OJAI, CALIF.—The Casa Ojai and Su Nido Inns have 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 Jim Johnson, general manager of Casa Ojai & Su Nido Inns. “It’s a meaningful and effective way of demonstrating our concern for the environment.”A typical 150 room hotel can produce three metric tonnes of greenhouses gases each day. That’s the same as driving 200 cars, heating and lighting 100...

NORTH OLMSTED, OHIO—Moen Commercial’s new M•Press metering faucet collection was recently awarded a 2012 Production Innovation Award (PIA) by Architectural Products magazine in the restroom and plumbing category. The awards program, now in its second year, showcases and honors innovation in the development and enhancement of building-related products. Judged by a group of 50 independent industry professionals, the M•Press faucets were selected for their pressure-independent design, which ensures consistent water flow, handle resistance and proper shut-off with every use.The M•Press line of faucets contain Moen’s new, proprietary Durameter cartridge, a durable brass-shell cartridge featuring a sealed-silicone timing mechanism that...

CHICAGO—Reiterating his passion for clean hotels, Anthony Melchiorri, hotel restoration expert, has endorsed Cintas Corporation’s hotel cleanliness systems. Given that guest satisfaction within hospitality has recently declined—down seven index points from last year according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study—Melchiorri points to the importance of using professional services such as tile and carpet cleaning and A/C cleaning to help deliver positive guest experiences. “One of the biggest and most basic expectations of any hotel guest is that their hotel is clean and smells nice,” said Melchiorri. “However, when I’m traveling around...

TOLEDO, OHIO—Betco Corp. announces its new Symplicity Green Earth Pot & Pan Detergent and Symplicity Sanibet Multi-Range Sanitizer. Betco's Symplicity Green Earth Pot & Pan Detergent is a solid non-phosphate machine detergent which removes heavy food soils over a wide range of water conditions in both high and low temperature dish machines. Its soil suspension agents and water conditioners combat challenging water conditions and promote free and complete rinsing at the same time, preventing lime deposits on dish machine interiors.Betco's Symplicity Green Earth Pot & Pan Detergent is recognized by the EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) program as...

PASADENA, CALIF.—LATHER Hotel announces the creation of the new Bamboo Lemongrass collection, a line of skin and hair care products. The eco-friendly collection earned the Editors’ Choice Award for Best New Product, Green Guest Amenities at the International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) and Boutique Design New York (BDNY) earlier this month. Drawing on LATHER’s longstanding heritage as a modern apothecary, and inspired by the company’s signature Bamboo Lemongrass retail products, this collection features pure lemongrass essential oil. The 1.0 oz. tubes or 2.0 oz. bottles offer hoteliers an environmentally-advanced solution to their eco-initiatives while imparting a clean, distinct...

CHICAGO—In an effort to maintain its position as one of the world’s leading green certification organizations, Green Seal has retained Chicago-based AlturaSolutions Communications to help promote the company within the professional cleaning (jansan) industry as well as the paint and coverings industry.Green Seal is one of the pioneers in the green cleaning movement and in recent years, has broadened its focus. Today, the organization works to promote not only a greener, but a more sustainable economy, in which all forms of life and natural resources are protected and social needs and values are honored.The not-for-profit organization was founded in...

WEST CALDWELL, N.J.—MaxLite, a global manufacturer and marketer of MaxLED luminaires and lamps for hotels, restaurants and resorts, announces the addition of its ECO-T LED Recessed Troffer to the DesignLights Consortium’s (DLC) Qualified Products List, joining the growing list of indoor and outdoor luminaires that are DLC-approved and qualify for national utility rebates. “ECO-T is a high-quality product that meets the tough requirements set forth by the DLC, and we are proud to add ECO-T to our growing roster of DLC-approved products,” said Pat Treadway, director of product marketing. “When combined with rebates of up to $100 in select...

JEFFERSON CITY, TENN.—Longtime industry veteran, Peter Mandel, has created an exclusive collection of internationally known brands of Italian designed seating to be manufactured and represented in North America under Motivo Furniture.Mandel has more than 30 years of experience in the design trade and hospitality industries.  His accomplishments include managing the national product launches for Ariston Hospitality, Archetype Furniture and Westwood Interiors. He also created the furniture division (Duralee Fine Furniture) for Duralee Fabrics, managing every aspect of operations that included design of the product line from conception to fabrication, marketing, building the nationwide sales force and driving revenue. He...

TRAVELERS REST, S.C.—T & S Brass, a provider of equipment solutions to the foodservice and plumbing industries, received an Editors’ Choice Award for its B-3200 series hotel shower package at the recent International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show in New York City.The IHMRS Editors’ Choice Award is based on innovative product design, how a product answers a particular industry need, creative use of material or construction, and development or use of a new technology. Linda Seigler, Northeast Regional Sales Manager for T & S, accepted the award when it was presented on November 10, 2012.The B-3200 Series is customizable...

NEW YORK—Speed Queen, a provider of commercial laundry equipment, recently highlighted its ST75, a 75-pound capacity, single cylinder tumble dryer equipped with over-dry prevention technology at the 2012 International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show in New York City. The dryer features Quantum controls that can help increase efficiency in hotel laundries. The ST75 features a concentrated airflow pattern and sealed cylinder rims to ensure maximum air utilization and energy savings. Its high performance heater box further increases energy efficiency by reducing dry times, while providing a comfortable operating environment for employees. The ST75 is also available with OPT (Over-dry...