ANNAPOLIS, MD.—Thayer Lodging Group, an Annapolis, Maryland-based private equity real estate investment firm with a portfolio of 14 hotels, announced they will double their inventory of PURE Allergy Friendly rooms from 280 to 560 this year. Thayer has Pure Allergy Rooms in each of its hotels. Based on Thayer’s 2008 financial report, the group reported 171 percent cash on cash return for the PURE room investment. “These are remarkable figures, especially during tough economic times,” says Frederic V. Malek, co-chairman, Thayer Lodging Group. “In 2008, we generated incremental cash flow of $438,000, which increased the value of our hotels...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Rest Assured as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Rest Assured introduces Bugstop, mattress encasements that offer an effective way to prevent bed bug habitation of mattresses and box springs. The encasements are bed bug certified, waterproof and allergy friendly. The encasements are made from 100 percent polyester stretch knit fabric. Rest Assured is also the provider of dry vapor steam machines that can be used to clean, sanitize and kill bed bugs without using chemicals. Dry steam is pumped at 120 degrees Celsius. The extreme...

NEW YORK—As part of its proclamation to make “2009 the Year of Preventive Maintenance,” Stuart Dean, headquartered here, is unveiling a new, sustainable technology that reduces surface-cleaning maintenance costs up to 50 percent and reduces the water, energy, chemicals and labor expended in cleaning. Developed by joint venture partner CSG of Rochester Hills, Mich., the PURETi solution transforms any interior or exterior surface into a material that proactively eliminates grime and bio-film buildup, improves air quality, and eradicates organic malodors. As part of the agreement, Stuart Dean will serve as the exclusive hospitality sales, service and application partner for the...

FREMONT, OHIO—Crown Mats and Matting has just introduced two new lines of 100 percent recycled matting systems. The EcoPlus mats are wiper/scraper mats typically placed directly inside a facility; wiper/scraper mats are considered the second line of defense in capturing outdoor dust, oil, and moisture from shoe bottoms. The EcoStep mats are also placed inside a facility and are considered the final line of defense, capturing remaining soils and contaminants from shoes. Both systems are made from post-consumer P.E.T. (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic. P.E.T. is often used to manufacture plastic bottles for soda, bottled water, and similar products. As useful as...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Mattress Safe Inc. as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. Mattress Safe, a family-owned business, specializes in eco-friendly mattress protectors that are fire retardant, waterproof, breathable, hypoallergenic and impermeable to dust mites, bed bugs, mold and bacteria. The company’s new Bed Bug Solution Duo combines the strength and protection of the “Superior” Total Mattress Encasement with a “Simplistic” Overlay that can be easily removed for washing and maintenance. The “Superior” Total Mattress Encasement provides Bed Bug Certification, stretches to fit up to 18-inch deep mattresses, is waterproof...

BENSENVILLE, ILL.—Earthwise Environmental, Inc., Bensenville, Ill., introduces its “e solution,” a patent pending program that completely eliminates hazardous chemical treatments and dramatically reduces cooling tower discharge by up to 75 percent compared to most cooling tower programs. “This technology provides the solution to a safer environment,” says Bob Miller, founder and president. “It uses far less water, reuses it to conserve waste, and eliminates chemicals, providing truly economical and healthful applications in all types of public venues.” Earthwise designs and implements water management solutions for hospitals, schools, hotels, food processing plants, and light industrial and commercial buildings. The majority of today’s...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Dyson as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The company’s Airblade hand dryer wipes hands dry with a 400 mph sheet of air in just 12 seconds. It removes 99.9 percent of bacteria from the air used to dry hands. The Airblade contributes to LEED accreditation and is the recipient of the Green Excellence Award for North American hand dryers. When compared to paper towels, the Dyson Airblade offers operating cost savings of nearly 98 percent. It uses up to 80 percent less energy than other hand...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes VASKA as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. VASKA offers an “EPA Design for the Environment” approved laundry care product system. VASKA’s high-performance botanical solutions for laundry and housekeeping are all-natural, plant-based formulas and are used in LEED certified resorts and spas. VASKA has been formulating and testing botanical laundry solutions since 1999, working alongside commercial laundries, environmental chemists and technicians committed to protect individuals and their environment from chemical damage. VASKA saves money by eliminating unnecessary chemicals and by protecting fabrics. VASKA cleans in both cold...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Green Lodging News has added a new case study to its Vendor Case Studies section. The case study focuses on the Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C., and how Sonitec’s Vortisand filter was able to solve its cooling tower sludge problem. Massive amounts of the nasty stuff were detected in the chiller tubes, and the 12-inch system feeder pipe as well. The filtering apparatus on line proved ineffective at combating the problem, prompting management to seek out expert consultation. Patrick Payne of Boland Trane teamed up with Denny Alexander of Armstrong Filtration (provider of cost-effective filtration solutions based in Winchester, Va.)...

CAMARILLO, CALIF.—Hygiena introduces SystemSURE Plus, a convenient system that hotel management and staff can use to regularly verify the thoroughness of cleaning performed throughout the hotel. Hotels around the world are using the SystemSURE Plus to monitor food preparation surfaces in kitchens on a daily basis, high touch-point areas and to teach employees the cleaning standard of the hotel. With SystemSURE Plus in place, quality assurance becomes a daily, verifiable routine that can easily be implemented in a hotel or across multiple properties. The hand-held SystemSURE Plus from Hygiena monitors adenosine triphosphate (ATP)—a biochemical found in all living organisms and...