CLEVELAND, OHIO—Green Lodging News announces the addition of Continental Girbau, Inc. as a Founding Sponsor. Continental Girbau, a manufacturer and supplier of commercial and industrial laundry equipment, offers a web of support services to its hospitality clients, including financing, laundry design, technologically-advanced laundry equipment, a parts facility, and a professional distributor network.Continental and Girbau Industrial washer-extractors, tunnel washers, drying tumblers, flatwork ironing systems, folders, stackers and feeders withstand the rigors of multiple cycles, offer highly programmable controls and are designed to reduce utility consumption. Continental E-Series Washer-Extractors, for example, feature up to 387-G-force extract to curb dry time and...

HOUSTON—In an effort to reduce their carbon footprint, Hilton Americas-Houston, the city’s largest hotel and first Green Seal certified hotel in Texas, is now even greener with the installation of the AquaRecycle water recycling system in the hotel’s laundry. The laundry facility, covering 27,000 square feet and rivaling most commercial laundry plants in both size and capacity, is by far the largest hotel laundry in the city, washing and finishing more than 675,000 pounds of linens per month.The two massive Lavatec tunnel washers wash 100 pounds of linens every two and half minutes, with a maximum working capacity of...

MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS.—Alto-Shaam introduced a new grease collection unit that safely and conveniently collects grease and meat by-products from their Combitherm ovens in high volume production facilities. The Combitherm Automatic Grease Collection System is designed to save labor and provide greater employee safety by eliminating the handling of hot grease that is normally collected in the drip pan.Through patent-pending technology, the system is electronically activated during the chicken cooking process. Chicken grease and other by-products are automatically pumped from the cavity drain into nearby mobile grease collection containers, which can hold enough volume for multiple batches of chicken during...

TROY, OHIO—Two Hobart products—the Energy Star qualified Advansys CLeR conveyor-type warewasher with Energy Recovery and the Advansys LXiPR undercounter warewasher with PuriRinse—are included on the Food Consultants Society International (FCSI) “10 Most Innovative Products for 2012” list. One product from this list is going to be selected as “Product of the Year” based on voting slated to take place at the FCSI Americas Conference in Kansas City, Mo., April 19 to 21. FCSI is a recognized organization of more than 1,400 members who design foodservice installations and specify a broad range of equipment ranging from commercial ovens and storage refrigerators to...

W. CONSHOHOCKEN, PA.—All interested parties are invited to join in the development of a proposed new ASTM International standard that will identify and define sustainable best management practices that are used in commercial laundry facilities to reduce their impact on the environment.  ASTM WK35985, Practice for Sustainable Laundry Best Management Practices, is being developed by Subcommittee D13.40 on Sustainability of Textiles under the jurisdiction of ASTM International Committee D13 on Textiles.According to Gary D. Gramp, Textile Rental Services Association, and chairman of the task group developing ASTM WK35985, the commercial laundry industry has made a commitment to sustainability. “We...

CANCUN—Sunset World Resorts & Vacation Experiences announced the official launch of Ethos during a breakfast at the Tourism Tianguis 2012. Ethos, an innovative $3 million agricultural project, is a farm in the Mayan jungle where produce, plants and honey will be organically grown and produced. These items will be used to supply their six hotels, which include nearly 1,000 hotel rooms in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. “Ethos is an example of our values and great commitment to the community, environment and tourism, making us the first hotel chain in southeastern Mexico to produce organic materials and become more...

VERNON HILLS, ILL.—Scotsman Ice Systems announced it was named in McDonald’s Corporation’s 2012 Best of Sustainable Supply Chain report for its Prodigy line of ice machines. The line reduces up to 50 percent of water consumption, which translates into saving more than 150,000 gallons of water over the typical lifetime of the machine. McDonald’s Best of Sustainable Supply Chain report recognizes companies that implement innovative and effective ways to address challenges to help improve food sources, the environment, communities and employee wellness across the world. “Scotsman was the only ice machine manufacturer awarded this distinction in 2012 by McDonald’s,” said Rich...

NEW YORK—Conrad New York has opened its doors in New York City’s vibrant Battery Park City neighborhood. Rising 16 stories along the Hudson River waterfront, the 463 all-suite luxury hotel is the first New York address from Conrad Hotels & Resorts, the global luxury brand of Hilton Worldwide.With its strong commitment to sustainability, the Conrad New York is pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for New Construction from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for sustainable building practices and design.Noteworthy environmentally-friendly considerations at the Conrad include: a green roof and chef’s roof garden, bike racks...

CHICAGO—President Bill Clinton, founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and the 42nd President of the United States, will address attendees at the 2012 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show on May 6. Clinton will share insights into his presidency and his current work with the William J. Clinton Foundation. NRA Show 2012 will be held at its new dates May 5 to 8 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.“President Clinton has a unique perspective on our nation and the world,” said Jack Crawford, convention chair for NRA Show 2012 and president and CEO of Ground Round Independent Owners Cooperative, LLC....

TROY, OHIO—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded ITW Food Equipment Group–North America (ITW FEG) a 2012 Energy Star Sustained Excellence award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency. A manufacturer of commercial food equipment, ITW FEG’s accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 15, which marks the 20th anniversary of Energy Star. ITW FEG, an Energy Star partner since 2008, will be honored for its long-term leadership and continued efforts in helping to make foodservice and grocery operations more energy efficient, sustainable and profitable. Hobart, Traulsen,...