If you do not attend trade shows, you should. It is well worth the investment to learn about technologies that can reduce expenses, increase profitability, and conserve natural resources all at the same time. At the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) in Orlando last week, there were numerous vendors on hand demonstrating the latest and greatest resource-saving technologies. You can read about them in my article currently posted on Green Lodging News.
Would you pay more than $20 for a light bulb? You might if it lasts more than 34 years (based on five hours of usage/day). At HITEC, Walkwire, LLC introduced an LED light bulb that uses just 3.4 watts of electricity. The price may be intimidating now but LED light bulbs are eventually going to be great for the lodging industry. Because they don’t include mercury, they do not create disposal issues. Implemented on a large scale, LED light bulbs would quickly eliminate the need for new power plants.
Walkwire, LLC’s new product was just one example of innovation that would have taken much longer to discover had I not been at HITEC. This fall, be sure to attend the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS) in New York (November 11 to 13). It is another example of a great place to discover money-saving products and technologies.
New Founding Sponsor
Speaking of the IH/M&RS, which I have attended about a dozen times now, I am excited to report that the show is now an official Green Lodging News Founding Sponsor. The IH/M&RS features 1,250 exhibitors showcasing products and services for lodging and culinary buyers and attracts more than 35,000 in total trade attendance.
At the show, exhibitors—organized into vertical market categories—showcase the newest products and services available to the hotel and restaurant industries, including furnishings, technology, foodservice equipment, food & beverage, linens, amenities, tableware, cleaning and more. The hospitality industry’s most influential buyers from hotels, restaurants, purchasing companies, owner groups, design firms, catering and specialty foodservice establishments, dealerships, casinos and resorts visit the IH/M&RS to discover what is new in the industry.
Off the show floor, participants are able to network at various functions, including the International Hospitality Ball, Late Night at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill and during the annual Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design. Educational programming rounds out the market experience, addressing such topics as sales and marketing, human resources, technology, hospitality design, sustainability and more. Included is the Hospitality Leadership Forum, a full-day pre-show conference for lodging executives. The IH/M&RS is sponsored by the American Hotel & Lodging Assn.; the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc.; and the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Assn. Additional information can be found online at www.ihmrs.com.
Green Lodging News is currently working with George Little Management, LLC, manager of the show, on two “green” educational sessions that will take place at the event. More details will be reported here in the coming months.
Odds & Ends
Green Lodging News welcomes Sterling Sleep Hospitality, Garden Grove, Calif., as a Green Product Directory partner. Sterling’s unique modular mattress systems save money by allowing one to replace any of the interchangeable parts like zippered pillow tops and other components instead of replacing the entire bed. Their environmentally friendly system reduces waste while extending mattress life. All six models come completely apart for proper cleaning.
Sterling Sleep Hospitality is a registered EPA WasteWise endorser. Hotels and others that purchase modular mattress systems from Sterling are eligible to become EPA WasteWise Partners. Sterling will be in its showroom (A547) at the Las Vegas Furniture Market, July 30 to Aug. 3. The showroom is in building A. See www.lasvegasmarket.com. For more information on Sterling, call (714) 891-3191, or e-mail tony@sterlingsleep.com.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
