SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—The Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) has launched the Sleep Products Sustainability Program (SP2), a new environmental certification and sustainability initiative for mattress manufacturers in the state of California. SP2 training and certification is offered at no cost to mattress manufacturers that want to improve operations at their manufacturing plants, distribution centers, warehouses and/or offices. “SP2 is designed to reduce waste and energy consumption in the manufacturing process while increasing operational efficiencies and generating cost savings,” says Ryan Trainer, President of the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) and the International Sleep Products Assn. (ISPA). “Developed as part of the bedding industry’s...

NATIONAL REPORT—For guests staying multiple nights at a hotel, the ubiquitous towel/linen reuse program has been an effective way to keep towels out of the laundry. According to the 2018 Lodging Survey, 95 percent of lodging establishments now offer the program. Yet another way to prolong a towel’s trip to the laundry is to offer a heated towel rack in the guestroom bathroom. According to Amba Products, utilized in Europe for decades due to their energy efficiency, heated towel racks use much less energy than a standard dryer (about the same amount of electricity as a few light bulbs)....

Almost every sporting event, wedding, conference, and public gathering has an accommodation partner. Often the accommodation partner is benign and not really part of the organization committee. However, there could be a significant value added for leading facilities to look beyond their own practices and provide leadership and tools for making the hosted event or activity environmentally sustainable. In fact, this could be an important choice decision point in the very competitive accommodation market. We find most caring leaders want to become more considerate of the environment, but don’t know where to start. Below are listed areas of consideration with...

GoSpace Trusted by AAA, Nissan & Inspire Brands to Manage Their EV Charger Programs GoSpace is a national provider of electric vehicle charging solutions, serving the hospitality, retail & public use sectors. Trusted by industry leaders such as AAA, Nissan & Inspire Brands to manage their EV charger programs, GoSpace has the experience to offer you the turn-key solution that best fits your needs. We offer free consultation and welcome the opportunity to assist you on your next project and look forward to speaking with you. Call (904) GoSpace (467-7223), e-mail ChargeUp@gospacego.com or go to www.gospacego.com for more details. GoSpace » Email for...

NEW YORK—Today, Dyson launched the Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer. With a completely unique design and cutting-edge technology, the Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer enables people to dry their hands quickly and hygienically, while using low energy and offering an alternative to single-use paper towels. “At Dyson we believe hand drying should be fast, hygienic and responsible in its energy use. We solved many of these problems when we disrupted the industry with the launch of the first Dyson Airblade in 2006,” explains Jake Dyson, Chief Engineer. “We continue to pioneer with the Dyson Airblade 9kJ hand dryer—our latest hand...

SAN DIEGO—Hilton San Diego Bayfront recently underwent a $23 million renovation to all 1,190 guestrooms and guestroom corridors. Keeping guests’ needs in mind, the enhanced guestrooms and suites feature a nautical, contemporary design and premium amenities including modern furniture, new mini coolers, updated restrooms, additional power and USB ports, 55” HD TVs and more. With both city and coastal elements, the hotel’s elevated look embraces everything Southern California has to offer, and the sophisticated seafaring-inspired design is a nod to the hotel’s stunning, prime location on the edge of the San Diego Bay. In conjunction with the renovation, this year Hilton...

ATLANTA—UPS announced plans to purchase more than 6,000 natural gas-powered trucks beginning in 2020 and running through 2022. This three-year commitment represents a $450M investment in expanding the company’s alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicle fleet as well as supporting infrastructure. The new vehicles will be equipped with compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel systems provided under an exclusive agreement with Agility Fuel Solutions, a business of Hexagon Composites. The investment in CNG fuel systems expands UPS’s relationship with Agility Fuel Solutions and supports UPS’s fleet sustainability efforts. It will help reduce UPS’s carbon footprint and is expected to have a positive influence...

DALTON, GA.—As a leading supplier of carpet, resilient, hardwood, laminate, tile and stone flooring products and synthetic turf, Shaw Industries’ reach into the hospitality industry and beyond is significant. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. with approximately 22,000 associates worldwide. What has perhaps distinguished Shaw the most is its commitment to reduce its environmental impact. Its products have the sustainability stamp of approval from GREENGUARD, CRI Green Label Plus, FloorScore, and NSF 140, among numerous others. To further support its transparency efforts, it also maintains Health Product Declarations (HPDs) for all commercial carpet products and Living Building Challenge...

Hospitality is about superb guest experiences. Lighting control is a key part of making superb guest experiences happen. With today’s smart technology, lighting can be operated remotely or automatically. Rooms can be coordinated with building management systems. Even the lights themselves have changed, from incandescent bulbs and fluorescent tubes to robust, yet economical, LEDs. Integrated with other hotel systems, lighting control enables seamless communication between departments, empowers hotel staff, saves hotel operators money, and simplifies aspects of the guest experience. Indeed, lighting control technology is about more than just lights. It can add value—for the guest and the hotel itself. After all,...

SAN FRANCISCO—Volta, an industry leader in innovative electric vehicle charging networks, announced the nation’s first and only free, public-access DC fast charging network. The new fast charge stations can add up to 350 miles of range per hour and are compatible with a wide variety of the most popular electric vehicles. Volta will install the first 150 stations nationwide over the next 12 months at busy retail locations with strategic real estate partners. Effectively enabling Volta to better match driver needs with each destination’s charging amenities, the fast chargers will be placed alongside Volta’s Level 2 stations to accommodate...