NATIONAL REPORT—Not so long ago, the solution for dealing with a hotel pest infestation was to “call the exterminator,” conjuring up cartoony images of a man with a poison-pump, misting unknown chemicals into the air of the business, chasing out customers and pests with the plume. For hotels in New York, where daily business activity is critical for the financial health of the business, this kind of thing could be devastating, but we live in a different world today. Now, safety and health are first and foremost in the mind of any pest control professional. Modern pest control methods...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc. introduces Antimicrobial Fruit and Vegetable Treatment (AFVT)—a product to help reduce the risk of foodborne illness outbreaks related to ineffective produce washing in foodservice operations. AFVT is the industry’s first no-rinse produce wash to earn both Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for pathogen reduction in the water for whole produce and on the surface of cut fruits and vegetables.“Our customers count on us to provide products that help deliver clean, safe and healthy environments everywhere it matters—and the food safety arena is particularly important,” said Kris Kielsa, vice...

MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS.—Bradley Corp., a leading manufacturer of commercial plumbing fixtures and washroom accessories, announced nationwide availability for the company’s latest commercial hand-washing innovation—the Advocate AV-Series Lavatory System. This “all-in-one” sink, faucet and dual-sided hand dryer solution delivers the first U.S. made, completely touchless hand-washing experience for a more sustainable, clean and efficient lavatory environment.“After years of research and valuable customer feedback, Bradley is proud to deliver such an innovative, logical and effective solution as the Advocate Lavatory System to the market,” said Jason Renner, senior product manager, Bradley Corp. “As our customers embrace the core design and completely...

NEW YORK—Xeros, the innovator of an ultra low water cleaning system, announced the company has been awarded the Editors’ Choice Award, Best New Product for Hotel Operations. The award was presented November 10, during the Opening Ceremonies of the 98th annual International Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Show  (IHMRS) at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.The annual Editors’ Choice Awards recognize best new products within seven categories of the hotel industry, including operations. This year, the panel of judges, which included editors from leading hospitality trade publications, reviewed more than 100 submissions of the latest hotel products. Winners...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Excel Dryer as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Excel Dryer’s XLERATOReco includes new “no heat” technology. XLERATOReco offers the same performance and reliability as the original patented technology XLERATOR—drying hands in less than 15 seconds while using one-third the energy of other high speed and trough-style hand dryers. XLERATOReco enables green lodging facilities to reduce costs, labor, maintenance and waste while also significantly reducing their carbon footprint. Call (888) 998-7704, e-mail sales@exceldryer.com, or go to www.exceldryer.com for more information.

ORLANDO, FLA.—Hyatt Regency Orlando, formerly The Peabody Orlando, announced it will offer 25 new hypoallergenic rooms installed by PURE Solutions. Treated with a patented seven-step process to kill and protect against 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria, PURE rooms virtually eliminate all surface and airborne irritants and create a hypoallergenic and rejuvenating space for allergy-sufferers and health-conscious travelers.“Our allergy-friendly rooms are especially popular with business travelers,” said Brian Brault, CEO of PURE Solutions. “When you’re away from home for a business meeting or conference, the last thing you want to worry about are allergy symptoms or getting a good...

MEDINA, MINN.—Polaris Industries Inc. announced the availability of the all-new Polaris GEM eM1400 vehicle. The compact electric vehicles are ready for order through all 280 authorized GEM dealers in North America. With industry-leading payload and cargo as well as versatile configurations, the GEM eM1400 can be customized to fit a variety of work applications.“The entire GEM team is extremely excited to bring the all-new eM1400 to the market,” said Tim Blinkhorn, General Manager for GEM. “This vehicle was purpose built for customers who want a light electric utility vehicle that is rugged, durable, and tackles work applications.”Backed by 60...

SAN JOSE, CALIF.—Neon Technologies introduces Concierge, a guest-facing hotel concierge service with the ability to dramatically decrease hotels’ negative environmental effects. By logging requests digitally, and reducing consumption of high-turnover hotel amenities, NEON provides a software solution that saves hotels money, and reduces degradation of the environment.“Growing up in Oberlin, Ohio, I cultivated an eye for sustainability and improvement of the environment,” said co-founder Nick Chmura. “When I traveled across Europe, and later the United States, I was shocked at the lack of sophistication in hotels regarding waste. I always had too many of the wrong towels, or when...

BOWLING GREEN, OHIO—As a preferred vendor of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., Systems Associates Inc. has been selected by Starwood Vacation Ownership Inc. (SVO) to implement its SynergyMMS maintenance management solution at all villa resort properties. This initiative was recently rolled out in Hawaii at The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas on the island of Maui and The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas on Kauai. Sixteen resorts—with a total of 7,000 villas—will be equipped with SynergyMMS by November. The remaining six mixed-use resorts—consisting of 500 villas—in the SVO portfolio are company-owned and already have SynergyMMS as part of...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab has been named to the 2013 CDP Global 500 Climate Performance Leadership Index (CPLI) and CDP Global 500 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI), two leading environmental indices announced with release of the CDP Global 500 Climate Change Report 2013. CDP is the only global environmental disclosure system, and the report tracks how the world’s largest public companies are responding to a changing climate.The annual CDP indices highlight those companies listed on the FTSE Global Equity Index Series (Global 500) that demonstrate actions to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the risks of climate change (CPLI) or have...