EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS.—Excel Dryer, Inc., the pioneering force behind the touchless, high-efficiency hand dryers, spotlights its partnership with two eco-conscious New York breweries: Lake Placid Pub & Brewery and Big Slide Brewery & Public House. These beloved Adirondack establishments, owned and operated by the same team, are the latest in a growing list of businesses using XLERATOR technology to advance their commitment to sustainability. For the breweries’ operators, environmental stewardship is more than a talking point—it’s woven into every part of their business, from compostable containers to 100 percent wind-powered facilities. But as they looked to make improvements in restroom...

ATLANTA—ASHRAE successfully concluded its 2025 Annual Conference, held June 21 to 25 in Phoenix, Ariz. The conference drew 1,990 registered HVAC&R and building science professionals, as well as supporters from around the world to explore critical topics such as heat pumps, refrigerants, thermal energy storage, decarbonization strategies, workforce development and more. Attendees engaged in over 80 technical sessions spanning eight tracks. The most highly attended sessions included: Using Artificial Intelligence to Make You Irreplaceable LIVESTREAM: Gen AI in HVAC Industry: State of Art, Case Studies and Future Applications A Tale of Two Campuses: Energy Storage at Arizona’s Flagship Universities Generative AI...

I have reported many times over the years—especially during the height of COVID-19—about the impact of indoor air quality (IAQ) on the guest experience. (See the IAQ section of Green Lodging News.) According to EPA, there are a lot of elements of a hotel space that can negatively impact IAQ—everything from carbon monoxide to pesticides to cleaning products to what is off-gassed by pressed wood products. Hoteliers often fail to provide the level of IAQ that guests deserve. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 8 percent of the U.S. population has asthma. An estimated...

DALLAS—Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Galleria, a premier hotel located near the Galleria in Dallas, is excited to announce the expansion of its wellness services with the addition of select guestrooms and meeting spaces outfitted with advanced air purification technology. The improvements are part of the hotel’s ongoing commitment to supporting guests’ well-being, particularly business travelers and corporate groups seeking cleaner, more health-conscious environments. In collaboration with Pure Wellness, a leading provider of turnkey antiviral, antimicrobial, and hypoallergenic solutions, Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Galleria now offers 10 guestrooms and recently renovated meeting spaces, including a ballroom and two board rooms...

NATIONAL REPORT—Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) from allergens, mold, mildew, viruses, bacteria, cigarette smoke, marijuana smoke, vaping, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and more can easily result in a negative experience for your guests, harsh reviews of your property, and unexpected time, labor and dollars spent addressing the source(s) of the problem. Being proactive about IAQ can prevent a lot of headaches—literally—and even result in a higher room rate if you utilize one of the programs available from the companies in lodging that specialize in helping with TRevPAR (Total Revenue Per Available Room). Each company is unique in its approach....

DES PLAINES, ILL.—As water safety regulations continue to evolve across the U.S., Chicago Faucets is hosting a new, expert-led webinar on June 19 at 11 a.m. CST designed to help facility managers in healthcare and other regulated environments stay ahead of compliance challenges. Click here to register. The webinar will be presented by Spenser Johnson, Director of Water Safety and Management at Barclay Water Management, Inc. It is titled “Navigating Evolving Water Management Regulations: Ensuring Compliance & Public Safety,” and will offer vital insights into developing and maintaining effective Water Management Programs (WMPs) that align with national standards and state-specific mandates. Legionella Looms Everywhere, New Regulations Coming Up Healthcare facilities,...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) announced that Knauf Insulation, Inc. has expanded its portfolio of products that have earned the Asthma & Allergy Friendly Certification. The newly Certified Knauf Performance+ insulation products include the Performance+ Earthwool 1000˚ Pipe Insulation, Pipe & Tank Insulation, and KwikFlex Pipe & Tank Insulation with Ecose. These additions build on Knauf’s previously Certified HVAC and residential insulation products, making the Performance+ portfolio an ideal solution for a wide range of building environments. “Expanding our portfolio of Asthma & Allergy Friendly Certified products to include pipe and tank insulation reinforces our belief that every part...

Since I first entered the lodging industry in 1989, I have come across thousands of new products and technologies. It must have been around 2002 that I first encountered Excel Hand Dryer’s XLERATOR Hand Dryer. I will never forget the first time I placed my hands below it. It was unlike any other hand dryer experience I had up until that time. The air power seemed jet engine strong and unforgettable. I walked away impressed, knowing that company owner Denis Gagnon and his son William had a winner on their hands. I suspect you have experienced one of the XLERATOR Hand...

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS.—For almost a quarter of a century, Excel Hand Dryer Inc. has been producing XLERATOR Hand Dryers—a game changer in the hand drying space that dries hands completely in 10 seconds while using 80 percent less energy than conventional hand dryers. Excel Hand Dryer Executive Vice President and COO William Gagnon said there are now approximately one million XLERATOR Hand Dryers in use around the globe. “We just put 1,000 XLERATOR Hand Dryers in the largest airport in the world in Turkey,” Gagnon says. XLERATOR Hand Dryers can help facility managers save thousands of dollars annually by eliminating the...

LEBANON, N.H.—FreshAir Sensor, a leading innovator in indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring, found that four out of five travelers have experienced discomfort due to exposure to cigarette or marijuana smoke, perceived chemicals, and other pernicious odors during their stay. More than 90 percent of respondents said they saw value in the ability to choose a room that hotels can guarantee to have a higher standard of air quality. These trends show a rising number of travelers who value enhanced indoor air quality (IAQ) as an integral feature of the guest experience—and they’re willing to pay more to get it. FreshAir...