NEW YORK—Ten exhibitors received Editors’ Choice Awards during the Opening Ceremonies of the 96th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) and 2nd annual Boutique Design New York (BDNY), Sunday, November 13, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The awards recognize best new products within the categories of design, equipment & supplies, guest amenities, tabletop, and technology, as well as an eco-friendly equivalent to each of these categories. From the 10 winners, the Kenneth F. Hine “Best of Show” Award also was selected.
The 2011 Editors’ Choice Award winners are:
Kenneth F. Hine “Best of Show”—Corkcicle for the Corkcicle Wine Chiller, an innovative product that keeps white wine cold and brings room temperature red wine down to cellar temperature, eliminating the need for messy ice buckets.
Design—Royal Botania for Surf, a two-person hammock with semi-transparent fabric that blocks 86 percent of sun rays, made of Royal Botania’s stainless steel and mesh, and a canopy from Batyline.
Equipment & Supplies—G.A. Systems for Bedsledzz, a mattress dolly that allows one person to move any size mattress with ease.
Concept Amenities Wins Award
Guest Amenities—Concept Amenities for Jean-Michel Cousteau, a line of guest amenities designed with distinctive features including paraben-free liquids and soaps specially formulated with 100 percent organically certified Seaweed extract.
Tabletop—Corkcicle for the Corkcicle Wine Chiller, an innovative product that keeps white wine cold and brings room temperature red wine down to cellar temperature, eliminating the need for messy ice buckets.
Technology—PowerKiss for PowerKiss wire-free charging system, combining two products (the Heart and the Ring) to create wire-free cell phone charging. When the Heart is integrated into furniture, and the Ring is plugged into any phone, they meet on the desk or counter to charge wire-free.
Green Design—Emeco for 111 Navy Chair, made of at least 111 recycled PET plastic Coke bottles, and developed in partnership with Coca-Cola.
Green Equipment & Supplies—CookTek Induction Systems, LLC for OmeletBuster, a double burner induction cooktop that has revolutionized breakfast egg stations with enough power in each burner to cook a three-egg omelet in 90 seconds.
Eco Cobra Jacket Recognized
Green Guest Amenities—Cintas Corporation for the Eco Cobra Jacket, an eco-friendly garment option for bellmen, doormen and other front door hotel professionals—the latest product within the company’s EcoGeneration collection.
Green Tabletop—Bugambilia International for Bamboo Leaf Plate, a serving platter in the shape of a leaf, made from all natural bamboo fiber and free of any plastic, formaldehyde or melamine.
Green Technology—Verve Living Systems for the Verve Key Card Switch, one of the simplest, most economical ways to save energy through occupancy-based control of lighting, HVAC and miscellaneous electric loads.
Editors from leading hospitality trade publications reviewed nearly 150 submissions of the latest products for the industry, and selected winners based on innovative product design, how a product answers a particular industry need, creative use of material or construction, and development or use of a new technology.
Ten Judges Determined Winners
Judges for the 16th annual IHMRS Editors’ Choice Awards were Michael Birchenall, Foodservice Monthly; Kris Burnett, Hospitality Upgrade; Glenn Hasek, Green Lodging News; Fred Klashman, Total Food Service; Dennis Nessler, Hotel Business; Michelle Renn, Hotel Online; Andrew Sheivachman, Hotel Management; Len Vermillion, Lodging; Ed Watkins, Lodging Hospitality; and Jeff Weinstein, HOTELS.
The 96th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show runs through Tuesday, November 15 at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Boutique Design New York runs through Monday, November 14 in Javits North.
The International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show is sponsored by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc., and the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association; and is managed by GLM. Boutique Design New York is a joint venture of these associations and ST Media Group.
