AUSTIN, TEXAS—The Austin Convention Center Department (ACCD) is celebrating a milestone in the redevelopment and expansion project, known as UnconventionalATX, having officially entered the first phase of construction. The new $1.6 billion Austin Convention Center will significantly increase the rentable square footage of the existing facility, growing from 365,000 square feet to 620,000 square feet of rentable space. The redeveloped Convention Center will be one of the most sustainable public projects in Austin’s history. The projected $1.6 billion investment is fully funded by Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) revenues, Convention Center revenues, and the state’s Project Financing Zone—not property taxes. The project has...

WILMINGTON, DEL.—Diversey, a Solenis company and global leader in cleaning and hygiene solutions, has expanded its offering with ecoSTORM, a fast-acting bio-based drain maintenance program that breaks down fats, oils, grease and organic buildup before it becomes a larger problem. Ideal for commercial kitchens, food service, retail and healthcare environments, ecoSTORM naturally breaks down buildup to help prevent plumbing, drain and odor issues—allowing facilities to operate more efficiently while supporting cleaner, more hygienic conditions. “Customers are looking for options that help them maintain cleaner and more efficient operations,” said Gaetano Redaelli, Global Business President, Institutional Solutions, Solenis. “With ecoSTORM, we expanded our portfolio with a...

DES PLAINES, ILL.—Chicago Faucets introduces the E-Tronic 80 SoapBank a Multi-Feed Soap Dispensing System; a centralized bulk soap delivery solution designed for high-traffic commercial and institutional restrooms. Engineered for applications including airports, retail, stadiums, education campuses, and public venues, the system helps architects, plumbing engineers, designers, and facility owners simplify maintenance while supporting cohesive touchless design. Unlike individual cartridge-based dispensers that require frequent replacement and ongoing maintenance, the E-Tronic 80 system uses a centralized bulk soap reservoir capable of supplying multiple dispensers from a single refill point. The design helps reduce refill labor, improve soap availability during peak usage periods, and minimize...

In hospitality environments, every detail of the guest experience matters—including the restroom. While lobbies, guestrooms, and dining areas often receive the most design attention, restrooms remain among the most frequently used spaces in hotels, resorts, and conference facilities. The condition and design of these high-traffic spaces can influence how guests perceive the entire property. Bathrooms, once simply seen as an institutional necessity, have become important markers of guest trust and operational efficiency. 2026 findings from the Healthy Handwashing Survey conducted by Bradley Company highlight how strongly restroom conditions shape public perception. The nationwide survey found that 86 percent of Americans say...

NATIONAL REPORT—You’re the Engineer or Maintenance Manager of a large resort facility or hotel, and the time has come to restart or reopen. Your assets have been shut down and in mothballs for some time now. We’re talking for at least a month. Due to the current situation, your best-laid maintenance plans have gone out the window. All you and your maintenance team could do was do the basics when this started and mothball the site. Back when you put it into mothballs, you had limited time and resources and were rushing to complete the mothballing process. Time was of...

Designing Every Detail of the Customer Journey A recent global survey conducted by renowned consumer research firm MetrixLab found that 80 percent of people would not return to a restaurant with a dirty restroom. With this in mind, RiverTrail Beerworks prioritized the guest experience by installing the D|13 Group Integrated Sink System featuring the XLERATORsync® Hand Dryer. Watch this video to learn more! As a striking addition to the Saranac Lake, New York community, RiverTrail Beerworks set out to elevate every touchpoint of the customer journey, including the restrooms. After experiencing the performance and reliability of XLERATOR® Hand Dryers at their previous locations,...

Search “Kimpton” on Green Lodging News—for Kimpton Hotels—and you will find a long list of articles highlighting the brand’s environmental efforts going all the way back to July 2006 when Green Lodging News was launched. I recently heard from Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia and would like to share a bit about their unique efforts. The property, housed in the historic Art Deco Architects Building, is LEED Gold certified, reflecting a globally recognized standard for sustainability achievement. The hotel integrates eco-conscious practices across its 230 guestrooms, public spaces, and event facilities, including: Energy efficiency: All guestroom, corridor, and public space lighting uses LED bulbs....

MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS.—The condition of a public restroom plays a powerful role in shaping how people perceive a business—and whether they choose to return. According to Bradley Company’s 2026 Healthy Handwashing Survey, 68 percent of Americans say they are more likely to return—and spend more—at businesses with clean, well-maintained restrooms. Cleanliness, reliable supplies, and ease of use directly influence user confidence, hygiene behavior, and customer loyalty—making restroom maintenance a critical driver of facility performance and long-term business value. In fact, 86 percent of U.S. adults say they expect the quality of a business’s restrooms to reflect the quality of its goods...

Hotels spend considerable resources on the guest experience. They’ll put money into thread counts, lobby aesthetics, spa amenities, and dedicate meticulous attention to even the smallest detail to ensure guests feel comfortable, safe and catered to. And yet, despite all this care, water rarely makes the list, even though guests drink it, bathe in it, cook with it, and breathe it in through steam. For most properties, water quality is treated as a utility concern rather than a hospitality one, and that can create serious problems. The Problem with What's Coming Out of the Tap Municipal water supplies in the United...

MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS.—Bradley Company announces the expansion of its popular Elvari Washroom Accessories Collection with four new accessory models designed to increase restroom design options while supporting greater operational efficiency for facility teams. The new models include a Recessed Combination Unit, Recessed Paper Towel Dispenser, Jumbo Toilet Paper Dispenser, and Free-Standing Waste Receptacle—each featuring Elvari’s refined modern aesthetic with seamless curves, premium stainless-steel construction, and coordinated finish options. “Elvari has become a preferred accessories collection for designers and specifiers seeking a more elevated, unified restroom environment,” says Melissa Schulz, Associate Product Manager, Bradley Company. “Recognized with multiple product design awards, the collection continues to expand with...