The Boutique Design New York (BDNY) and HX: The Hotel Experience trade shows wrapped up this past week at the Javits Center in New York City. While HX looked the smallest it has ever been, together with BDNY the two shows were formidable to cover. On my radar this year was what was newsy and new. Here then is what I found most interesting at this year’s shows: The Humble Co. featured its bamboo toothbrushes, natural toothpaste and other products. The toothbrush handles are made of easily biodegradable bamboo and the bristles out of nylon, a durable material that degrades...

HOLLYWOOD, FLA.—LowerMyDemandCharges.com announced its launch in the United States with its full suite of commercial energy and expense reduction solutions—electricity procurement/supplier auto-switching, bill auditing services, bill negotiation services, and super-quick payback HVAC/Refrigeration energy efficiency retrofit devices for energy- and money-savings of 10 to 80 percent. The new company is owned and operated by Danny Tseng. He has experience working as an independent consultant with cleantech startup and certified B Corporation, Viv Network, LLC of Westport, Conn., and as a marketing partner for the manufacturer of the energy efficiency retrofit devices, Raleigh, N.C.-based Madison Energy Group (themadisonenergygroup.com), which has helped...

COMMERCE, CALIF.—Nora Lighting’s iLENE LED Mini Cylinders now feature Comfort Dim technology, a color tuning option that creates a warm ambience in residential and hospitality settings. Comfort Dim fine tunes the Kelvin temperature from a bright 3100K to an intimate 2000K on a gradual, even curve. This technology is offered on the entire iLENE series: 2” (15W), 3” (30W) and 5” (40W) diameters. The fixtures are available in black, silver and white finish. The versatile iLENE has three field-changeable optics: spot, narrow flood and flood. Cylinders can be surface-mounted or pendant-mounted with a field adjustable 96” cable. A canopy-mounted driver allows...

AMSTERDAM—YOTEL has opened its doors in Amsterdam. Complete with an all-day dining concept, a stunning deck and a one of a kind outdoor cinema, the 202-cabin hotel offers a slick experience enhanced by clever use of technology and sustainable design at a surprisingly affordable price. The brand’s first hotel in mainland Europe, YOTEL Amsterdam is at the epicenter of the up-and-coming Buiksloterham neighborhood, built on the sunny bank of the Tolhuis Canal. Home to start-ups and creative businesses, the area is also brimming with hip bars, experimental festivals and modern architecture, making it an ideal base for modern travelers. Cabins—YOTEL speak...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News welcomes Majestic International to its Green Product & Service Directory in the Linens & Towels and Robes & Slippers categories. Majestic International offers an eco-friendly robe and towel program that requires less detergent, saves 20 percent in drying time and reduces water consumption by 30 percent. The products are 100 percent natural and biodegradable yet thick and thirsty and luxurious. The biodegradable slippers made from jute will reduce landfills yet pamper guests. Call (203) 373-1853 or e-mail Wendy Thompson at w.thompson@majesticinternational.com for more information. Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International announced an evolved vision for social impact and sustainability including setting goals to bolster diversity and inclusion, donate millions of meals and continue offering scholarship and educational opportunities for employees and their families. Through a commitment to be “Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet,” MGM Resorts is committing to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make a bigger difference in the lives of its employees, guests and in the communities where the company operates. “As a company with a global presence and more than 80,000 employees worldwide, MGM Resorts recognizes...

ATLANTA—Interface announced Mission Zero success ahead of its original 2020 target. Over the past 25 years, the company drove significant improvements across all key sustainability metrics internally and throughout its supply chain to help meet its objectives. And, Interface galvanized others along the way to implement more sustainable business practices. This created a positive ripple effect that helped the company not only achieve but also extend Mission Zero far beyond its original intentions. Interface’s direction and influence has helped countless others reduce their environmental footprint and work toward net zero impact within their own organizations. Based on 25 years of...

MONTREAL—Hoteliers looking for ways to slash their hotels’ energy bills can visit Verdant next week at HX: The Hotel Experience Powered by AAHOA. Verdant’s simple, smart and intuitive guestroom thermostats combine smart occupancy sensors with patented cloud software features to set-back temperature while guests are away and reduce energy consumption when rooms are unoccupied. Verdant solutions—including its new ZX energy-management thermostat and its popular, field-proven VX solution—will be on display in Booth 1315 November 10 to 11 at the Javits Center in New York. “Verdant solutions are being installed in about 50 buildings each month with no signs of slowing,” said...

NATIONAL REPORT—Heating and electricity are two of the biggest operating expenses of hotels and lodges—eating up to 6 percent of energy costs. Energy consumption is also responsible for 60 percent of a hotel’s carbon emissions. With winter just around the corner, prepping up the accommodation to keep guests warm is an important concern for property owners. At the same time, finding ways to reduce carbon footprint and save on energy are vital to strike a balance between keeping financial books healthy and helping the environment without compromising customer comfort. Back-up Power in Winter is Critical The move towards using renewable sources of...

SAUDI, ARABIA—Amaala, one of the largest ultra-luxury sustainable resort projects ever conceived—one that will create 22,400 jobs and attract 310,000 visitors annually—is in the design stages for Saudi Arabia’s northeastern coast along the Red Sea. (See video.) Amaala, which is derived from the Arabic word for “hope,” will be set in a pristine natural reserve and includes three sites: Triple Bay, The Island, and The Coastal Development. Unique to the project is its environmental story. It will be built to have a zero-carbon footprint. Reaching zero-carbon status will be a challenge, as the project will also include an airport, 200 retail...