NEW YORK—Seven exhibitors received Editors’ Choice Awards during the Opening Ceremonies of the 98th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) and 4th annual Boutique Design New York (BDNY), Sunday, November 10, 2013, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The awards recognize best new products within the categories of design, equipment & supplies, food & beverage, green, operations, tabletop and technology. From the seven winners, the Kenneth F. Hine “Best of Show” Award also was selected. The 2013 Editors’ Choice Award winners are:Kenneth F. Hine “Best of Show”—Phillips Collection (High Point, N.C.) for the Bicycle...

MIRAMAR, FLA.—Trend Group, an international manufacturer and distributor of unique mosaic tiles and natural stones headquartered in Vicenza, Italy with production facilities and offices in several countries, along with its subsidiary company, Granite Transformations, has partnered with Kohler Co. to further each company’s eco-friendly mission of keeping unnecessary waste out of landfills. With this collaboration, Kohler Co. provides pre-consumer porcelain from their bath and sink manufacturing to be re-purposed for the production of Trend’s newest line of exclusive granite surfaces.This two-year partnership has resulted in the creation of Trend products #1606 and #1607, also referred to as Terra Chiara...

NEW YORK—Designtex announced that Susan Lyons, president of Designtex, will be honored as a Legacy Innovator at the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute’s inaugural Innovation Celebration event, which will be held in New York on November 15 to recognize leaders in product design innovation as they create better products for our world.This award recognizes Lyons’s pioneering role as a passionate but practically minded advocate for environmental sustainability in textile design. In 1993, Lyons, then Creative Director of Designtex, began to research the possibility of developing a collection of ecological fabrics. But at that time no one knew exactly...

MIAMI—Coverings ETC announces the newest addition to its Bio-Glass collection: “Topaz Blue.” This new color is made from 100 percent upcycled bottles. Topaz Blue rounds out a roster of six colors including White Diamond, Oriental Jade, Fossil Amber, Malachite, and Emerald Forest.Merging subtle elegance with durability, Red Dot Design award winner Bio-Glass is stain proof and scratch resistant, making it ideal for kitchen countertops, back-splashes, vanities, and wall coverings. It is available in sheet sizes measuring 110" x 49" x ¾" thick. Bio-Glass is suitable for partitions, facades, and other decorative surfaces. They’re as durable as granite and, being...

NEW YORK—Hastings Tile & Bath, importers and distributors of contemporary bathroom products, has announced additions to VOLA’s award-winning Round Series of in-wall accessories for residential and hospitality bathrooms. The new electronic soap dispenser and cistern flush are built-in and aligned to the wall. They are also completely contact-free, using the latest technology to provide a clean experience.The Round Series for the luxury washroom already features the built-in waste bin and the built-in tissue dispenser. Together with the classic VOLA hands-free tap (now available in a vertical configuration) and electronic cistern flush, the new soap dispenser takes the outer circle...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In a few short weeks, approximately 30,000 people from all over the world will descend upon the historic city of Philadelphia for the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, which features three days of extensive educational programming, workshops and showcases of the latest green products and services. Presented by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and owned and produced by Hanley Wood, Greenbuild, which takes place from November 20 to 22, 2013, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, is the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building.“Philadelphia is the perfect city for Greenbuild—with its rich history and its...

SAN FRANCISCO—Smith & Fong Co., manufacturer of Plyboo bamboo architectural plywood and flooring, announced the launch of its new Reveal Collection of carved and textured bamboo panels, according to company president Angus Stocks.Available in eight different modern pattern/color options, Reveal creates a three-dimensional visual effect, as the panel’s face is carved in designed patterns to reveal its inner core layers. Utilizing Smith & Fong’s proprietary RealCore technology ensures the revealed cores are consistent and that layers of bamboo material in bi-directional construction enable stability.“Reveal is one of the most visually dynamic products we’ve ever introduced,” Stocks said. “It’s ideal...

NATIONAL REPORT—Retina scans, robot room service and rooms that reconfigure themselves? Here today, coming tomorrow, and no, it’s not science fiction if nanotechnology has its way. In the hotel of the future, technology is king, and what it means to guests—and even to lighting—means everything. While “dream machines” will have to wait, the evolution of the hotel environment is already underway. Mobile Millennials and still-bustling Boomers are driving the demands of 2020, starting with the power to evoke the comforts of home. As personal control and customization becomes commonplace, matching service to a memorable stay will become imperative to appealing...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, has received a Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program for its newest building on the company’s corporate headquarters campus in Parsippany, N.J. The campus previously received two Silver-level LEED designations, making it the first and only company in New Jersey to hold LEED certifications in both Commercial Interiors and Existing Building Operations and Maintenance.“A tremendous amount of thoughtful planning goes into the design, construction and operation of our buildings,” said Frank Campana, senior vice president, corporate real estate and...

ORLANDO, FLA.—The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) announced that it has been awarded Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Gold (EBOM) certification from The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), an arm of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). OCCC’s North-South Building is the largest convention center in the world to achieve LEED EBOM Gold certification.“Central Florida is now home to the world’s largest LEED EBOM Certified convention center,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO & founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council.” “This accomplishment demonstrates unprecedented leadership from Orange County and its convention center...