appeal to the...

PLANO, TEXAS—Aimbridge Hospitality, the leading, global, third-party hotel management company, has earned the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Maintenance at an initial 96 hotels across North America. The company has enrolled an additional 209 hotels to pursue the rating, bringing the total number of its properties in the program to 305 initially, with the goal to grow the number of enrolled hotels in the near future. “Aimbridge Hospitality is pleased to bring the benefits of the WELL Health-Safety Rating to hundreds of our hotels, leveraging our scale and expertise to deliver a comprehensive and rigorous approach to wellness,...

NATIONAL REPORT—As concern about COVID-19 has skyrocketed, so too has interest in wellness and one of the places that interest has been focused is the guestroom—specifically the mattress. Any company today must be careful about its anti-viral/anti-bacterial/anti-microbial claims but at least two mattress companies are offering options that include at least one or more of the above “anti” properties. The first company, Corsicana Mattress Co., is offering its Copper ProTech collection to the hospitality market. Corsicana, one of the top few mattress makers in the United States, has nine mattresses and a topper engineered with copper-infused foam. The copper included...

Beyond topical or air spray cleaning and disinfection in the guestroom, how far have you gone to accommodate your guests during this pandemic? I am curious to know. I have traveled some in recent months and certainly touchable items such as pens, and pads have been removed. I have stayed at a Hilton Home2 Suites in Orlando a couple of times and the TV remote was wrapped to indicate it had been sanitized. The hotel bathroom there still had its soap, shampoo, and conditioner dispensers. Have you backtracked on dispensers and transitioned back to the wasteful individual plastic containers?...

DALTON, GA.—Zeftron Nylon, a premium nylon 6 solution-dyed yarn system for commercial carpets, is introducing an educational eBook, “4 Reasons Carpet Matters Now.” The free resource provides insights on how designers and facility managers can utilize carpet to improve the health and safety of commercial environments. The easy-to-read document consists of articles, research, and practical tips. It shows how carpet can be designed to create socially distanced and wellness-focused spaces. Research contained in the eBook shows how carpet contributes to improved indoor air quality, and how carpet can best be properly maintained to achieve maximum performance and aesthetics. “With the onset...

NEW YORK—A recent study conducted by renowned European air filtration expert, Dipl. Ing. Peter Tappler of IBO Interior Analysis OG, said that Dexwet’s patented Pure Air Filters tested effective in capturing nano-fine dust particles and airborne pathogens carried by aerosols including allergens, bacteria, and viruses such as the coronavirus. Dexwet Air Filters is an air filter manufacturing and technology company making “Pure Air Filters” for use in homes, commercial properties, and custom business applications in Europe for more than 15 years. Dexwet, with more than 60 patents worldwide, announced its plans to make the filters available for purchase in the United States in...

If real, achievable, disinfection measures increase confidence, the public will return. People are placing health as a top priority. Almost 85 percent make their travel decisions based on health safety. Some 40 percent are unsatisfied with the communications they’re currently receiving about safety protocols according to PWC. Half of consumers are also willing to pay extra for more safety. To get the public back, business has to have high level safety protocols and make people aware of them. The devastation to the hospitality industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic is illustrated in a survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association...

DALLAS—Aimbridge Hospitality, the leading, global, third-party hotel management company, announced a collaboration with the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), enrolling the first 100 portfolio hotels in the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management, building a foundation for enrolling additional properties from Aimbridge’s vast portfolio. This collaboration will advance health and safety in the hospitality sector, address the challenges and expectations presented by COVID-19, and create well environments for productive associates and satisfying guest experiences now and in the future. As a global, third-party operator, Aimbridge is uniquely positioned to comprehensively address COVID-19 concerns for their properties, with a...

MIAMI—The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), the annual gathering of international leaders in the multitrillion-dollar global wellness economy, has received rave reviews for its first-ever hybrid event, which promises to be a new model for conferences. Notable as one of the first U.S. meetings to take place both in person and virtually, the hybrid “Safe Summit” was held at The Breakers Palm Beach from November 8 to 11, and attracted 100+ in-person delegates and 500+ highly engaged virtual attendees. “We knew the only way to host a Summit this year was to create a new model for how a conference can...

PALM BEACH, FLA.—Interest in wellness is greater than ever as people are re-evaluating their priorities and try to focus more on their health in a period of much uncertainty, a distressed economy and a public health crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic, participants heard at ILHA’s webinar last month, which was moderated by Roger A. Allen, group CEO at Resources for Leisure Assets. ILHA is the International Luxury Hotel Assn. “We’re very bullish on wellness,” said Susie Ellis, Chairman and CEO of the Global Wellness Institute, one of the panelists at the webinar. She said increased demand has significant implications...