Hunger Action Month is next month. One hotel company doing its part to alleviate hunger is Omni Hotels & Resorts. Since 2016, the company has donated over 20 million meals to families in need through its Say Goodnight to Hunger program in partnership with Feeding America. The initiative supports food banks in all 42 communities where Omni operates, helping provide nutritious meals to children, families, and seniors facing food insecurity. The success of Omni Hotels & Resorts’ efforts is not only because of efforts at the property level but also due to initiatives such as the PGA TOUR “Birdies-or-Better” partnership. As...

BEACON FALLS, CONN.—LAVATEC announced it has filled a key position with the hiring of Jake Walroth as the new Regional Sales Manager for the Midwest. Based in Cincinnati, he manages a 12-state territory and reports to Jim Shaw, LAVATEC’s Vice President and National Accounts Sales Manager. Walroth accepted the position after accumulating 10 years of sales experience, half of which are in the commercial laundry industry. After graduating from Miami University with a degree in international business, his first job was with Washing Systems (WSI) before moving to Salt Lake City when he joined Alsco Uniforms as a sales training...

CANCUN, MEXICO—Royalton CHIC Cancun, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort - Adults Only, part of the Blue Diamond Resorts collection, has achieved a 56 percent reduction in food waste at one of its nine restaurants, following a six-month pilot with Winnow, the global leader in AI-powered food waste measurement tools. The trial took place at Elements Gourmet Buffet, a high-volume kitchen serving part of the resort’s daily 4,000 covers. Using real-time data provided by Winnow, chefs at Elements reimagined their food preparation processes—from shifting to live cooking stations for dishes like chilaquiles, to transforming surplus proteins and vegetables into gourmet ravioli...

CAM RANH, VIETNAM—In a nod to Vietnam’s rich coffee heritage, Alma Resort Cam Ranh’s barista cycles up to guests’ pavilions and handcrafts their brew before them. As part of the next-level room service, guests choose from four signature coffees: bold and robust iced black coffee; smooth iced white coffee with condensed milk; sweet and creamy Vietnamese-style classic bạc xỉu; and salted coffee with a unique savory-sweet blend. The service, called “The Essence of Vietnamese Coffee, Brought to Your Door”, is available to guests staying at the resort’s oversized one-, two- and three- bedroom suite pavilions. The barista cycles up the pavilion with...

Almost three years ago I posted an article highlighting the many upsides to using biodigesters to break food waste down. In that article, I featured two companies whose machines reduce food waste to a liquid that can be disposed of safely in the sewage system. There are certain technologies for hospitality that are no brainers because of their fast ROI and effectiveness—LED lighting, guestroom energy management systems, ozone in the laundry, for example. Biodigesters certainly belong in that group. In my article posted this past week, I take another look at biodigesters. I found a dozen companies currently selling the machines...

NATIONAL REPORT—There are many ways to reduce food waste to landfill. Proper portioning, smart ordering, partnering with local farmers, and food donation programs come to mind. One easy way to break down and eliminate food waste on-site is by using a biodigester. This machine, available in various sizes, biologically digests organic material. Microbes, enzymes and other bacteria break down the waste. Most food, including fat, greases, and even animal manure, can be processed in a biodigester. Byproducts include carbon dioxide and water, which can simply be discharged into a municipal sewer system, or a soil amendment which can be used...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—There’s an old saying about restaurants: the condition of the restroom is a good indication of how clean they keep their kitchen. Many diners use it as a rule of thumb, and even customers who don’t subscribe to this thinking can be put off by a bad-smelling restroom. Something so far away from food prep can have a real impact on how an establishment is perceived. What might be surprising is where the offending odors actually come from—and how the cleaning process itself can sometimes make things worse. Restroom floor drains, other types of floor drains, and grease traps...

BEACON FALLS, CONN.—North American society has long embraced and treasured vintage items. You name it, from cars and clothing to coins and collectibles from the entertainment, gaming, and sports industries and others, there is market appeal for things which stand the test of time. The same admiration applies to some equipment being employed in the commercial laundry industry. When The 2025 Clean Show is held August 23 to 26 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, check out the line-up in the LAVATEC booth (1303). There you will find an array of new tunnel wash systems, washer extractors, and...

Over the years, I have come across many instances of hotels or convention centers with rooftop hives for the production of honey. Oftentimes, that honey is used in a special drink. A number of years ago, the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort in Lincolnshire, Ill., partnered with a local brewery, Tighthead Brewing Company in creating custom honey beer. At that time, Executive Chef Pierre Daval told me, “The beer is awesome. It has a crisp, refreshing taste. There is an awesome flower aroma.” This past week I learned that the Sheraton Dallas has unveiled House Honey Lager, a collaborative creation with popular Dallas-based craft beer brewery, Manhattan Project...

BEACON FALLS, CONN.—LAVATEC plans to honor several exceptional customers at The Clean Show, which is being held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. The inaugural class of LAVATEC’s Hall of Fame will be inducted during a 30-minute ceremony on Sunday, August 24 at 3 p.m. in booth 1303. Mark Thrasher, LAVATEC President and Managing Partner, talked about the importance of creating an event that recognizes highly valued customers. “We are getting close to reaching our 9,000th machine installation in North America. One of the things we have in common with the majority of our customers is an appreciation for...