WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Restaurant Assn. has relaunched its Conserve website designed to educate restaurateurs about sustainability and showcase how applying greener business practices will save money and help protect the environment. The rebooted website offers numerous videos, case studies, best practices and personal accounts of becoming more sustainable, reducing energy and water consumption, decreasing food waste, recycling, composting and operating business in environmentally and economically responsible ways. “Practicing sustainability is no longer a trend, but an important aspect of the restaurant industry’s daily operations,” said Scott DeFife, Executive Vice President, Policy and Government Affairs, National Restaurant Assn. “With this new and...

ATLANTA—EVEN Hotels, InterContinental Hotels Group’s (IHG) newest brand, created to meet the needs of wellness-minded travelers, has introduced the Cork & Kale food and beverage platform focused on simple, natural and good ingredients. The F&B platform is based on the EVEN brand’s commitment to offering guests a variety of healthy and great tasting menu options that elevate their hotel experience while helping them maintain their routine on the road. The Cork & Kale platform is a consistent F&B offering, which will be available at all EVEN Hotels properties, the first of which are set to open before the end...

CHICAGO—Xylem, a leading global water technology company, launched Filtration by Flojet at the 2014 National Restaurant Association (NRA) show. The system uses integrated membrane pre-activated carbon technology to improve water taste and appearance, better protects dispense equipment and mitigates health concerns in foodservice applications. Filtration by Flojet removes chlorine and chloramine odor and taste from municipal water by leveraging carbon block technology, proven to have more than four times the capacity to remove unwanted water characteristics as competitive pre-coat filters. Carbon block enables users to activate the filtration cartridge almost immediately, eliminating the flush out process associated with carbon powder...

CHICAGO—Master-Bilt, manufacturer of a full line of premier commercial refrigeration systems, showcased its full line of glass door merchandisers with the next generation BMG/BLG Plus and Fusion Plus models at the 2014 National Restaurant Show last month. These new glass door merchandisers provide extensive flexibility that businesses require for growing market segments, changing floor plans and improving traffic flow.Both models are designed with energy saving features, superior system performance and optimum merchandising. All glass door merchandisers are Energy Star qualified with standard LED lighting and four shelves per door. Both the Fusion Plus and BMG/BLG Plus offer an industry...

NEW YORK—1 Hotels, a new hotel brand from Starwood Capital Group launching in fall 2014, will feature “farm-to-table” restaurants from critically acclaimed chefs Jonathan Waxman, Tom Colicchio and Seamus Mullen. 1 Hotels will open three distinct hotel and restaurant destinations: New York City’s Central Park; Miami’s South Beach in Miami Beach; and Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn, N.Y.1 Hotels is the first luxury hotel brand to focus on sustainable living. The goal is to celebrate nature, its beauty, its perfection and purity with natural and sustainable materials. Each of the 1 Hotels will be LEED certified and every hotel...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first-ever Energy Star label for clothes dryers. If all residential clothes dryers sold in the United States meet these new requirements, the utility cost savings will grow to more than $1.5 billion each year and more than 22 billion pounds of annual greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented. Informed by extensive input from manufacturers, retailers, the U.S. Department of Energy and environmental groups, the new specifications will recognize a selection of highly efficient electric, gas, and compact dryers that will use approximately 20 percent less energy than what is required...

MANCHESTER, N.H.—Xeros, the innovator of an ultra low water cleaning system, announced that Choice Hotels International has selected it as a qualified vendor for its more than 5,000 U.S. franchises. Xeros’ nearly waterless laundry system helps hotels significantly reduce laundry costs, increase the life of linens, and helps hotels advance their commitment to green operations.“We were one of a select group of qualified laundry vendors that showcased the Xeros system at the recent 60th Annual Choice International Convention and the franchisees showed great interest,” said Jonathan Benjamin, President, Xeros North America. “We were selected by Choice because of our...

RIPON, WIS.—IPSO introduces the Cygnus Ultra Pro control system on washer-extractors for on-premises laundry managers. Cygnus Ultra Pro builds on the features of Cygnus Ultra.  “The Cygnus Ultra Pro control system allows on-premises laundry managers to have complete control of their equipment,” said Kathryn Rowen, North American Sales Manager for IPSO. “With increased usability and flexibility, Ultra Pro gives laundry managers the tools they need to easily achieve peak efficiency.” The new Cygnus Ultra Pro control includes 10 optimized wash program options, allowing for 60 customizable wash cycles to meet the needs of any on-premises laundry room. Extra wash...

TEMPE, ARIZ.—Refresh Glass, a Tempe, Ariz.-based company that creates functional wine bottle art made from empties rescued from landfills, is helping restaurants, hotels, and retailers generate revenue while contributing to their 10 Million Bottle Rescue Mission. Hotels and restaurants that use Refresh Glass products get enthusiastic responses from guests who recognize the wine bottles they know and love while increasing engagement with their staff. The repurposed wares also help broaden their sustainability programs that the public increasingly looks for every year. “The FireSky Resort and Spa is a very green conscious resort and we have been using Refresh Glasses in our...

NEW ORLEANS—Registration for the Farm To Table International Symposium (F2Ti) is now open. F2Ti will be held in New Orleans, August 2 to 4, 2014. The annual event brings together the leading practitioners in the burgeoning farm-to-table movement to explore the cultivation, distribution, and consumption of food and drink sourced locally. The event is presented by the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, in partnership with the SoFAB Institute and the LSU AgCenter.Food pioneer Michel Nischan will serve as Honorary Chair. Nischan is a restaurateur, award-winning cookbook author, media personality and food policy advocate in addition to his...