Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Microsoft's Chief Product Officer of Windows and devices Panos Panay had some important things to say recently. Of course, because the world is stuck at home those things were shared via a blog post instead of what would have been something with a little more pizzazz with people at hand, but the message still came through loud and clear: Microsoft is trying (again) to take the fight to Chromebooks.

Third time's the charm.

The gist of it all is that even though Windows RT was bad, Windows 10S was a failure, and while people actually are excited about Windows 10X and dual-display devices, Chromebook sales hurt the bottom line hard enough that everything is being shifted to make the future of Windows more like Chrome OS. Single screen clamshells are now the focus instead of dual-display hardware, and there appears to be a major shift to the cloud to make it all better. Somehow. From Panay's announcement:

The world is a very different place than it was last October when we shared our vision for a new category of dual-screen Windows devices. As we continue to put customers' needs at the forefront, we need to focus on meeting customers where they are now. Our customers are leveraging the power of the cloud more than ever, and we believe the time is right to lean into this acceleration in a different way.

With Windows 10X, we designed for flexibility, and that flexibility has enabled us to pivot our focus toward single-screen Windows 10X devices that leverage the power of the cloud to help our customers work, learn and play in new ways. These single-screen devices will be the first expression of Windows 10X that we deliver to our customers, and we will continue to look for the right moment, in conjunction with our OEM partners, to bring dual-screen devices to market.

Panay and his team are right in most ways. With everyone at home, things are very different than they were last October. The cloud has replaced the company server for a lot of things, and people need a simple, affordable, and dependable way to work and play. But that landscape will change again and again, and Microsoft has to learn to be proactive instead of reactive if it wants to find that one big thing that makes everyone want to rush out and buy a Windows laptop again.

More: Folding displays vs. dual screens: Comparing pros and cons for PCs and phones

I think a big reason why people buy Chromebooks is being overlooked here: simple and easy services integration. Schools and businesses aren't buying Chromebooks because of the form factor or even the lower prices Chromebooks are bought because of how easy everything is to set up and administrate, and how simple they are to use. This is where Microsoft needs to innovate and try to surpass Google: at the services level, not the hardware level.

Windows 10X doesn't look like a failure. It's streamlined and more like a mobile operating system, with a focus on software containers and simplicity. That sounds a lot like a Chromebook, but is that what people in the market for an inexpensive laptop to use are looking for? By doing this Windows isn't playing to its existing strengths locally operated software that can be plenty powerful on even anemic hardware.

If I want a cloud-computer I already know how well a Chromebook can do the things I want it to do. I also know how well a Windows computer can do what I want it to do. Just like I wouldn't buy a Chromebook to run Adobe Photoshop, I won't be buying a Windows 10X machine to use an online office suite. A new operating system that integrates your cloud as local storage and makes everything just work can be a cool thing, but we already have that in Chrome. Microsoft shifting away from a new form factor to something more mundane doesn't make me want it more than I used to, and I'll bet I'm not alone.

Microsoft has been building Windows for a long time and I am going to assume they have plenty of metrics of how people use Windows devices. It just seems that by chasing Chromebooks, the company is ruining its chance to leap ahead in the race.

More:
Microsoft will lose the fight with Google if it makes Windows 10X more like Chrome OS - Android Central

Even my daughter had to stay home, Jordyn Astorino said. I cry just thinking about it.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we work, shop, eat and interact with friends and family.

Empty restaurant dining rooms on Mothers Day are just one example of how the coronavirus has disrupted our lives, at least for now.

Perhaps more important than a Sunday brunch that had to be canceled, the following accounts offer a glimpse at how life has changed for mothers and their families.

A Mothers Day to celebrate

When Jordyn Astorino gave birth to her daughter, Rory, two years ago, family members gathered in the Millcreek Township womans Saint Vincent Hospital room to celebrate.

It was much different March 23 after Astorino, 30, gave birth to her son, Brooks.

COVID-19 pandemic restrictions prevented everyone except her husband, Drew Astorino, from being in Astorinos hospital room. And he wasnt allowed to leave the room unless he was going home for the day.

Even my daughter had to stay home, Jordyn Astorino said. I cry just thinking about it.

