ATLANTA—Acuity Controls introduces xCella Wireless lighting controls for quick-configure control of lighting HVAC and plug load. Installed in a variety of retrofit and new construction applications, xCella Wireless energy management solutions deploy quickly for simple room control, and can also be networked for floor or building wide control. Featuring Pair & Play technology, xCella Wireless switches, sensors, and load controls are operational in minutes. xCella Wireless can be delivered pre-paired and packaged by room for even faster installation and reduced commissioning costs.“By combining wired and wireless relays, xCella Wireless provides the flexibility to achieve the right control for the...

DUMFRIESSHIRE, SCOTLAND—The owners of Three Glens House in Dumfriesshire, Scotland have achieved something rare. They built a stunning carbon-negative property in the middle of a farm and transformed it into a luxurious guest house with a unique style and approach to hospitality.Within less than one year, the property became a Scottish Design Awards 2014 finalist, it was awarded five stars by Visit Scotland and the Rising Star Rural Escape award at the Scottish Hotel Awards 2014.The property is a sustainable, energy efficient, ultra-modern eco farmhouse, guests have access to 360 degree views of breathtaking scenery, fresh produce from the...

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.—Evolve Controls, a provider of enterprise wireless solutions, introduced two guest-facing applications running on the Room Operations Center (ROC), its next generation room control platform. The applications are designed to deliver touch control of virtually every element in a hotel room, ranging from temperature and lighting to the operation of the draperies and beyond. Far beyond that, however, GuestX applications deliver personalized, content-driven information and interactions.GuestX Concierge is deployed on devices running Microsoft Windows 8; GuestX YOU is specifically designed so that hotel guests can download the same functionality to their mobile phones or other devices (BYOD),...

LAS VEGAS—ARIA Resort & Casino, LEED Gold and Green Key certified, as well as a TripAdvisor GreenLeader at the Platinum level, will be the site of this fall’s second annual Lodging Green & Sustainability Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. The LODGING Magazine event, with the support of EcoGreen Energy Solutions, will take place October 28 to 30.“This year we anticipate doubling the size of our event in both attendance and exhibit area,” says LODGING magazine Publisher Bill Corsini, who will once again host this annual event. “While still relatively small in only our second year, the conference will...

MANCHESTER, N.H.—Xeros, the innovator of an ultra-low water laundry system, announced its rollout plan to the hospitality industry is on track and the majority of Xeros ecologically-sustainable laundry systems have been sold into the top five hotel groups in North America. According to MKG Group’s annual rankings reported by Skift, HOTELS’ 325 2013 report named IHG, Hilton Hotels, Marriott International, Wyndham Hotel Group and Choice International as the top five hotel groups in the world.In the United States, hotels use approximately 2.3 billion gallons of water per month to launder linens. The Xeros Laundry System can reduce water usage...

TETIAROA, FRENCH POLYNESIA—The Brando, a luxury resort on French Polynesia’s private atoll of Tetiaroa, composed of a dozen islets surrounding a sparkling lagoon 30 miles north of Tahiti, is now open. The Brando is a pioneering model of sustainable technology with seawater air-conditioning and renewable energy systems, without any sacrifice to luxury or comfort. Designed to reflect Polynesian lifestyles and culture, the all-inclusive resort features 35 deluxe villas, each with its own private beach area and plunge pool. Exclusive and private, access to The Brando is a 20-minute flight from Tahiti by Air Tetiaroa to Tetiaroa’s airfield. “There is...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—As part of its 2014 Light Fair introductions, 3M Architectural Markets debuted its 3M Specular Film Protected D50 Series. Allowing lighting designers to efficiently control LED light while saving energy, this 98.5 percent reflective film improves thermal management, increases optical efficiency and lumen output, and reduces LED and LED circuitry costs.Brad Zinke, Business Development Manager for 3M Architectural Markets, notes, “3M Specular Film is about providing more light with less energy. It encompasses everything designers consider when positioning and creating light—brightness, efficiency, distribution, and quality. The potential for applications is great. These films can be used in...

SALT LAKE CITY—At Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC), held recently in Los Angeles, Control4, a provider of residential and commercial automation systems, showcased the latest update to its hotel automation solution, which adds seamless, secure wireless music streaming capabilities for hotel guests and improved energy intelligence solutions for hotel owners. Control4 Hospitality OS 2.5.3 adds support for the company’s Wireless Music Bridge, which allows guests to stream music from their smartphones, tablets, or other portable devices via Bluetooth. Wireless Music Bridge gives listeners access to their private music libraries as well as streaming music from services like Pandora,...

TAMPA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Tampa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, has added a UniMac case study to its website. The case study focuses on the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Fla. and its use of UniMac on-premises washer-extractors and tumble dryers. The hotel upgraded its laundry equipment in 2011 with the assistance of equipment consultant Jason Downey of Southeastern Laundry Equipment. Following an extensive evaluation of the Vinoy laundry facility, Downey and Southeastern developed a plan recommending the right size low-maintenance UniMac equipment to best fit the department’s needs.“Every laundry is different;...

WAILEA, HAWAII—The AAA Four Diamond award-winning Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa located in the luxurious Wailea Resort destination has recently been recognized with the ‘Aipono “Excellence in Sustainability Award”. The reader’s choice award, presented by Maui Magazine, acknowledges the resort’s accomplishment as a top sustainability performer and recognizes its role in environmental leadership. “We are deeply honored with the ‘Aipono Award and applaud our associates for their exemplary environmental and resource conservation efforts,” said cluster General Manager John C. Tolbert of Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa on Maui and Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa on Hawaii...