LOS ANGELES—MindClick SGM announced that Fairmont Designs, a leader in sustainable custom contact furnishings for the hospitality industry, has joined the Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium as a Contributing Member. Specializing in the design, manufacture and marketing of furnishings, case goods and seating to the contract market, Fairmont Designs has a longstanding commitment to defining business success by not only delivering comfort and style through its products—but also by advancing environmental well-being in the communities it serves. Its membership in the Consortium moves further toward establishing the new Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Index (HSP Index) as the industry resource for sustainable...

SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA—For the second time in three months, Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality has announced that another Costa Rican hotel has been added into its fold of Earth-friendly and forward-thinking Central American eco-lodges, resorts and inns. Hotel Grano de Oro, located on a shady street just off San José’s main thoroughfare, is a 40-room luxury accommodation property. Once a tropical Victorian mansion, Cayuga’s newest property has a warm and comfortable home-like atmosphere with old photographs and local artworks adorning the walls, a Spanish-tiled water fountain, a garden terrace with two Jacuzzis and a gourmet on-site restaurant to appease the appetites...

DES PLAINES, ILL.—Chicago Faucets, a leading manufacturer of commercial faucets, introduces the Commander Handheld Programming Unit. Commander allows users to easily program, monitor and troubleshoot Chicago Faucets’ HyTronic and E-Tronic electronic faucets. No tools are necessary to set up and change faucet functions. Without touching the faucet, facility managers and maintenance personnel can easily change and customize operating modes; adjust sensor range; monitor battery levels; identify serial numbers, settings and usage information; and access the troubleshooting guide and product information. Chicago Faucet Commander provides easy-to-read diagnostics and step-by-step adjustment procedures. With Commander, the user can scan for faucets requiring attention. When...

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—Red Lion Hotels Corporation is partnering with Concept Amenities, a supplier of environmentally responsible guest bath amenities, to provide eco-friendly products to its millions of annual guests. Headquartered in Spokane, Wash., the Red Lion Hotels Corporation (RHL) owns, operates and franchises nearly 50 properties in nine Western states and one Canadian province including British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington. Beginning this month, Red Lion Hotels will stock guestrooms, in all RHL properties, with Eco.Fresh Pure, a custom range of bath and body cosmetics created especially for the hotel brand. The liquids and...

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.—Evolve Guest Controls is currently installing a fully integrated energy management control system with back office network connectivity in all of the Radisson LAX’s 580 guestrooms and suites. Evolve’s EMS system controls all of the lighting in the room, the TV(s), and the HVAC. When the Radisson was prompted with the question of whether to go with Evolve’s active energy management platform or passive PIR based platform, they opted to choose Evolve’s active energy management approach, which engages the guest to participate in being “green” while they travel by using a wireless keycard reader to determine guestroom...

DALLAS—VingCard Elsafe, part of the ASSA ABLOY Group, announces that the Grand Hyatt San Francisco has selected a complete package of VingCard Elsafe solutions for installation as a key component of the comprehensive renovation of its 659 guestrooms. The completed renovation features the addition of VingCard’s Orion energy management system and Signature RFID locks powered by the VISIONLINE wireless online access management system. With VingCard Elsafe products as the centerpiece, the 38-story, 39-year-old iconic Union Square property is now one of the most tech-forward hotels in all of San Francisco. “VingCard Elsafe has truly helped modernize our hotel, giving us...

NIANTIC, CONN.—When the Shore Hotel opened its doors in Santa Monica in October, INNCOM International was there with its e4 Smart Digital Thermostat and Integrated Room Automation System (IRAS) as an integral part of each guestroom and an instrumental component to the property achieving Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Independently owned and operated by the Farzam family, the 164-room hotel is one of California’s most eco-friendly properties today, and the hotel’s owners attribute its sustainability achievements in large part to INNCOM. “Our mission is to provide an excellent guest stay bar none, but we want to...

CINCINNATI—Cintas Corp. announced it has partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on its Energy Star program. The program provides a strategic approach to energy management by tracking an organization’s current energy-efficiency and future improvement. The focus on energy usage benefits both consumers and the environment by lowering utility bills and increasing the use of energy-efficient products and practices. “We are pleased to join as a partner with EPA’s Energy Star program and will continue to take significant strides to further reduce energy consumption and encourage sustainability,” said Glenn Larsen, vice pesident of Quality & Engineering, Cintas. “Reducing our energy...

OSHKOSH, WIS.—Continental Girbau Inc. recently unleashed significant enhancements to its Pro-Series II Dryer line. First, the entire line offers two new control options—the simple-to-use Dual Digital Control and the highly programmable Microprocessor Control. Second, all Pro-Series II Dryers with microprocessor controls now offer an optional Linen Life Extension (LLE) system—a moisture sensing feature engineered to prevent over-drying, extend linen life and increase energy-efficiency. Finally, electric heating is now available on the 125-pound capacity single-pocket dryer, previously only available in natural gas and steam heated models.Continental’s Pro-Series II Dryer line—designed to escalate efficiency, production and safety—is available in 30-, 40-,...

SANTA ROSA, CALIF.—The recently renovated Best Western Plus Wine Country Inn & Suites officially joined the EcoStay program. EcoStay is a national initiative that helps hotels measure their carbon footprint, identify and fund reduction strategies and balance off their greenhouse gas emissions through carbon offsetting.“We’re very excited to be part of the EcoStay Program,” said Todd Anderson, general manager of Best Western Plus Wine Country Inn & Suites. “It’s a meaningful and effective way of demonstrating our concern for the environment.”Under the program, Best Western Plus Wine Country Inn & Suites will collect two dollars per night from hotel...