As a physician assistant at Saint Vincents Westminster Family Medicine, Jordyn Astorino was fully aware of the threat COVID-19 posed as her due date approached.

She took a medical leave 10 days before Brooks birth to reduce the risk she would get COVID-19 or the flu.

When I went into labor, I had to go through the big, yellow tent at Saint Vincent when I arrived, Astorino said, referring to the COVID-19 triage tent the hospital had set up.

It didnt even feel like real life, she added. But the nurses were wonderful and really reassuring.

After Astorino delivered her 8-pound, 2-ounce baby boy, Astorino and her husband were able to use FaceTime to have video calls with family members.

It was only after mom and baby were discharged that the grandparents could see Brooks in person.

But they still had to keep their distance and not kiss the baby, Jordyn Astorino said. But at least they got to meet him.

Everyone else will meet Brooks on Sunday, when the Astorinos host a Mothers Day gathering.

Then we hope to take Brooks to see my grandmother, who is 93, lives at home and hasnt met the baby yet, Astorino said. "Well have see her through the glass, but thats OK.

Meeting at the window

Annette Sherrange, a 70-year-old former teacher and school administrator, moved back to Erie a dozen years ago.

She moved in with her mother, Gilda Carr, to help care for Sherranges father, who was in failing health.

Mother and daughter lived together until November when Carr, now 92, went to live at Manchester Commons after taking a fall.

The routine between mother and daughter has changed since then. Instead of a shared home on West 30th Street, they spent time together at the nursing home and chatted on the phone several times a day.

If she thinks of something, she will give me a call, Sherrange said. If I think of something, I will give her a call.

But calls arent always enough.

Sherrange brought her mom home for a visit at Thanksgiving and again at Christmas. She had planned to bring her home on Mothers Day for dinner with a relative.

With nursing homes in lockdown, that won happen.

Sherrange, who has three children and three grandchildren back in Connecticut, will instead do on Sunday what shes been doing in recent weeks. She will stand outside her mothers window and they will wave and share a smile.

The visit will be brief. Her mother has arthritis and it is hard for her to stand for long.

Two-hour visits, twice a week, have been replaced by these silent meetings at the window, daily calls and use of a video chat device.

But Mothers Day will be different this year. There will be no shared meal, no laughter around the table.

It different, but its doable, Sherrange said. Its been very aggravating not to get there, but what is very fortunate is that shes in a safe place. The care there is very good.

She worries, though.

You have to be accepting of what the situation is, but there is always that worry there, she said.

A visit with her mother isnt the only thing Sherrange is looking forward to. Shes a mother herself and is overdue for a visit with her own children and grandchildren in Connecticut.

Sherrange, who has asthma, said her children worry about her health. She wont go to see them just yet.

But she doesnt want to wait forever. She hopes to make the trip by the end of summer.

As soon as my children feel its safe, I will go on out, she said.

Separated at birth

Loren Cicero was hoping the COVID-19 pandemic would be finished or at least under control when her son, Roman, was due in mid-June.

Roman had other ideas, however. The baby was born at Magee-Womens, UPMC Hamot about seven weeks premature.

I went to my doctor on April 15 and they said I needed to go to the hospital, I was going into labor early, said Cicero, a 35-year-old Edinboro resident.

Doctors at Magee-Womens tried to stop her labor but Roman was born April 21, weighing 4 pounds, 13 ounces.

For the past three weeks, Cicero and her husband, Anthony, have been making daily trips to the hospitals neonatal intensive care unit to spend time with Roman.

Each time Cicero arrives at the hospital, she must go through a gauntlet of procedures designed to protect the countys youngest residents from COVID-19.

Right after I walk through the door, they ask me questions about COVID, take my temperature and have me put on a face mask, Loren Cicero said. This last time, they also had me use hand sanitizer.

Ciceros husband is the only other family member permitted in the NICU. Everyone else must make do with short videos and photos of Roman.

COVID-19 guidelines have made it difficult for Loren Cicero to bond with other NICU parents, even though she spends eight hours a day in the unit.

The parent lounge is currently limited to one family at a time, and its tough to share a smile when everyone is wearing a face mask, she said.

