MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton Worldwide announced a major electric vehicle (EV) charging program, which will be available at 50 U.S. hotels by the end of this year with plans to rapidly expand to 100 U.S. hotels by the end of 2016. The program will cover all types of electric vehicles, including Teslas. Current, powered by GE, will provide stations to charge other car makes.Electric vehicle owners can now road trip from New York City to Los Angeles with the peace of mind that multiple Hilton properties will be along the way to accommodate their charging needs. This is one of many...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) has named Toronto as the host city for the 2017 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC). HITEC offers a unique combination of top-notch hospitality technology education, led by industry peers and experts and a trade show showcasing the latest products and services. HITEC 2017 will be held June 26 to 29, 2017.“As a global association, HFTP is thrilled to bring HITEC to our neighbors to the north in Canada,” explains HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe, CAE. “Toronto is a beautiful city and I am excited to see how HITEC will flourish in...

NATIONAL REPORT—Earlier this summer hand dryer maker Dyson Inc. released an e-mail linking to a video that demonstrates how one of its competitor’s hand dryers can potentially blow washroom air containing bacteria, viruses and even fecal matter onto your hands. Of its competitor’s hand dryer, the video said, “It sucks in the dirty air and blows it straight onto your hands so you think your hands are clean…but are they?” Other Dyson videos focusing on two other competing hand dryers make similar claims—that the two dryers just redistribute dirty air. Whether true or not, what the videos show is...

SAN DIEGO—Paradise Point, A Destination Hotel on San Diego’s Mission Bay, has partnered with San Diego International Airport on a new sustainable travel program. The Good Traveler program, piloted by San Diego International Airport, seeks to offset environmental impacts of travel by encouraging guests to purchase carbon offsets in the form of merchandise or add-ons to hotel reservations. For just $1, a traveler can effectively offset 500 miles of air travel or 200 miles of driving. All of program funds will go directly towards conservation projects counteracting the environmental impacts of greenhouse gas emissions.Paradise Point is the first hotel...

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, COLO.—Xanterra Parks & Resorts affiliate Xanterra South Rim L.L.C. has been awarded a new 15-year contract to continue operating the primary concessions at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.Xanterra’s bid was chosen by the National Park Service and continues a tradition dating back to 1905 when the Fred Harvey Company, even before the Grand Canyon was designated a national park, began operating concessions in Grand Canyon Village, including El Tovar Hotel and Hopi House.“We are delighted to continue operating visitor facilities and services at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and look forward...

NATIONAL REPORT—Light has been around as long as the human race. First came fire—primitive, serving a dual purpose of heating and illumination. Fire, as a technology, was around for thousands of years. Relatively recently, roughly a hundred or so years ago, incandescent light was invented. This light source remains in use today and is a relatively simple process—passing an electrical current through a resistor, which creates both light, and heat. In the last 60 or so years, newer technologies have appeared—fluorescent, low and high-pressure sodium, metal halide, compact florescent. While these are significantly more efficient light sources than fire...

NEW YORK—Since the iconic Virgin Megastore left Times Square in 2009, New York City has been vacant of a Virgin hub. That will soon change as Virgin Hotels has broken ground with the Lam Group on Virgin Hotels New York City. Located in the NOMAD neighborhood at 1227 Broadway between 29th and 30th, the property will serve as the brand’s flagship hotel. Virgin Hotels is aiming to achieve LEED certification.“New York City isn’t just a destination for the Virgin airlines, but a place where some of the most successful Virgin brands have been incubated, where we’ve stunned crowds with...

NEW YORK—More than 300 boutique hotel leaders, travel advisors, media and industry professionals will gather from October 21 to 23 at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel, Santa Monica, for the annual BLLA Leadership Symposium. BLLA is the leading Boutique & Lifestyle Assn. aimed at connecting independent, upscale hoteliers with fellow industry innovators, discerning travelers and hospitality professionals. Over the course of three days, more than 70 featured speakers will provide industry insights and highlight upcoming opportunities within the boutique hotel space. Nine presenters, including CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg; Enchantment Group President Mark Grenoble; Commune Hotels + Resorts Executive...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Global hospitality association Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) is adding to its successful community giving efforts with HFTP Helps. The first portion of the program, HITEC Helps, first held this year in Austin, Texas to support the United Way for Greater Austin during the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC) raised over $15,000 in support of the Austin area’s Memorial Day flood victims. Building on the enormous outreach from HFTP members and HITEC participants, HFTP has decided to create HFTP Helps, which will identify and serve a need in a community near the location of their...

NEW YORK—Hospitality Design (HD) magazine has launched HD Select, a brand new event that brings buyers and sellers together to discuss the most current projects and products in the hospitality design realm. The new series will officially launch at Motif Seattle on April 3 to 5, 2016, with a focus on sustainability and best practices. A fall event will be held in Charleston, S.C., discussing luxury design trends.HD Select allows guests to enhance their business by connecting with key buyers and suppliers in products and design. The event will feature representatives from a diverse range of product categories, including...