FORT WASHINGTON, PENN.—Nearly three in five Americans (57 percent) believe paper towel dispensers in public restrooms usually waste more product than necessary, according to a recent survey commissioned by Sofidel, a leading global provider of paper for hygienic and domestic use. The survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll from August 17 to 23, 2018 among 2,038 U.S. adults ages 18 and older and also revealed how many Americans admit to using more paper towels than necessary. “The overuse of paper towels is a common occurrence in public restrooms today, as many dispensers aren’t designed to curb waste,” said...

BUFFALO, N.Y.—Ashford Inc. and Pure Wellness Rooms announced that hospitality industry veteran Larry Hall joined Pure Wellness as its new CEO. Hall is taking the helm of Pure Wellness at a time when there is growing demand for health and wellness offerings in the hospitality industry. With a solid foundation in place, Hall will focus on driving significant growth for Pure Wellness as the company further solidifies its market position as a leading provider of wellness-oriented hotel rooms in the United States. Hall brings over three decades of leadership experience in global hospitality and service-based organizations. He has a solid...

BENSENVILLE, Ill.—World Dryer, a leading global manufacturer of hand dryers, will showcase its portfolio of state-of-the-art energy-efficient hand dryers in Booth 2136 at ISSA Show North America 2018. Held from October 29 to November 1 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, the ISSA show brings together all segments of the professional cleaning industry, including building operations managers, facility directors and engineers, in-house cleaning professionals and more. World Dryer’s ongoing mission is to lead the industry in meeting every functional consideration that goes into a well-planned restroom environment with high-speed, energy-efficient hand dryers designed to fit the needs of...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc., a global leader in water, hygiene and energy technology and services, has been named to the 2018 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) North America index, a globally recognized comprehensive assessment of leading sustainability-driven companies. This is Ecolab’s fourth consecutive year on the North America index, and the company’s fifth listing since 2012. “Ecolab is committed to operating responsibly as we work to make the world cleaner, safer and healthier, and we are honored to be recognized for this commitment through our inclusion on the 2018 DJSI North America Index,” said Chairman and CEO Douglas M. Baker,...

As an observer of the lodging industry, one of the most fascinating ongoing debates to watch is the hand dryer versus paper towel debate. You almost need a Ph.D. to understand it all. The center of the battle is the public restroom and the conversation involves many issues: environmental impact, hygiene, labor, plumbing and even plumbing code specifications. The more you learn, the more confused you can get—kind of like reading about the Mueller investigation. What prompted me to write about this topic is an online article in the Journal of Hospital Infection posted in July. The title of the article:...

ODESSA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Odessa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Excel Dryer as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Excel Dryer’s expanded and enhanced product line features the high-speed, energy-efficient XLERATOR, XLERATOReco and ThinAir Hand Dryers, the first in the industry to receive Environmental Product Declaration certification from UL Environment. Enhanced standard features include adjustable speed and sound controls, adjustable heat settings (high, medium, low and off), an externally visible Service LED and multi-voltage options. Call (888) 998-7704 or e-mail sales@exceldryer for more information.

ODESSA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Odessa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes TMI Sustainable Aquatics to its Green Product & Service Directory. From its inception in 1995, TMI has recognized the need for sustainability in recreational water, and concentrates on reducing the carbon footprint and energy usage of each aquatic center that it works with. TMI’s mission is to promote the advancement of sustainable aquatics. It utilizes Salt Pure chlorine generation equipment along with Salt Synergy UV and Chemistry Controllers to create the most pleasurable and healthy water possible, while reducing the amount of chemicals that are added to the water. By...

ORLANDO, FLA.—A new concept in tourism is coming to Orlando in 2019. Healthy Vacation Club will be transforming the tourism landscape by meeting the needs of the sustainability, organic, and non-toxic focused travel markets. The travel industry in the United States has been slow to adapt to the quickly growing demand for organic products, leaving those who strive to remove toxins from their lives with few vacation options. The brainchild of this innovative travel concept is Emelie Kamp, a wellness entrepreneur and founder of Worth it Living, a wellness brand whose mission is to empower individuals to live with wellness and...

ATLANTA—ASHRAE has published a revised edition of its standard that provides a more comprehensive approach to preventing the growth and spread of Legionella. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2018, Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems establishes minimum legionellosis risk management requirements for building water systems. The 2018 edition provides clarification of compliance requirements, as well as an update to enforceable, code-intended language to facilitate adoption of the standard for code and regulatory purposes. The standard was originally developed to help designers and building operators establish water management plans that include practices specific to the systems that exist in a particular building, campus or health care facility....

PHOENIX—DrainFunnel, a bathtub clog prevention device, has launched on Kickstarter. In addition to preventing clogs, DrainFunnel inventor Justin Hillsten says users will also enjoy saving time and money, avoiding hiring an expensive plumber to unclog their drain and trying to pull out gross hair balls on their own. “The number one cause of clogged drains is hair,” Hillsten says. “Hair and soap scum build up on the drain’s crossbars and around the tub stopper or grate. The majority of these clogs are superficial and able to be cleared with a pair of pliers or metal coat hanger.” In creating the DrainFunnel,...