ELKHART, IND.—Dometic’s new CL480 series refrigerators are ideal for hotels that do not provide stocked minibars, but rather want to provide the convenience of a spacious refrigerator to their guests. Available in a glass door for easy viewing of the contents or a black, stainless steel solid door that matches modern and stylish decor, the CL480 Series has features that set it apart from other hotel refrigerators currently on the market. All models of hotel refrigerators in the CL480 series have interior LED lights, tempered glass shelving that is easy to clean and stronger than regular glass, and automatic defrost, which...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International announced that MGM Springfield, located in Springfield, Mass., has received the world’s first United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) New Construction Platinum level certification for a gaming resort. MGM Springfield, which opened in August 2018, is the company’s most recent development. Working closely with state and city officials, as well as the local community, MGM Resorts committed to designing and building a property that exemplifies the company’s values in support of environmental sustainability and positive social impact while honoring local history and architecture. A significant enabler of the LEED Platinum rating...

COOPERSBURG, PA.—In recent years, human centric lighting—a philosophy describing lighting that creates more comfortable, welcoming, and engaging environments for people—has become a widely discussed talking point in the building industry. But differences of opinion regarding its impact and scope have generated discussion among industry specifiers and end users. Lutron Electronics, a leader in lighting controls and automated shading solutions, believes human centric lighting should promote comfort, enable enhanced well-being, and foster engagement. As Scott Hanna, Lutron Senior Vice President, says, “High-quality lighting has become an essential amenity in the construction and design industry. It helps attract and retain talent and...

GLENMONT, OHIO—When U.S. News & World Report put together a list of The World’s Best Treehouse Hotels last year, it included The Mohicans, a North Central Ohio hideaway that includes seven treehouses, five cabins and the Grand Barn Wedding Center. The Mohicans is the work of the husband and wife team of Kevin and Laura Mooney. Along the way they have been assisted by Amish builders and experts such as Pete Nelson of the well-known Treehouse Masters reality show. Nelson designed two of the treehouses on the 75-acre property. One of those treehouses was featured on Treehouse Masters. Kevin says...

For those of you not familiar with Hersha Hospitality Trust, it is a real estate investment trust that invests in hotels (48 hotels, 7,644 rooms). The company is organized in Maryland, with its principal office in Harrisburg, Pa. Hersha created its award-winning sustainability program, EarthView, in 2010. Hersha just released its 2018 Sustainability Report. According to Hersha, since 2010 it has seen a $65 million increase in portfolio value thanks to EarthView. It has also experienced $11 million in savings. Compared to 2010, Hersha has seen a 15 percent reduction in energy per square foot, 41 percent reduction in greenhouse...

NEW YORK—Volara—the fully integrated voice-based conversation management software for the hotel industry—and Schneider Electric, a global leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, have signed a partnership agreement to combine their automation and voice technology expertise to co-develop new innovative solutions in the hospitality industry. Together, Schneider Electric and Volara will provide intuitive voice activated guestroom control that enhances the guest experience and provides enriched analytic capabilities that can improve operational efficiency for the hotel. As the first step in this collaboration, the two companies have completed a new application programming interface (API) which connects Schneider Electric’s room...

COMMERCE, CALIF.—Nora Lighting introduces the M2 Series with a mini 2” aperture downlight or adjustable gimbal. Designed for easy installation, the M2 does not require a housing unit; it is outfitted with a prewired junction box that includes a quick connect to the LED fixture. The M2 is IC- and air-tight rated for remodel and new construction applications and an optional new construction frame-in plate is available. The downlight has a deep 2.5” regression while the gimbal trim offers a maximum adjustability of 25°. M2 delivers 400lm (6W) or 650lm (8W) and is offered in 2700K or 3000K at 90+CRI. Die-cast...

PORT CHESTER, N.Y.—The Shade Store, a leading resource for premium custom window treatments, will show at HD Expo for the first time, May 15 to 17 in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Featuring a selection of new offerings and bestsellers curated for the commercial market, The Shade Store’s booth #3275 will highlight full-service solutions and state of the art window treatment products that can be tailored for hospitality, retail and workplace commercial design projects. “At The Shade Store, many of our customers are interior designers, and our work in the contract market is in many ways a...

NEW YORK—Green Roofs for Healthy Cities announced that the New York City Council has passed a suite of measures to reduce greenhouse gases released from buildings in New York City, including a requirement for green roofs and/or solar panels on newly constructed buildings. The Climate Mobilization Act passed NYC Council last week. “For the past two years Green Roofs for Healthy Cities has been advocating for new measures to grow the green roof market in New York City, and we are very pleased with the passage of this new legislation,” said Steven W. Peck, GRP, Honorary ASLA, Founder and President,...

Hotels, motels and other lodging facilities frequently wash thousands of pounds of sheets, towels, pillow cases and other linens each day. While just 8 to 12 percent of the laundry operation represents initial equipment costs, a staggering 87 percent of the total laundry budget consists of operating costs: water, chemicals, electric, gas and labor. For lodging entities embracing green and other technologies to reduce costs, the laundry operation should be a focal point. Reducing Water Use  While today’s commercial washer-extractors are far more efficient than decades ago, manufacturers continue to fine tune operation. More innovative manufacturers have designed special spray heads...