HOTEL SOGO's ELEVEN ANTI-COVID INNOVATIONS

With the current situation, businesses really have to adjust and innovate in order to do business as usual.

Hotel Sogo already made some innovations in order to make sure that everyone is safe while staying at the hotel. Here are the eleven innovations made by the hotel in order to fight covid-19:

1.UVC Disinfection of Rooms, Utensils, Key Cards & Cash

Sogo was the first hotel, as early as March 2020, to use UVC (254nm) to fight Covid-19. Taking the cue from hospitals abroad, remote-controlled carts have been deployed for room disinfection. Compartments for utensils, key cards, and cash were also fitted with UVC LEDs but kept away from personnel since 254 nm UVCs, while great for killing viruses that may harm the skin and eyes.

  

2. FAR UVC Disinfection at Elevator Lobbies

-After extensive research, Sogo has acquired and tested the FAR UVC 222 nm lamps that effectively kill viruses while being harmless to humans. Just recently (2020 Q4) produced commercially, it is quite expensive and is sold by only a few manufacturers abroad. Sogo is the first hotel to install these revolutionary excimer lamps in all its elevator lobbies.

  

3. UVC Disinfection for Room Aircons 

All room aircon is to be fitted with specially manufactured UVC LEDs. Through germicidal irradiation, the UVC light attacks the DNA/DNR of micro-organisms, killing bacteria and viruses, and preventing their spread. As it is turned on with the aircon, room air is always sterilized each time it passes through the unit, ensuring the best possible room air quality for our guests.  

4. Ventilation ACR is Doubled in Lobbies & Hallways

The ACR (Air Change Rate) or the number of times the air is replaced for all general spaces is set at ≥ 4 per hour by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-Conditioning Engineers). Sogo is doubling its current ACRs for intensified inflow of covid-free fresh air to accelerate indoor air replacement.  

5. Covid Sniffer Dogs for Screening of Employees 

Dubai and Helsinki Airports have deployed Covid sniffer dogs to screen passengers and report a > 94% accuracy rate with dogs detecting the virus days before symptoms even start. Sogo has tied up with a leading K9 company, to have specially-trained Belgian Malinois dogs regularly screen its personnel for Covid. 

6. Thermal Scan Controlled Doors 

For most branches, guests on their own can get scanned before entry, and if within the safe temperature limit, main doors will open automatically without the need for any contact. 

7. Microbial ATP Fluorescence Testing of Surfaces 

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) Testing measures ATP content to indicate the presence and amount of microorganisms. Each branch has an Anti-Covid Team that regularly swabs high touch point surfaces that pass through ATP Fluorescence Detectors to verify microbial presence and effectivity of the new protocols.

  

8. Anti-Microbial Coatings on Furnishings, Fixtures & Touch Points 

Widely used in hospitals and mass transports in China, Hong Kong, and Japan, these Polymer coatings are formed after spraying millions of nano-capsules with contact killing and anti-adhesion features that lasts for weeks. It effectively kills bacteria and viruses, including H1N1 and Covid. Sogo applies these overall furnishings and touchpoints.

9. Reduced TouchPoints with No-Contact Fixtures (with photos of no-contact fixtures) 

A Sogo study shows that pre-pandemic, guests had a minimum of 59 Touch Points (TPs) during a typical hotel stay. Due to new protocols that include contact-less fixtures, TPs have been reduced by 40.7% with the goal to achieve a reduction of 66.1% with more advanced technology centered on cellphone use.

10. Multi-Stage Air Purifying Equipment in Lobbies

To further sanitize indoor air, Sogo installed air-purifying equipment having several levels of filters: Pre-filter, Activated Carbon, HEPA (H11), with built-in Cold Catalysts, Ion Generators and UVC lights that eliminate allergens and pollutants such as dust, pollen, odor, bacteria, viruses, and even reduces carbon dioxide levels. 

11. No-Contact Key 

Specially designed key (keychain) to avoid touching. This is one of our giveaways included in some of our promos.