Prospera Health and Hospitality Showcases RoverUV Mobile Disinfection Robot

On May 12-14, 2021, the Austin Hotel & Lodging Association held its first face-to-face board meeting since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic. In the wake of the hotel industries most devastating decline in occupancy, it is not surprising that one of the topics at the forefront was cleanliness and safety.  At the event, Prospera Health and Hospitality Services, (PHHS) presented and demonstrated the equipment, methods and technology that will now elevate safety in hotels and help move the industry forward.     

PHHS is the sister company of Prospera Hospitality, an established hotel and restaurant management company, which has been serving the hotel industry for over 19 years. Prospera is comprised of seasoned experts from the hotel and restaurant industry, as well as experienced professionals from the medical field that proved to be a powerful combination. At the onset of the pandemic, the team began merging their collective knowledge of the products and practices needed to reduce the risk of disease transmission by providing more thorough cleaning and disinfecting with applying technology to the mitigation process.  

“To say the hotel industry was changing fast is a major understatement,” said Kevin Kilkeary, President and CEO of Prospera Hospitality.  “Once we saw the true effects that the pandemic was having on our industry, we knew we had to shift our thinking to become solution oriented and not just merely reactionary,” said Kilkeary.  

As the hotels and restaurants struggled to navigate the new challenges and health standards during the pandemic, PHHS began vetting specialized solutions that would exceed CDC guidelines to ensure that guests and employees would remain safe, comfortable and productive.

The PHHS team conducted case studies using UV-C technology at a hotel and the results were compelling. Pathogens were eliminated and guests responded positively to the safety measures, leading to increased occupancy. 

The RoverUV Mobile Disinfection Robot, unlike manual approaches to disinfection, uses UV light atop an autonomous mobile robot which provides rapid, hands-free, effective inactivation of harmful microorganisms found in the air and on surfaces.

This device is able to disinfect large spaces - lobbies, hallways, or cafeterias - effectively, without any human interaction. Intelligent sensors enable the robot to avoid obstacles, yet perform disinfection safely.

“We have decades of experience building, managing and providing services to top hotel brands around the country,” said Kevin Kilkeary, Jr, President, Prospera Health and Hospitality Services, LLC.  “Our goal was to apply our years of medical expertise with insider hospitality experience to create the safest hotel and restaurant experiences possible without sacrificing quality or comfort.  We researched and sourced products and technology that provide a safer environment for guests from check in to check out. What we found were silent, highly effective devices that can be used for cleaning touchscreens or sanitizing entire rooms without jeopardizing the same level of style and comfort guests expect in their hotels,” said Kilkeary.

The Austin Hotel and Lodging Association meeting presented the first opportunity to demonstrate, in person, the specialized equipment that is available.

Denise Eisman, President of the Austin Hotel & Lodging Association said, "It was appealing to me to see a company like PHHS take such a proactive approach to the needs of the traveling public. This year taught us more about cleaning vs disinfecting and providing travelers a place where they can comfortably stay and feel safe.  The products that were presented are all designed to elevate safety protocols with the health and wellbeing of the traveler in mind,” said Eisman.   

The future of the hotel industry has been reshaped by the pandemic.  There is an expectation from the traveling public that the utmost care will be taken to ensure their safety.  Health has to meet hospitality for more people to become comfortable staying away from home.

In this new era, the hospitality industry must be prepared to decrease anxiety for hotel guests and staff. The UV-C market is evolving at an incredible pace and with the combination of robotics and UV, it is clear that hotels are going to be an exceedingly exciting place to work as technology advances.

To learn more about PHHS visit https://prosperahealth.com.