The nurses do a really good job at creating a sense of community, Loren Cicero said.

Friends and family celebrated Romans birth with a drive-through baby shower last weekend. Seeing people, even from 6 feet away, helped boost the couples spirits.

Roman is progressing well and could be discharged in a couple of weeks, Loren Cicero said. Hopefully, COVID-19 restrictions will continue to be reduced and the family can all gather to celebrate his birth.

My husband jokes that by the time Roman is walking, we can have everyone visit, Cicero said.

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNBRUCE.

Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNMartin.

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The joys of motherhood interrupted by pandemic - News - GoErie.com

With discussions ongoing about how the Premier League season might be concluded, talk about the next transfer window has inevitably slipped down footballs agenda.

A knock-on effect of the coronavirus pandemic is that we do not know for certain when or if this season will finish, and therefore when clubs will be able to start signing players.

The summer transfer window is a key time for managers looking to shape their squads and, with time on their hands, planning will be continuing despite the lack of matches.

By looking at the age and playing time of every player this season, we can see the make-up of each squad and where the clubs might want to strengthen, as well as where gaps may appear as they look to replace players who are out of contract and set to leave this summer.

We have already assessed the top 10 teams, so now we check out those in the bottom half of the table.

With seven first-team players aged 30 or older and the oldest average starting XI in the Premier League overall, Roy Hodgson has recently said he would like to inject some new blood into the squad.

It might be a cause for concern for Eagles fans that no player under the age of 27 is a regular starter.

At 27, talismanic attacker Wilfried Zaha is in the peak years of his career and could push for a move away like he did last summer, which would leave them with huge boots to fill.

The Eagles will also likely need to sign a new centre-back, with Scott Dann set to leave when his contract expires and Gary Cahill turning 35 in December.

Hired as the manager who knows how to build a trophy-winning side, Carlo Ancelotti is likely to be busy in his first summer transfer window.

With Leighton Baines out of contract and a decision yet to be made about whether to sign loan player Djibril Sidibe permanently, Everton will likely be looking for full-backs, although Jonjoe Kenny is set to return after a season on loan at Schalke.

Midfield could also be a priority, with only Gylfi Sigurdsson playing regularly in the first team this season, but in Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ancelotti already possesses two of the best prospects in the league up front.

With talk of a potential 300m takeover by a Saudi-backed consortium, Newcastle could be in for their busiest transfer window in years.

But even if it does not happen, the squad is still likely to look very different next season, with seven players currently set to leave following Ki Sung-yuengs exit in January.

As the joint-lowest scorers in the Premier League, Steve Bruce will no doubt look to bolster his attacking options, with 40m striker Joelinton having scored just one Premier League goal all season.

After letting both Maya Yoshida and Cedric Soares leave on loan in January and with their contracts expiring this summer, Southampton will need defensive reinforcements.

Although the club did sign two young prospects on loan to cover their departures, the Saints reportedly only have the option to buy centre-back Kevin Danso, with full-back Kyle Walker-Peters set to return to Tottenham.

A striker may also be on Ralph Hasenhuttls shopping list, as Shane Longs departure leaves him with only Danny Ings, teenager Michael Obafemi and 23-year-old Che Adams, who is yet to score for the club.

Graham Potter will likely look to bolster his attacking options, with the clubs all-time Premier League top scorer Glenn Murray set to celebrate his 37th birthday in September.

And despite the club spending over 36m on the attacking trio of Florin Andone, Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Jurgen Locadia, none have managed to establish themselves, although academy graduate Aaron Connolly has impressed and Jose Izquierdo is set to return after a long-term injury.

At the back, the club will be bolstered by the return of highly rated academy prospect Ben White, after the 22-year-old centre-backs impressive loan spell at Leeds this season.

With 10 players aged 32 or older by the end of June, it seems West Ham have a busy window ahead, although its not quite as bad as it seems.

With Javier Hernandez having already left, two of them squad players out of contract and four goalkeepers, the main concern will be how long captain Mark Noble and Robert Snodgrass can continue at the highest level.

Keeping hold of hot prospect Declan Rice will also be a priority for David Moyes, as well as having more options up front, with Sebastian Haller the only true striker to play more than 10% of minutes this season.

