CHICAGO—The National Restaurant Assn. announced the recipients of its prestigious Kitchen Innovations (KI) Award for 2009. This year’s awardees will give the restaurant and hospitality industry new, state-of-the-art solutions to enhancing productivity, saving energy and water, speeding up prep and cooking times, and maximizing space and functionality in the back-of-the-house. All the KI products will be showcased in an interactive demonstration area at the 2009 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show at Chicago’s McCormick Place, May 16 to 19. “Cost-saving, fast, multi-functional, flexible, efficient—these are all adjectives we look for when choosing new equipment and they describe each of this...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes ClearWater Tech, LLC as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. ClearWater Tech, LLC is a leading designer and manufacturer of ozone generation equipment and related components for water and air purification applications and markets. The EcoTex™ Advanced Laundry Oxidation System reduces environmental impact, improves laundry quality, saves money, energy and detergent, while providing superior disinfection. EcoTex technology has been proven in more than 2,500 installations worldwide. For more information, call (805) 549-9724, e-mail sales@cwtozone.com, or go to www.ecotexlaundry.com.

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Alliance Laundry Systems LLC as an advertising partner. The company’s washer-extractors, commercial dryers and flatwork ironers boast features to help any laundry reduce its operating expenses. Information about Alliance’s UniMac line of products can be found in the green section of the company’s website. By offering sophisticated washer programming features, the biggest opportunity for controlling water consumption, UniMac equipment can reduce both water and energy consumption. Thanks to fast extract speeds, UniMac washer-extractors can reduce drying time. Drying tumblers account for nearly 70 percent of all energy consumption...

TORONTO—Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced an extension of its brandwide Green Cuisine program to include sustainable seafood choices in support of a global effort to conserve precious marine species. As the latest environmental initiative undertaken by the brand, Fairmont’s hotels and resorts worldwide will remove threatened fish species like Chilean Sea Bass and Bluefin Tuna from their restaurant menus and will also align themselves locally with reputable seafood watch organizations, ensuring guests continue to be provided with a comprehensive selection of sustainable seafood choices. By spring 2009, Fairmont’s seafood purchases will be made with the guidance and consultation...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes DryFast B2B as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The company is the lodging industry’s No. 1 supplier of the DryFast Energy Saving Dryer Blanket. Inserted into the laundry dryer, the blanket can save 15 to 25 percent on energy costs and time drying laundry. Other benefits include: reduced wear on dryers and linen, faster linen turnaround, lower labor costs, and a smaller environmental footprint. For additional information, call (800) 713-3892, e-mail dryfastb2b@verizon.net, or go to www.dryfastb2b.com.

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes VASKA as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. VASKA offers an “EPA Design for the Environment” approved laundry care product system. VASKA’s high-performance botanical solutions for laundry and housekeeping are all-natural, plant-based formulas and are used in LEED certified resorts and spas. VASKA has been formulating and testing botanical laundry solutions since 1999, working alongside commercial laundries, environmental chemists and technicians committed to protect individuals and their environment from chemical damage. VASKA saves money by eliminating unnecessary chemicals and by protecting fabrics. VASKA cleans in both cold...

CHICAGO—The 2009 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show will deliver a year’s worth of business solutions in one place, including professional development opportunities focused on helping restaurant and foodservice operators increase profitability and productivity. Held May 16 to 19 at McCormick Place in Chicago, NRA Show 2009 will feature more than 65 free education sessions led by recognized industry experts on a range of topics including menu trends, environmental sustainability, workforce development and profit building. “In today’s challenging economic climate, businesses are looking to maximize value for expenses and return on investment for everything they do,” said Lorna Donatone, Convention...

BOYLSTON, MA.—Owl Power Co., developer and manufacturer of clean energy cogeneration systems, has announced Vegawatt, an innovative new cogeneration system for restaurants and food service facilities. Vegawatt uses waste vegetable oil from any food service operation as a fuel to generate on-site electricity and hot water, saving the restaurant thousands of dollars as well as providing a clean, renewable source of energy. Vegawatt is installed and has been running since early December at Finz Seafood & Grill. “As a restaurant operator I am constantly looking for more efficient methods, and especially for cost-saving measures,” said George Carey, owner of Finz...

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—Moyer Diebel, boasting more than half a century of experience in the field, has recently added its newest under counter, the 351HT, to its lineup of quality dish machines. Replacing the current 301HT, this cost-efficient under counter has been updated with many new features and will make its world premiere at the NAFEM 2009 show. Made for small kitchens and bars, the 351HT is an Energy Star qualified machine that significantly reduces water and energy consumption while still delivering sparkling clean wares using a low 0.80 gallons per rack. New features on the 351HT include counter-balanced, double skin door,...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Mark Whalen has been named president of Electrolux Food Service Americas Division. Whalen is an industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience. He has previously led the efforts of Jackson, Vulcan-Hart and Victory and serves on the board of directors for the North American Association of Foodservice Equipment Manufacturers. In his new role, Whalen will be responsible for all aspects of the foodservice equipment business in the region. “I am delighted to join the Electrolux Team at this critical stage of the development of the markets in the Americas,” Whalen says. “The brand is a...