ALEXANDRIA, VA.—TRSA, the association for linen, uniform and facility services providers, celebrates its Clean Green certification as the program embarks on its second decade. The certification is earned by companies that demonstrate leadership in environmental sustainability and meet certain benchmarks for water and energy conservation and emissions reduction. Over the past decade, 34 companies with 111 plants have shown their commitment to sustainability by meeting the requirements of the Clean Green certification. These companies have implemented water, energy, and fuel conservation measures to reduce their facilities’ environmental impact and shrink their carbon footprints. The commercial laundry industry, led by Clean Green certified...

MIAMI—Grupo Piñero announces the opening of Cayo Levantado Resort, an exclusive complex located in one of the most enigmatic destinations in the Dominican Republic. The opening of Cayo Levantado Resort marks Grupo Piñero’s venture into the luxury segment of the hotel industry, redefined through a commitment to sustainable innovation and sophistication. Situated just five kilometers from the Samaná Peninsula, Cayo Levantado Resort officially opened its doors in the presence of Isabel García Lorca, President and Founder of Grupo Piñero, and Encarna Piñero, Executive Vice President, and CEO. This unique resort, nestled on a captivating island, features 218 rooms spread across 10...

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND—Real estate investor and developer Lamington Group is adding to its pioneering eco hometel brand with the opening of room2 Belfast, the fourth outpost, and first property outside England, set to open later this summer. With the opening just months away, the team are giving a first look at the hometel, which is set to become a hub for the community in the heart of the bustling city, moments away from Belfast’s most popular attractions. The new property will consist of 175 rooms across nine floors as well as a vibrant café, beautifully designed tearoom, meeting and event spaces, a gym,...

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.—The Beverly Hilton and the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, two of California’s most iconic luxury hotels and champions for the environment, together with Nostromo Energy, provider of breakthrough energy storage solutions for commercial buildings, announced the launch of Nostromo’s sustainable energy storage system serving the two adjacent hotels. The system is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enable the hotels to reach their sustainability goals while saving on energy costs. This project with hotel ownership and leading real-estate asset management groups Alagem Capital Group and Cain International marks the first hospitality industry partnership using Nostromo’s innovative technology. During peak hours, air conditioning...

LOS ANGELES—EVgo Inc., one of the nation’s largest public fast charging networks for electric vehicles (EVs), announced that the company will be adding North American Charging Standard (NACS) connectors to its fast-charging network across the country following the recent announcements by Ford and General Motors (GM) that they will be leveraging NACS starting some time in 2025. “EVgo first deployed integrated Tesla connectors in 2020, and with the recently announced expansion of the number of automakers using the NACS connector, we are excited to announce that we will also be integrating NACS connectors on the EVgo network in future deployments...

EXETER, ENGLAND—Zeal Hotels has acquired the site for its 142-room net zero carbon hotel, with construction due to begin in July at Exeter Science Park. Zeal Hotels has signed an Exclusivity Agreement with IHG Hotels & Resorts for the hotel, which Valor Hospitality will manage. The upscale lifestyle property, which is due to open in Q4 next year, aims for a minimum BREEAM rating of Excellent, with a target of Outstanding. Solar panels will ensure that the hotel generates all the energy required. Tim Wheeldon, Managing Director, Zeal Hotels, said: “The final pieces of our plan to create the first net...

TORONTO & LAS VEGAS—This week hoteliers will have two opportunities to see the latest in energy-management solutions for hotels. Verdant will display its popular digital thermostats at HITEC Toronto, June 27 to 30 in Booth 607 at the Metro Toronto Convention Center, and at The Hospitality Show (THS), June 28 to 29 at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas. While there, the Montreal-based company will introduce a new mobile app and a new energy service-optimization program. “Travelers are returning, and many say they are willing to spend more in 2023 than the previous year—that’s the good news,” said Verdant General Manager Michael Serour. “The...

TORONTO—LG Business Solutions USA is demonstrating how its broad range of powerful display technologies, service robots and computing devices can improve hospitality guest experiences throughout hotel rooms, lobbies, business centers, meeting spaces and even restaurants at HITEC 2023 in Booth #1809 in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. “The hotels of the future are being designed today, and we invite HITEC attendees to experience all of LG’s innovative display technologies and devices that hoteliers can deploy to attract today’s tech-savvy guests and drive revenue,” said Michael Kosla, Hospitality Vice President, LG Business Solutions USA. “From state-of-the-art in-room LG OLED TVs and digital...

NATIONAL REPORT—Interest in eco-friendly commercial buildings is on the rise and scrutiny of organizations’ ESG initiatives mean building owners’ and other stakeholders’ reputations and revenue depend upon them taking steps to become more sustainable. The Center on Global Energy Policy recently reported the buildings sector worldwide consumes approximately 30 percent of global energy—natural gas, electricity and solid and liquid fuels for heating, cooling, lighting, equipment and cooking. The commentary also pointed out the importance of decarbonization in the buildings sector. Interest in eco-friendly commercial buildings is on the rise, especially with increasing reports of global warming and companies’ impact of using vast amounts of...

AMSTERDAM—EVBox, a leading provider of EV (electric vehicle) charging solutions, has launched its most powerful charging station: EVBox Troniq High Power. The charging station can deliver 400 kW of power and is the first standalone charging station with this power output that has been tested and proven in the field in France and the Netherlands. The company expects to begin fulfilling orders from September 2023 in key European markets. High-power charging (above 350 kW) is the evolution of fast charging (above 50kW) and is seen by industry experts as one of the keys to mass market EV adoption. According to the...