Ben Foster and Heurelho Gomes are set to leave when their contracts end as things stand, so goalkeepers will be Watfords number one target (pun intended), while some experienced defenders will need replacing.

The club might also start to plan for life after their talismanic captain Troy Deeney, who turns 32 next month an unenviable task given his importance over the past decade.

Since only Crystal Palace have played an older average starting XI this season, Nigel Pearson could look to add some youth to the squad, with Ismaila Sarr currently the only young prospect anywhere near the first team.

Whether Bournemouth stay up or go down, they will likely be one of the busiest clubs, with seven players set to leave.

The loss of wingers Ryan Fraser and Harry Wilson will have the biggest impact on the starting XI, while the departure of some of the old guard who got the club promoted in 2015 will leave a gap in the squad overall.

While the Cherries do have many talented young prospects, it will be interesting to see if Eddie Howe continues to rely so heavily on them to provide the depth and cover for the first team.

After needing to sign a lot of players with potential last summer to build out the squad, Dean Smith will be looking to add some top-flight experience this time around to help lead a first team approaching the peak of their careers.

Keeping star man Jack Grealish will obviously be the clubs main challenge, with the midfielder regularly linked with a move to Manchester United.

After suffering long-term injuries on New Years Day, the return of first-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton and striker Wesley will lessen the need for major reinforcements in those positions.

With relegation looking likely, the Canaries main task in the transfer window will be preventing their crop of exciting young prospects from being plucked away by bigger clubs.

Like Aston Villa counterpart Smith, Daniel Farke may choose to add some experience to go along with such potential, with only midfielder Kenny McLean playing more than 50% of minutes among the players at their peak.

After scoring 11 Premier League goals so far this season, star striker Teemu Pukki will likely also be in demand, although his exit would leave just Josip Drmic and 19-year-old prospect Adam Idah as options up front.

Read more:
Which Premier League squads need work in the transfer window? The bottom 10 clubs - News Info Park

Durham, William "Timmy", Sr., - 51, of Vineland, NJ passed away tragically on Monday evening May 4, 2020, at the Inspira Medical Center, Vineland, NJ. Timmy was born in Millville and raised in Vineland where he remained a lifelong city resident. Tim was a graduate from Vineland High School, Class of 1988. Along with his wife they owned and operated their own carpet cleaning business before being hired by the State of N.J. Dept of Corrections. He was employed for the past 19 yrs as a Senior Corrections Officer at the South Woods State Prison, Bridgeton, NJ. Tim enjoyed caring for his home, working in his yard, camping, restoring old mustangs and dirt bike racing with his family. Most of all he enjoyed his time spent with family. He is survived by his high school sweetheart/wife for a total of 32 yrs.; Tiffany (Hinckley) Durham, 2 sons; Billy & Gage Durham, Father; William Durham, Jr., Mother; Gail May, Sister; Tara Emeigh, 2 nieces; Lexi & Lauren Emeigh, Mother in-law's; Cathy (Bill) Everland & Linda Hinckley, Father in-law; Jerry (Beth) Hinckley as well as his 3 furbabies & extended Durham, Macken & Hinckley families. Private family funeral services will be conducted by the Pancoast Funeral Home. A public memorial service will be conducted at a time when it is safe for everyone to gather and remember what a special person Timmy Durham was and meant to everyone. For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made through his personal memorial page at http://www.inmemof.org/timmy-durham. To e-mail condolences & or tributes, please visit http://www.pancoastfuneralhome.com

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Durham, William "Timmy", Sr. - Press of Atlantic City

EVERYONE has their own way when it comes to freeing your carpet of hair, dust, bacteria and anything else you might find lurking in it's delicate fibres.

And while some people simply run over the surface with a vacuum occasionally, chances are you're not picking up all the trapped dirt - but this hack might just change all that.

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A cleaning fan revealed her clever carpet cleaning hack and people are shocked to learn just how much dirt is lurking in the floor.

The mum was challenged to find an effective carpet-cleaning method after being quoted up to 90 to clean the carpet in her just her kids' room alone.

