Where people gather outside their own four walls during the pandemic, one thing is especially important: people want to feel safe. They want to realize that everything is being done to avoid contracting the coronavirus. We would like to explain to you how health protection can be implemented with the help of innovative ideas, using the Kempinski Hotel Frankfurt as an example. In addition to the usual hygiene measures, the hotel is the first hotel in Europe to use two modern technologies that offer employees and guests alike protection against corona infection.
On the one hand, the method of disinfecting surfaces using UV-C rays is used, and on the other hand, an antimicrobial coating is used that keeps disinfected areas free of bacteria and viruses. "Our owner and Kempinski Frankfurt management agree that luxury has a new meaning in these times: Five-star hotels must, above all, invest in the health protection of their guests and employees. We are very proud to be able to meet this requirement in full," explains hotel director Karina Ansos. In the fight against SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 disease triggered by it, the Kempinski Hotel Frankfurt is working together with the French, listed company BIO-UV Group and the British company Vitec Microgenix LTD.
Feeling good should also be possible in a pandemic. That's where health protection is of immense importance, of course. To ensure that this is guaranteed in the future for guests and the hotel's employees in the rooms and suites as well as all public areas, the owner of the hotel has invested in hygiene and protection technologies in addition to fiber optic cabling in all areas for hybrid events. The total volume for the protective measures is in the five-figure range. "Already since the beginning of the pandemic in mid-March 2020, we were in discussion with various manufacturers and finally decided on BIO-UV Group and Vitec Microgenix LTD," reports Karina Ansos. The decisive factor was also the test phase of the devices in the rooms. Ansos: "In autumn we started testing six rooms. We rented these out to guests and weekly swabs were sent to an independent laboratory in England. The results ultimately convinced us to work with both companies." To disinfect a wide variety of rooms, the Kempinski Hotel Frankfurt uses a device called BIO Scan 3D, which BIO-UV Group launched a few months ago. According to the manufacturer, it eliminates 99.99 percent of all bacteria and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. The device emits short-wave ultraviolet light via eight long tubes, UV-C rays that have been used successfully for decades to kill germs. At the Kempinski Hotel Frankfurt, all guest rooms, corridors, meeting and office rooms, ballrooms, restaurants, the spa area and the gym are disinfected using UV-C technology.
Efficient and ecological
The BIO-UV Group has been a world leader in using UV-C rays for water treatment for more than 20 years. The plant is based in Montpellier, and the UV-C light tubes used in the BIO Scan 3D are manufactured by the Heraeus Group in Hanau. "Disinfection with UV-C rays is completely free of chemicals, absolutely harmless to health and the environment, and its efficiency has been proven by independent laboratories in France," explains Patrick Lurati, Sales Director Surface Treatment, of the BIO-UV Group. "It is even used in hospitals."
Regions where one hundred percent of the short-wave light does not reach because of an unfavorable radiation angle are also treated with a so-called BIO Scan Mobile Unit. The handheld unit is suitable for small areas and objects such as the TV remote control, the telephone, the minibar and the safe. Complete disinfection of a standard 35-square-meter guest room takes about fifteen minutes; of the 225 guest rooms and suites, 136 have already been disinfected.
Antimicrobial coating for even more safety
"However, meticulous disinfection with UV-C radiation is only one aspect of our new hygiene measures," explains Karina Ansos. "We go one step further to ensure that all disinfected areas remain free of bacteria, germs and viruses. To do this, we apply an antimicrobial nano-coating to all surfaces." This comes from UK-based Vitec Microgenix LTD, which has focused on developing this patented technology for the past 15 years and has been applied in a variety of areas including hospital linen, protective suits, uniforms, military and manufacturing industries. "It protects against any infection with SARS-CoV-2 or other viruses and bacteria. If these land on the disinfected surface, they are immediately eliminated," explains Scott Perkins, CEO of Vitec Microgenix. To remain seamless and efficient, the antimicrobial treatment must be repeated at least once a year. However, Karina Ansos intends to use it every three to six months. She stresses that she will continue to implement these special hygiene measures even after the pandemic. "Every guest expects a clean hotel room when they check in, but in times of pandemic and after, most expect more than the normal cleaning processes. Raising the bar and investing in the highest level of hygiene and protective measures is our top priority."
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