NEW YORK—HX: The Hotel Experience and Boutique Design New York wrapped up earlier this week at the Javits Center in New York. As posted on Green Lodging News, it was announced that HX: The Hotel Experience has transitioned to full ownership under Hospitality Management Group (HMG), a division of ST Media Group. HX was previously co-owned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the Hotel Association of New York City (HANYC), and the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association (NYSHTA).
Also posted on Green Lodging News during the trade shows: World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, has unveiled results from a set of projects demonstrating innovative strategies aimed at reducing food waste in the hotel industry. Based on the results, WWF, AHLA, and The Rockefeller Foundation are releasing a toolkit with strategies to help hotel properties and brands meet measurable, time-bound goals to reduce food waste.
In addition to these announcements, there were many green product and service suppliers in attendance highlighting their latest innovations. It would be impossible to list them all here but below is a quick summary of those new offerings that caught this editor’s attention.
MonoSol, a Kuraray Division, introduced products in single doses enveloped by water-soluble film. Personal care products such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, toothpaste, shaving gels and other products are available in small pouches. These, the company says, eliminate product waste and recycling costs. Similarly, the company featured premeasured, sealed packages for cooking. The entire package is simply dropped into the mix. The pouch film, composed of a blend of food grade ingredients, dissolves and releases its contents when exposed to hot or cold water.
VivoAquatics, a leader in providing innovative and sustainable aquatic solutions, announced the launch of VivoPoint IQ, an analytics platform now integrated into the industry leading VivoPoint aquatic management system. VivoPoint IQ provides clients and partners a platform to measure and benchmark water quality, water usage and energy demand across a property or portfolio of properties. VivoPoint IQ includes a set of applications and benchmarks to assist clients maintain safe water, mitigate risks and improve guest satisfaction. For the first time, hotels, hospitals, multi-family apartments, fitness clubs, waterparks and other facilities are now able to benchmark water quality in recreational (i.e., pools, fountains, water features), health services (i.e., therapy spas) and building management (i.e., cooling towers) applications. The benchmarks are the result of onsite chemical automation hardware, cloud based software and a proprietary algorithm that assesses water chemistry levels and utilization 24/7 and measures against compliance standards.
Carrier Enterprise (CE) showcased the newly redesigned E-TAC II from Gree, as well as Founten’s Intelligent Wireless HVAC Energy Management Solution and the PTAC Air Knight air purification system. The E-TAC II, CE’s latest PTAC system, is significantly quieter and more energy efficient than previous models. Designed with a priority on guest comfort, the ETAC II also features humidity controls, greater ease of use with the wireless thermostat or remote control, and a more restful night, due to the Aero-Quiet fan. The E-TAC II additionally provides hotels with a front desk management interface for controlling the room based on rental or vacancy.
Dometic, which offers minibars with energy-saving efficiency in mind, focused on its RH 44 LDAG Mirror Effect Glass Door Minibar. The 40-liter Minibar is equipped with features including: adjustable shelves, sensor controlled LED interior light, Fuzzy Logic energy management, CUC cooling unit control, automatic defrost, temperature settings with remote control, reversible door hinge, self-diagnostic system, and is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified.
LUX LED Lighting displayed its Brooklyn and Toronto Collections. Both modern collections offer a number of models designed with hospitality interiors in mind, including floor lamp, sconce, and desk varieties.
New Yorkers send nearly 6 million tons of waste to landfill every year but much of that is not garbage at all. At the Javits Center was donateNYC, an organization that supports the NYC Department of Sanitation’s zero waste goals by helping businesses to give goods, find goods and do good—while keeping useful products from going to waste.
Valley Forge Fabrics announced the acquisition of the premier window treatment manufacturer, Contract Decor International (CDI), as part of a strategic move to support their continued growth in the hospitality industry. The acquisition will expand Valley Forge Fabrics’ offerings to include vertical window fabrication solutions from decorative textile to install.
Club Car showcased two new vehicles. The first vehicle, the Carryall 500 Housekeeping Vehicle, was designed in response to feedback from housekeepers at resorts. “It carries two people and their gear and features a bundle of accessories based on global buying patterns of resort customers,” says Mary A. Sicard, Resorts and Rental Marketing Leader. Electric models come standard with extended-range batteries. The second vehicle, the Carryall 700 Refuse Removal Vehicle with High Dump, fast-tracks trash collection with a high dump hopper, sturdy plastic waste hauler for above-ground dumpsters and electric bed lift with hydraulic actuator to lift and empty the hauler.
SYNLawn, a division of AstroTurf, featured its USA-made, bio-based products that are 100 percent recyclable, using renewable and recycled materials during the manufacturing process. Using SYNLawn can reduce one’s carbon footprint by conserving water and eliminating emissions from lawn equipment.
GenZe introduced its electric bicycles and scooters that can be used as a free amenity or to generate new revenue. Custom colors and branding graphics are available. They can charge off any standard outlet.
GBS Enterprises displayed its Healthy Sleep Ultra-Tech line of products with TENCEL fiber. The line includes pillows, mattress protectors, sheets and blankets.
Transformations Hospitality featured its reFresh line of furniture that allows one to replace parts or fabrics instead of the entire piece of furniture. Made in the U.S.A., reFresh significantly extends the life of furniture; customers create two-thirds less waste than every other product.
Fil Doux Textiles introduced Arte, a new Vinylife collection that draws from the Spanish word for “craft” or “artistry”. The selection of leather looks are the latest introduction of the company’s new Vinylife material, an enhanced biodegradable vinyl with a water-based, stain-resistant finish. Timeless, worn leather looks range from natural beiges and browns to deep and expressive blacks and grays. Vinylife is an environmentally aware vinyl created by, and exclusively sold through, Fil Doux Textiles. The product is produced with a natural enzyme that reacts to microorganisms found in biologically active landfills and acts as the catalyst for its decomposition.
“We are happy to introduce a 100 percent cruelty-free leather option to the market that has the added benefit of sustainability,” says CEO Leo Novik. “Arte brings Vinylife to the next level with the authentic look of leather and a chic color palette.”
QuickDrain USA offered its shower pans made of 100 percent post-consumer recycled PET rigid foam. For every standard tub-to-shower conversion kit that is installed, more than 250 plastic bottles have been removed from the landfill.
BONECO North America Corp. featured its line of humidifiers and humidifier/air washers.
Furniture maker Kellex Corp., North Ridgeville, Ohio, partnered with Cleveland Roots at Boutique Design New York. For every badge scanned, $5 was donated to Cleveland Roots. Cleveland Roots is a nonprofit in Cleveland, Ohio that creates opportunities for urban agriculture and educational programs.
Dyson displayed products ranging from LED lighting to hand dryers, hair dryers and air purifiers.
NUDURA Inc. featured insulated concrete forms. NUDURA forms work in conjunction with the thermal mass of a solid concrete core to provide one of the most energy efficient and airtight wall systems available today.
Häfele introduced a wide range of products, two of which were their Loox LED Flexible Reading Light and Loox LED Toe Kick Light. Located just below the bed, the Kick Light safely guides guests to and from the refrigerator or restroom in the middle of the night.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