She decided to try a hack she'd seen before but never tried, which involves using a cheap squeegee to scrape along the carpet fibres bringing all the hair and dust out.

From there you can vacuum as per normal knowing full well that you've effectively removed everything stuck in the carpets.

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She shared a clip of the hack in action, alongside a couple of snaps which show just how much she'd removed from her carpets with the squeegee - and it's incredible.

In the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group, she wrote: "Seen this trick being posted on a page I'm on.. wow just wow how amazing I wasn't even expecting it to work!

"Bring the hair and dust up out of your carpets and this is just a couple pound to buy. I was quoted 70-90 pound to clean the carpet in kids room.. but it looks fab now super made up."

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Many commented saying they too use the trick, but are still amazed by how much hair comes out each time.

"I do it every week honestly the hair that comes up shocks me. I hoover twice a day," one person revealed.

While another said: "I do this on a regular basis. I was shocked the first time I done it."

Loving the hack, on person added: "Thank you for posting this, Ive just done a bit of my bedroom carpet. Lets say I am to embarrassed to post a picture of what I collected."

Meanwhile, others suggested using a rubber broom, or even flip flops to do the same.

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We also shared one woman's hack for getting her windows sparkling using fabric softener and washing up liquid.

And a woman completely changes colour of the grotty patio she hasnt washed in six years using 2 The Range spray.

Plus this woman shared a stomach-churning photo of filthy bath after washing rug shes owned for only one MONTH.

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Mums genius 49p hack removes fluff from carpets and people are horrified by how dirty their floors are - The Sun

Many householders are more focused on keeping their homes clean.

Since the coronavirus outbreak first began, people have been keen to keep surfaces spotless and wipe down everything from door handles to light switches.

However, today's generation are also more conscious of the environmental effect of continuous cleaning.

Plenty of cleaning products contain harsh chemicals, are not sustainably packaged and are hard on the planet.

Plant-based homecare brand Seventh Generation has revealed top tips on keeping a home clean and green at the same time.

Clean germ hotspots

When cleaning your home, dont forget to clean germ hotspots like doorknobs and toilet handles with an eco-friendly all-purpose cleaning spray.

Use a product designed from renewable plant-based ingredients are a more sustainable option than ingredients made from petroleum.

Keep dust to a minimum

It's the start of the hay fever season and plenty of sufferes get no escape even indoors.

This could be a build-up of dust and particles looming in dusty corners and crevices. Dust the vents and clean any air filters to minimise exposure to dust allergens.

On the carpet

If your new place has carpets, or youve been walking on yours for over six months, look into options for having them cleaned - or take on the project yourself and rent a steam cleaner. Its worth it.

Work the room

Try rearranging the furniture and give your room a new lease of life. While youre at it, you can give the floors and walls a good clean, removing build ups of dust and grime.

Laundry sins

A full laundry basket hides a multitude of sins.

Go plant-based for your laundry too usingeco-friendly laundry detergents.A plant-based product contains no optical brighteners, which might cause serious skin irritation and allergy.

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Stay green for your spring clean - caring for the environment while beating the bugs - Hull Daily Mail

As select businesses get ready to open their doors Monday in Ontario's first phase of reopening the economy, one Toronto salon owner is callingforher industry to be added to the list.

Dana Ross is the owner of The Corner Spot, a unisex salon in Toronto'sUpper Beaches, and she says businesses in the salon industry are uniquelyequipped to reopen at this point in time due to the extensive training hair stylists must go through to become licensed.

"We are already trained and prepared to protect the public from infectious disease transmission, both from ourselves and from others. We train for this our entire careers," she said.

"Long before COVID-19, we were worried about HIV,Staph, Strep, Tuberculosis, and more. I cannot say this about many businesses that are already operating or that will be included in the first phase of reopening."

She even started a petition urging the provincial government to add the salon industry to the list, and it's garnered 245 signaturesthus far.

Ross' shop has been shuttered since March 14 due to government orders, and she said they weren't able to pivot sales due to the physical nature of the industry. As a result, their income has been reduced to zero.

