MINNEAPOLIS—Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), producers of the world’s largest Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC), has announced that attendee registration for its HITEC Minneapolis is now available online, as well as hotel reservations. Annually, HITEC highlights the industry’s tech trends and current approach to integrating technology into the hospitality sphere. To set the tone on the first day, award-winning futurist Chris Riddell will present the Opening Keynote, “Beyond Tomorrow—The Human Revolution.” HITEC Minneapolis will be the second, and largest, HITEC event of 2019 and is from June 17 to 20 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis. “Annually...

MIAMI—Nuvola, a hotel optimization and guest engagement platform known for its intuitive user interface, announces their partnership with Evolutix to integrate their guestroom automation and energy management solutions into Nuvola’s comprehensive software. Now available to hoteliers, the joint efforts between both companies offer the hospitality industry an energy savings ROI platform that can significantly reduce utility expenses while delivering optimization solutions to cost-effectively manage, track and optimize each department. Nuvola’s comprehensive hotel software combined with Evolutix’s automation technologies allows hotel clients and their guests to benefit from service optimization and IoT guestroom services, all in one platform. From the convenience...

ROUND TOP, TEXAS—Shipping containers that used to travel the world have found a perfect home as creative lodgings—the Flophouze Hotel—on nearly eight acres in Round Top, Texas. It makes sense that they would given owner Matt White’s affection toward “recycling the past.” Recycling the Past is the name of White’s architectural salvage business that offers everything from wooden beams and flooring to aircraft parts. The shipping container “hotel” is a natural outgrowth of White’s long-time interest in preserving everything old. Each of the six shipping containers that is currently available for around $250 a night is unique in its design. Wherever...

ATLANTA—Honeywell, a global leader in connected buildings, announces the launch of INNCOM INNcontrol 5, an intuitive and powerful platform for energy management and guestroom control. The INNcontrol 5 (IC5) system lets operators monitor and manage guestroom controls across an entire hotel property in real time to identify and resolve issues before they affect guests, track energy usage, and deliver better operational efficiency. IC5 collects guestroom data and presents it on a configurable dashboard that displays key performance indicators (KPIs) that impact property operations and functions. Dashboards display KPI metrics that can include energy utilization property wide and by individual guestroom...

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.—Soul Community Planet announced that after nearly one year and a comprehensive $9 million renovation, SCP Colorado Springs marks its grand opening. Awarded Colorado Springs’ most innovative new business concept by Visit COS, SCP Colorado Springs is comprised of 174 hotel rooms, the state-of-the-art SCP Fit fitness center, the SCP Commons creative co-working space and the Provisions market, featuring healthy, locally-sourced food and drink. Soul Community Planet also announced that it will continue offering its Fair Trade Pricing program at SCP Colorado Springs. The program gives guests the power to determine the prices they pay based on the...

SPAIN—Across Spain, hotels are prominently flagging their green credentials as they increasingly take steps to reduce their environmental footprint and appeal to a new generation of eco-aware consumers. The country’s Paradores, state-run hotels in historic buildings such as former palaces and monasteries, are the latest to look to a greener future, switching to renewable energy sources by incorporating features such as biomass technology or solar panels. “The Paradores’ commitment to become 100 percent green energy driven is an important milestone in the Spanish hotels sector,” says Carlos Ortega, Executive Vice President of the Hotels division at JLL Spain. “Being a public-sector...

PHILADELPHIA—Element Philadelphia, a new 460-room extended stay hotel in Philadelphia, announced plans to install Evolve Controls’ wireless room controls system into all 460 rooms of the property, currently undergoing construction. Developed by Vine Street Matthews, owned by Chestlen Development, and managed by Starwood Hotels/Marriott, the LEED-certified hotel selected Evolve Controls for room control. “We chose Evolve for its sleek design and seamless installation process,” said Project Manager, Rich Gibson, of McCrae-Gordon Group Electric Joint Venture, LLC. “However, it’s not just about the system, it’s the superior service we have received in creating a custom solution for us to support our...

ATLANTA—Increased building activity, operational demands, changes in codes and design and new energy efficiency strategies were just some of the topic discussed among buildings professionals at the 2019 ASHRAE Winter Conference and AHR Expo. The 2019 ASHRAE Winter Conference took place last month at the Omni Hotel Atlanta at CNN Center and the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, ASHRAE’s headquarter city. More than 3,200 individuals registered for this year’s Winter Conference. The AHR Expo attracted HVACR professionals from around the globe and provided a forum for manufacturers to showcase the latest products and services. The Expo drew more than 65,000...

ORLANDO, FLA.—The NAFEM Show, held every two years, wrapped up in Orlando on February 9 at the Orange County Convention Center. More than 600 suppliers featured their latest products to help restaurateurs and hoteliers save money, energy, water and reduce waste. It would be impossible to mention every product showcased in a single article. The following is just a sampling of some cool products found among the many aisles at the show: Bluewater unveiled its Bluewater Pro 400 and Bluewater Spirit water purifier model lines that help foodservice professionals deliver fresh produce, achieve clean glassware and cutlery, and offer coffee...

DELAVAN, WIS.—Onsite Utility Services Capital (OUS Capital) has launched an energy efficiency upgrade program that requires zero capex budget and incurs zero debt. The program called Energy Savings as a Service (ESaaS) allows hospitality properties of every size to upgrade their existing energy infrastructure to modern, energy-efficient solutions—but without the typical up-front financial requirements typically associated with such a project. “Smart hospitality executives understand the positive financial impact delivered by energy-efficient solutions,” says Fritz Kreiss, Founder and CEO of OUS Capital. “What has stopped so many of them from implementing those solutions in their own properties is the up-front investment...