LINCOLNSHIRE, ILL.—Global innovator LG Electronics will enter the rapidly growing U.S. electric vehicle charger market in 2024 with the introduction of its first line of AC and DC powered EV charging stations. According to LG Business Solutions USA’s Senior Vice President Nicolas Min, the line will include Level 2 and Level 3 EV chargers, opening new opportunities for businesses, municipalities and other public places to support the electrification of America with independently owned and operated charging stations. “As a leader in the electrification movement, LG is committed to delivering systems and solutions to help U.S. commercial customers develop the infrastructure to charge electric...

The future of transportation is undoubtedly electric, and the United States is on the verge of an EV revolution. Investments by the government in publicly accessible EV charging stations are critical to bringing in this shift. The recently announced National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funding gives state and local governments a powerful weapon for shaping the landscape of the U.S. EV charging infrastructure. The implications of this funding reach far and wide, impacting various industries, including hospitality. Hospitality owners and managers play a vital role in accommodating the growing number of EV owners, and by understanding what NEVI funding means...

TORONTO—KingSett Capital and Fairmont Royal York announced that the landmark hotel in Toronto has received the Canada Green Building Council’s (CAGBC’s) Zero Carbon Building – Performance Standard certification. This $65 million project was completed after close to five years of detailed planning and execution. It will reduce over 7,000 tons of carbon annually or 80 percent of the hotel’s annual carbon emissions, the equivalent of taking 1,558 cars off the road. Jon Love, Founder and CEO of KingSett Capital, said, “Fairmont Royal York’s decarbonization demonstrates the potential to complete a large and complex project in a way that is environmentally impactful,...

RACINE, WIS.—Hotel Verdant, a full-service, upscale boutique hotel that serves as a gathering place both for the community and travelers, is now open. The 80-room, four-story hotel is in the historic Zahn’s Department Store at 500 Main St. on the centrally located Monument Square. Construction for the historic preservation project cost more than $40 million, with the start date in January 2022. Built by Dominion Properties of Milwaukee, the nearly 80,000-square-foot building includes amenities such as a first-floor signature restaurant, a rooftop restaurant and cocktail lounge with a large outdoor patio facing Lake Michigan, a dry sauna, a fitness center,...

KOHLER, WIS.—Kohler Co. announced the strategic decision to set Kohler Energy up as a separate, independent business with Platinum Equity engaged as the majority investment partner. Kohler will continue to stay invested in the Energy business following the closing and remains committed to supporting its upward trajectory built on a proven track record of strong performance in the global energy resilience marketplace. The businesses included in the portfolio are Power Systems, Engines, Home Energy, Kohler Uninterruptible Power, Clarke Energy, Curtis Instruments, and Heila Technologies. While Kohler Co. and Platinum Equity must complete several milestones and legal requirements, including consultations with employee works councils,...

PORTUGAL—Greenvolt, through Greenvolt Next, will be responsible for implementing photovoltaic solar panels in 13 units of the Vila Galé Group. The agreement now reached provides the possibility that in the future more units from one of the largest hotel groups in Portugal can be covered by green energy. Through Greenvolt Next Invest, which does not require any initial investment from the customer, 2,331 photovoltaic solar panels will be implemented, distributed across 13 of the 31 hotel units in Vila Galé from the North to the South of Portugal. The installed capacity of the panels will amount to 1.2 MWp, which...

BATTLE CREEK, MICH.—FireKeepers Casino Hotel announces its pledge to sustainable business practices by joining the Renewable Energy Program offered by Consumers Energy. Through its enrollment in the program, FireKeepers Casino Hotel will not only source 100 percent of its electricity from renewable power sources but will also save over 273,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, reinforcing its dedication to clean and renewable energy sources for the next 20 years. In a step towards environmental responsibility, FireKeepers has committed to match its energy consumption of approximately 31,527 megawatt-hours per year with clean, renewable energy sources. This substantial effort reduces Michigan greenhouse...

COOPERSBURG, PA.—Lutron Electronics, a global leader in smart lighting and shading, introduces the Lutron hospitality solution, featuring myRoom XC, an enhanced guestroom system. The cloud-connected hospitality solution allows integrated management of all areas of the property—guestrooms, public areas, event spaces, and private residences—via a single dashboard. The launch of the myRoom XC system elevates lighting as a business amenity and demonstrates Lutron’s ongoing commitment to innovation and support in the hospitality industry. In 2015, Lutron introduced its myRoom guestroom system for personalized control of lights, shades, and temperature. As a key part of the new Lutron hospitality solution, the enhanced...

NEW HAVEN, CONN.—Just a few weeks ago, it was announced that the anticipated net-zero energy Hotel Marcel New Haven, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, has achieved Passive House certification from Passive House Institute (PHI). The accomplishment is one in a long series of accomplishments for Bruce Redman Becker, architect and developer of the 165-room hotel that once was the Armstrong Rubber Company Building, aka Pirelli Building. Green Lodging News spoke with Becker to learn about the Passive House certification and to get caught up on how his LEED Platinum building has performed since it opened in May 2022. According to the Passive House Institute,...

JAMESTOWN, N.Y.—Hope’s Windows, Inc., the leading manufacturer of custom-designed, solid hot-rolled steel and solid bronze window and door systems, announces the expansion of its One55 Series fixed windows to feature Thermal Evolution technology, meeting a growing demand in the residential building market. One55 Series fixed, solid hot-rolled thermal steel windows rely on Hope’s award-winning Thermal Evolution technology. The series replicates the aesthetic of historic, industrial steel windows with elegant arrow-shaped profiles and delicate sightlines—combining the striking visual appearance of the past with the thermal technology of the present. Product features include custom, solid hot-rolled steel profiles; fusion-welded frame and muntin construction; welded...