And yet, as is true for all small businesses forced to close because of the pandemic, the bills have continued to come in. Between their mortgage, phone bill, internet bill, carpet cleaning, hydro, water, trash, HST payments, payroll taxes, accounting, insuranceand more, expenses add up to approximately$24,000 for just onemonth.

But Ross said her business is actually in a better position than most thanks tobill deferrals and being in the fortunate position of owning thecommercial property, and their calculations shows they can survive like this until August.

"That is not the case for many other salons that still have rent paymentseven with the announcement of small business rent subsidiesand have already exhausted personal funds to start up in the first place," she said.

"I predict a lot of salons will have to close up going on like this much longer. Imagine having to still pay even 25 per centof your rent with zero income for an undetermined length of time. "

This, coupled with the fact that hair stylists are uniquely equipped to implement measures that prevent the spread of the virus, is precisely why Ross says they should be allow to start opening Monday.

"Each and every day we not only ensure your safety against infectious diseases, but we are highly trained and highly regulated for exactly the reasons we are facing today," she said.

Ross has already created her own extensive reopening plan for when the time does come to start seeing customers again, and it's a two-page document with countless new measures to ensure safety such as installing dividers between all stations, providing staff members with sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitation tools, only allowing one customer in the sink area at a time, installingsneeze guards at the manicure station and the front desk and more.

And while she concedes that only appointed health officials know for sure whether it's safe for businesses to reopen, she says she truly believes salons have a better chance of keeping people safe within their environment than retailers or restaurants.

"We rely solely on the patronage of our clients to survive and to put food on the table. Without that, it is impossible to continue on," she said."We have more control of our workspace and movement within it than any retail business or restaurant, yet ours will likely be one of the last industries to reopen."

Continue reading here:
Toronto business owner calls for salons to be included in first phase of economy reopening - blogTO

Even in what now feels like more innocent times, travelers paid attention to the cleanliness of their hotel rooms, jokes about not touching remote controls or in-room phones notwithstanding. In this current climate, however, cleanliness has taken on a whole new level of importance, especially as the hospitality industry is now examining how (and when) it might begin re-opening propertiesand figuring out what guests will want to see before they feel comfortable enough to check back in.

To help address this topic for the industry at large, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) this week introducedSafe Stay, a program of enhanced health and safety protocols designed to prepare US hotels to welcome back guests and employees. Developed under the guidance of an advisory council, public health experts and Ecolab (a leader in cleaning solutions and services that collaborates with the EPA, FDA, CDC, and WHO), the initiative includes a checklist for cleaning rooms, meeting and common spaces and back-of-house areas; the use of cleaning products that meet the CDC guidelines; and reducing person-to-person contact in accordance with social distancing protocols. While hotels have always employed demanding cleaning standards, this new initiative will ensure greater transparency and confidence throughout the entire hotel experience, said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA, in a statement about the program. Rogers added that the new practices will continue to evolve to meet revised health and safety challenges and expectations, and to comply with any federal, state and local laws.

Enhanced protocols will include extra cleaning in high-touch areasCourtesy Hilton

In addition to committing to following the Safe Stay guidelines, some top brands are also developing their own in-house hygiene programs. Announced last week, the Hilton CleanStay With Lysol Protection program was developed by Hilton in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic Covid-19 Response team, and will include a multi-year partnership with RB, maker of Lysol and Dettol. Designed to be employed across the companys 18 brands, the program will include such elements as a seal to indicate when a room has been deep-cleaned; a check-list of 10 high-touch areas (from light switches to remotes and thermostats) that will receive extra disinfection; the removal of clutter like pens, paper, and guest directories; new cleaning and occupancy limits for fitness centers; contactless check-ins and digital room keys; and the addition of cleaning technologies like ultraviolet light.

Brands like Marriott will begin using technology like electrostatic disinfection mistersCourtesy Marriott

In mid-April, MarriottInternationalannounced the formation of the MarriottGlobal Cleanliness Council to help develop new cleaning technologies, guest contact policies, and food safety protocols, and to identify behaviors that will help minimize risk for both guests and employees at all its hotels. Anantara, which has a portfolio of 41 hotels across the globe, has rolled out Stay with Peace of Mind, a set of protocols that are fully compliant with international guidelines. In addition to heightened cleaning procedures, new measures will include increased scrutiny of supply chain deliveries and culinary preparation, and adapting fitness and wellness classes and restaurant seating in accordance with social distancing. Depending on the location, private experienceslike shopping without any other customers in the storecan also be arranged.

