ATLANTA—As the hotel industry continues to enjoy strong trends in occupancy and rate in its third year of recovery, there are increasing signs that the pace of increases in certain areas on the expense side of the ledger is gaining momentum. According to a recent study, from 2001 to 2005, hotel maintenance expenses grew 18.3 percent. This is nearly 33 percent greater than the pace of growth for all other hotel operating costs during this same period. As a result of these relatively strong increases, maintenance department costs as a percent of total hotel operating expenses have averaged...

OTTAWA, ONT.—The EcoLogo Program, an environmental certifying and labeling program, is about to launch its “EcoLogo USA Campaign 2006-2007.” The EcoLogo Program certifies products and services as Green and environmentally preferable in a variety of fields and industries. This includes everything from cleaning chemicals, building materials and agricultural products, to automotive and boating tools and equipment. According to Kevin Gallagher, EcoLogo vice president who is heading the program, the goals of the EcoLogo USA Campaign—which will begin September 6, 2007—are twofold: to help U.S. consumers better understand the value of using environmentally preferable products and to promote the...

LANSING, MICH.—Creating and managing hospitality facilities requires special knowledge and skills. The third edition of Hospitality Facilities Management and Design, published by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Assn., provides readers with a comprehensive introduction to the key issues involved in keeping a hotel’s physical plant running efficiently. Written by David M. Stipanuk, a professional engineer and member of the property asset management faculty of the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, this new edition of Hospitality Facilities Management and Design takes a systems approach to hospitality facilities issues. Readers will learn how technology...

AKRON, OHIO—GOJO is the first company to provide a family of environmentally preferable products that meet the new EcoLogo (Environmental Choice) and Green Seal certifications (CCD-104/GS-41) for hand cleaners and hand soaps. The family of products, which will be available in early fall 2006, includes GOJO’s Green Certified Foam Hand Cleaner and Green Certified Lotion Hand Cleaner. Once a manufacturer attains certification from one of these organizations, the company may place the widely recognized EcoLogo and/or Green Seal logo on the product. This helps buyers—both consumer and corporate—select sustainable products that help protect the environment. “GOJO has...

PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO—Enviro-Solutions introduces its new ES90 Clean Cut Concentrated Floor Stripper. It is Green Seal and EcoLogo certified, and is fast acting with little or no odor, helping to protect indoor air quality. With a dilution ratio of as much as 1:24, ES90 competes in price with most conventional strippers. Go to Enviro-Solutions.

COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO—The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) recently awarded the Agitator 20 low moisture carpet extractor, manufactured by U.S. Products, with the Gold Seal of Approval for Deep Cleaning Systems. The award is the top designation given to cleaning systems that demonstrate the highest level of measurable performance. U.S. Products, based in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, manufactures professional carpet and floor care products as well as restoration equipment. To achieve the recognition, cleaning systems are performance tested by CRI-selected professional laboratories. The testing criteria include: • How well the extractor removes soil and prevents re-soiling; • The...

BLOOMINGTON, IND.—Green Cleaning University (GCU), a professional development tool and resource of information pertaining to green cleaning and healthy building maintenance, was unveiled by The Ashkin Group, LLC at www.greencleaninguniversity.org. GCU is modeled after a traditional Ivy League campus, but with online programming designed for today’s busy cleaning industry professionals. The faculty includes some of the nation’s leading experts in green buildings, green cleaning and healthy building maintenance. Students have access to a wide variety of data and learning tools. These are accessible via interactive classes, online discussion groups, special conferences, an extensive library and bookstore. ...

QUEBEC, CANADA—Earth Alive Resources introduces RapidAll, an all-in-one janitorial and sanitation cleaner that does not harm humans, animals or the environment. The product’s ingredients include a natural nutrient substrate which acts as a microbial carrier and contains a strong natural surfactant. The unique characteristics of the substrate is that it allows it to effectively clean almost any surface, while providing for a remediation of organic materials trapped in surface cracks such as grout or tiles. Through repetitive applications, an increasing number of microbes are released into the surface cracks, allowing for constant digestion of organic materials that cause...

BENICIA, CALIF.—Pacific Ozone Technology, a supplier of OEM ozone equipment, has launched Element Ozone, a subsidiary company supplying ozone technology for light commercial applications. Element Ozone’s countertop ozone generator is designed for kitchens in hotel restaurants and can be used to sanitize and disinfect hands, foods and food prep surfaces. “Because of the increased liability food service companies have, the industry is ready to embrace ozone as an antimicrobial agent, says Jeremy Ke, operations manager for Element Ozone. Ozone provides organizations with an effective barrier against contamination. In addition, it is natural, eco-friendly and produces a natural by-product:...

DUNEDIN, FLA.—Mintek Mobile Data Solutions, a leading provider of automated solutions for preventive maintenance (PM) and asset management, has finalized an agreement with Loews Hotels that will result in its WinTrack PM system being implemented in 18 of the New York-based company’s properties in the United States and Canada. The agreement with Loews comes on the heels of the hotel company’s announcement that it intends to expand its brand in major cities throughout North America. “We are honored that WinTrack PM has been selected by a company so respected in the lodging industry,” says Lind Hutton, executive vice...