NIANTIC, CONN.— INNCOM international, Inc. was singled out at the 92nd annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show, held in New York earlier this month, as the Kenneth F. Hine “Best of Show” award winner for its newest product innovation, ecoMODE. The honor was bestowed on INNCOM after being selected as one of 10 exhibitors out of 150 submissions to win a coveted Editors’ Choice Award.
Now in its 12th year, the Editors’ Choice Awards serve as an opportunity for exhibitors to position their new products in the marketplace as the must-have new products of the year. Honorees were selected based on innovative product design, how a product answers a particular industry need, creative use of material or construction, and development or use of a new technology.
“This year, the awards program was expanded to include a green equivalent to each of the competition’s five traditional categories of décor, essentials, luxury, restaurant and technology,” said Christian Falkenberg, IH/M&R show manager. “INNCOM was honored in the ‘Green Technology’ category for its e4 Smart Digital Thermostat with ecoMODE, a device that allows guests to opt into the hotel’s conservation program with the touch of a button, instantly triggering the e4’s energy-saving mode and activating participation in reduced towel and linen washing.
“It was this product that also won INNCOM the ‘Best of Show’ honor,” he said. “This year’s contest was extremely competitive, demonstrating the quality and quantity of new products launched at the IH/M&RS. We are proud to recognize INNCOM with this award, a company that has been providing energy-saving solutions to hotels for more than 20 years.”
Simple, Creative Idea Caught On
“We are delighted to have been chosen ‘Best of Show’ at this premier international hotel and restaurant event,” said Duane Buckingham, chairman and CEO of INNCOM. “Our customers want to better respond to guests’ demands that hotels be more environmentally friendly. While INNCOM has always been at the forefront of guestroom innovation, this was like a light bulb switching on. We were discussing sustainability programs with a senior corporate hotel executive when one of our folks said, ‘Why don’t we just add a simple green button to our smart digital thermostat?’ And voila! The idea immediately caught on, and we went to work developing the software and tooling needed to execute this ‘win-win’—and now award winning—concept.”
The benefits of ecoMODE are many: First, it demonstrates to prospective guests that a property is eco-friendly. Second, it is low cost and reduces energy usage and operating costs. Third, it provides housekeepers with a convenient, efficient method of setting the temperature back in unoccupied or unrented rooms. Fourth, it can be used to identify guests who are likely to participate in other environment programs, such as changing bedding every other day or not throwing out partially-used soap and other bathroom amenities on a daily basis.
“The enthusiasm witnessed among all the hoteliers that visited the INNCOM booth during the show was exhilarating,” said Rick Quirino, INNCOM president. “There was a high level of interest from properties across the entire service spectrum, including hotels, resorts, casinos, cruise ships, mixed-use developments and self-designated green hotels. “We’d love to speak to any hoteliers interested in adding ecoMODE—simply and with only a minimal investment—to their existing e4 system. INNCOM’s ecoMODE is designed for any hospitality establishment that seeks to demonstrate to its guests a firm commitment to environmental sustainability practices.”
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