Keyless entry and safety seals are part of Hiltons new CleanStay programCourtesy Hilton

Extended-stay and private rental companies are also getting with the program. Global hotel residence brand AKA has always had rigorous standards (such as using a color-coded microfiber cloth system to limit cross contamination between surfaces, including in the en-suite kitchen), but has now added things like the use of hospital-grade EvaClean electrostatic disinfection misters (that kill viruses, bacteria and germs in sixty seconds), planning for new UV sanitization and bedding protection, offering contact-free payment, and performing regular internal audits to verify that all standards meet evolving EPA criteria; when a guest checks out, staff members will not enter the suite for 24- to 72-hours, and there will also be a 72-hour window before the next guest can check in to that suite. Boasting a roster of over 5,000 vacation homes in over 80 destinations, TurnKey has upgraded its patented GuestWorks cleaning system and verification technology to include such things as keyless locks and photo-verification of the use of COVID-19-fighting products, and has also developed cleanliness requirements for all its third-party housekeeping vendors.

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From Digital Room Keys to No-Contact Check-In: How Hotels Are Redefining Cleanliness and Safety - Robb Report

MRIDA, May 9, 2020.- El Pinar, one of the most emblematic and beautiful houses in Mrida, was put up for sale through the website construyendoideas.com.mx

According to the information, for only seven million dollars the house can be yours, that is approximatelly 175 million Mexican pesos.

Property description:

Second floor:

Third floor:

Guest House

In the information it is mentioned that the property includes a guest house with living room, dining room, kitchen, service room, in addition to being classified as an excellent opportunity for a business in the tourism industry or a boutique hotel.

El Pinar is one of the mansions built during the henequen boom, the green gold of Yucatan, and is one of the few that remains practically intact today.

Like many of the large houses in that area and nearby Itzimn, it was originally a country house for the families of the wealthy landowners of the henequen plantations.

The Yucatan TimesNewsroom

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El Pinar one of the most iconic and beautiful homes in Mrida is up for sale - The Yucatan Times

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR/WHSV) Folks using Amtrak will soon have to wear face masks on trains and at stations.

Amtrak announced Thursday, May 7, that the new rule is part of its effort to protect customers and front-line employees in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The policy begins on May 11, and will require customers to wear a facial covering over their nose and mouth while in stations, on trains and thruway buses. Amtrak says facial coverings can be removed while eating in designated areas, in private rooms, or seated alone or with a travel companion in their own pair of seats. Small children who are not able to maintain a facial covering are exempt from this requirement. Small children who are not able to maintain a facial covering are exempt from this requirement, according to Amtrak.

"The safety of Amtrak's customers and employees is our top priority and requiring a facial covering is one more way we can protect everyone," Amtrak President and CEO Bill Flynn said. "Amtrak continues to operate as an essential service for those who must travel during this public health crisis. Our services will be even more critical as our nation recovers."

Customers must supply their own facial covering.

In a statement, Amtrak announced it plans to take extra steps to santitize its stations and trains including:

- Limiting bookings: To help maintain CDC recommendations for physical distancing onboard trains, we have temporarily reduced Coach and Business class sales to 50% capacity.- Going cashless: As an added measure to ensure the health and safety of our customers and employees, we are temporarily accepting only cashless payments in stations and on trains.- Promoting physical distancing: Signage has been displayed at several of our busiest staffed stations to indicate safe distances in high customer traffic areas such as waiting rooms, in front ticket offices, at the base/top of escalators, lounge entrances, etc. In addition, clear protective barriers have been retrofitted at staffed stations where there are no current glass barriers.- Updating food and beverage service: We are temporarily offering Flexible Dining service in the dining or lounge car on all long distance routes (except Auto Train) and encouraging all Sleeping Car customers to select optional room service for their meals. In addition, we are limiting seating in dining and caf areas.

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Amtrak to begin requiring facial coverings on May 11 - WHSV