VANCOUVER, B.C.—Vivreau Water, a market leader in filtered water systems and a scientific expert in taste and filtration, unveiled the Top Pro and Extra I-Tap water dispensers. Designed for today’s hygiene-aware culture, the dispensers include advanced filtration capabilities and enhanced hygiene features. The Top Pro and Extra I-Tap dispensers feature Vivreau’s exclusive ThermalGate technology, which automatically heats the outlet tap at regular intervals to protect against retrograde contamination from external sources. Both systems come with optional HygienePlus technology designed for hygiene-sensitive environments, offering three layers of protection against microbial cysts and bacteria, including legionella. “Encouraging healthy hydration in the workplace can...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added Axxess Industries to its Green Product & Service Directory in the following two categories: “Energy Management/Guestroom” and “Lighting & Controls.” Hotel owners and operators are looking for a variety of ways to reduce the cost of running their hotels and attract more guests. Axxess Industries manufactures a comprehensive assortment of practical, tech-savvy products for the smart automation and control of hotels. The company’s guestroom control systems combine to save energy and staff costs while impressing guests with comfort and convenience. The electronic Do Not Disturb systems guarantee guest privacy while making staff more efficient. All...

ST. LOUIS, MO.—Emerson announced the introduction of its Copeland variable speed reciprocating hermetic compressors for commercial refrigeration applications. The new models are specifically engineered to save energy and provide performance improvements in a variety of demanding commercial refrigeration applications. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the commercial refrigeration space have faced increasingly stringent energy requirements. Medium- and low-temperature stand-alone coolers and freezers, commonly used in restaurants, convenience stores (C-stores) and small-format food retailers, have been key targets of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) energy-efficiency standards. Additionally, targeted are units used in the life science market and for small industrial applications such...

WINDSOR, ENGLAND—IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has opened its new global headquarters in Windsor, U.K. Having started life as an FTSE-listed company in Windsor in 2003, IHG returns to the historic town for its next chapter after being based for the past 15 years in Denham, Buckinghamshire. The building represents not only the company’s global headquarters, but also the head of its Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa region, helping serve an international business that has more than 6,000 hotels across more than 100 countries around the world. The Windsor One office on Arthur Road...

PETERSBURG, FLA.—After a difficult year dealing with electric vehicle (EV) availability and supply chain shortfalls, the U.S. EV market will rebound in 2023 and beyond, predicts Lars Thomsen, a world-recognized futurist speaking on behalf of Juice Americas Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Swiss-based Juice Technology AG—a market leader in portable chargers for electric vehicles (EVs). Consumers will have more model options to choose from and efficiencies in batteries and charging will continue to expand making EV adoption more attractive. Thomsen, who is considered one of the most influential experts on the future of energy, mobility, and smart networks, sees a number...

STATELINE, NEV.—There is no way around it; Edgewood Tahoe Resort, a boutique property nestled on the shores of Lake Tahoe, is one of a kind when it comes to providing an eco-luxury experience for its guests. Sustainability is top of mind during every decision regarding design, construction, operations, and the guest and community experience. The resort’s commitment is best explained on its website: “Every decision we make and action we take must align with our calling to be stewards of the land, guardians of the Lake, and sincere, difference-making corporate citizens of the communities in which we operate.” Edgewood Tahoe...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC has partnered with New Columbia Solar to bring renewable energy to their National Historic Landmark building at 700 F St. NW in Penn Quarter with the addition of a 265-kW rooftop solar system. This partnership highlights Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants’ commitment to clean energy and sets a precedent for the modernization of historic buildings across the District with solar power. Constructed as the nation’s first General Post Office in 1842, the building was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants utilized its expertise in the area of adaptive reuse to create the...

CHEVY CHASE, MD.—PM Hotel Group recently announced the appointment of Ryan Butler as Corporate Director | Sustainability + Energy. In his role, Butler will enhance the Group’s decade-long commitment to environmental sustainability and PM’s core value of Respect—for one another, guests, communities, and the planet. Butler will lead PM Hotel Group’s strategic sustainability initiatives and be the direct point of contact for internal and external stakeholder collaboration. PM Hotel Group’s sustainability team takes a forward-looking approach, vigorously implementing energy, water, and waste reduction programs as well as seeking opportunities to integrate renewable energy and green power into its portfolio of...

This week I will be attending The NAFEM Show (North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers) in Orlando. The show runs from February 1 to 3 at the Orange County Convention Center. I am looking forward to it and will report on the event in next week’s column. There are currently 541 exhibitors. I will be on the lookout for new innovations and technologies—specifically ones that help hoteliers save energy and water and reduce waste. Within foodservice there has been a lot of chatter recently about the health risks of gas stoves. According to The New York Times, mounting evidence...

GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA—In 2006, the innovators behind a car-free town aspired to create a better way of life connecting people to nature in a place where 1,000 acres of a 1,200-acre property would remain undeveloped as a tropical dry forest reserve. After 16 years of planning and construction, that vision is now a reality with the completion of the neighborhood of Beach Town in Las Catalinas. Referred to as one of the most important and beautiful new towns in the world by renowned Notre Dame School of Architecture Professor Douglas Duany, Las Catalinas is located in the northwestern province of Costa Rica. Inspired...