NEW YORK—Ten exhibitors received Editors’ Choice Awards during the Opening Ceremonies of the 97th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) and 3rd annual Boutique Design New York (BDNY), Sunday, November 11, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The awards recognize best new products within the categories of design, equipment & supplies, guest amenities, tabletop, and technology, as well as an eco-friendly equivalent to each of these categories. From the 10 winners, the Kenneth F. Hine “Best of Show” Award also was selected.
Editors from leading hospitality trade publications reviewed nearly 150 submissions of the latest products for the industry, and selected winners based on innovative product design, how a product answers a particular industry need, creative use of material or construction, and development or use of a new technology.
Judges for the 17th annual IHMRS Editors’ Choice Awards were Kris Burnett, Hospitality Upgrade; Joseph Carbonara, Foodservice Equipment & Supplies; Matthew Hall, Boutique Design; Glenn Hasek, Green Lodging News; Fred Klashman, Total Food Service; Patrick Mayock, HotelNewsNow.com; Dennis Nessler, Hotel Business; and Michelle Renn, Hotel Online.
The 2012 Editors’ Choice Award winners are:
Kenneth F. Hine “Best of Show”—MTI Baths (Sugar Hill, Ga.) for the Teak Shower Seat, an ADA-compliant, wall-mounted seat designed for safety, comfort and aesthetic appeal.
Design—MTI Baths (Sugar Hill, Ga.) for the Teak Shower Seat, an ADA-compliant, wall-mounted seat designed for safety, comfort and aesthetic appeal.
Equipment & Supplies—BKI, a Standex Co. (Dallas) for CombiKing, a combination oven offering the flexibility of moist heat, dry heat or any combination of, for optimal cooking of all foods.
Guest Amenities—JS Fiber Co., Inc. (Statesville, N.C.) for Fossfill 2, featuring Ultra Fresh to inhibit the growth of bacteria and other organisms, keeping pillows fresh and clean.
Tabletop—Ready Check Glo (Lynbrook, N.Y.) for the World’s 1st Illuminating Guest Check Presenter & Cocktail Menu, an innovation that improves guest service and staff efficiency by alerting staff when a check is ready for payment.
Technology—B4Checkin (Halifax, Nova Scotia) for B4Checkin Online Checkin, an innovative Cloud-based, guest-facing system that allows for online check-in before arriving.
Green Category Winners
Green Design—Apaiser Bathware (Richmond, Australia) for Apaiser Stone Composite Baths, a bathware range that harnesses the organic nature of stone and combines it with contemporary luxury.
Green Equipment & Supplies—T&S Brass & Bronze Works, Inc. (Travelers Rest, S.C.) for Low-Flow Spray Valve, providing water and energy savings without compromising intense power rising.
Green Guest Amenities—LATHER Hotel (Pasadena, Calif.) for the Bamboo Lemongrass Collection, a collection of gentle yet effective skin and hair care products.
Green Tabletop—Your Green 2 Go (Spring, Texas) for Your Green 2 Go, 100 percent natural plant fiber Grab n’ Go containers made from corn.
Green Technology—VTech Telecommunications (Beaverton, Ore.) for the Cordless Phone with Battery Backup, enabling hotels to offer an “all-cordless” room configuration with the added security of phone service during a power outage.
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