BLOOMINGTON, IND.—The Ashkin Group, which has long been a leading advocate for green cleaning and sustainable practices in the professional cleaning industry, announces the launch of their new company website. The site, www.AshkinGroup.com, was built under the direction of Elizabeth Crosbie, marketing director for The Ashkin Group. According to Stephen Ashkin, the Ashkin Group’s president, the new site is a reflection of the industry’s evolution from green cleaning to an increased emphasis on sustainability.  “As we did with green cleaning, we are increasing our emphasis on sustainability so we can play a leadership role in this evolution as well,” said Ashkin. According...

NEW YORK—Savvy travelers looking for sustainable vacation options in Latin America and the Caribbean can now find them by logging on to SustainableTrip.org, an online search engine launched by the Rainforest Alliance. SustainableTrip.org is a database of hotels, tour operators and other businesses (such as restaurants) in Latin America and the Caribbean that have been certified by a sustainable tourism certification program, verified by the Rainforest Alliance, or recommended as being sustainable by a reputable organization. The site is available in three languages—English, as SustainableTrip.org; Spanish, as ViajeSostenible.org; and French, as VoyageResponsable.org.  “SustainableTrip.org is a valuable, unique resource in that it...

BOCA RATON, FLA.—Just when you thought there were no more new segments to exploit in the hospitality industry, one bubbles to the surface. Outdoor Traveler Destinations (OTD) is a new membership group that intends to affiliate a wide range of hospitality properties (everything from traditional hotels to dude ranches to fishing camps to something called glamping) that market to the 80 million outdoor enthusiasts in the United States. “It’s a marketing dream come true because we’re catering to a very passionate consumer,” says OTD president Scott Boone, who most recently was an executive with Island Global Yachting but in the...

OTTAWA—ULC Standards, an independent, not-for-profit standards development organization, announced that it has acquired majority ownership of TerraChoice, a global leader in environmental certification and green marketing, and exclusive manager of the EcoLogo Program. TerraChoice joins UL Environment as part of the Underwriters Laboratories global network providing environmental services to companies around the world. TerraChoice’s Canadian operations, office location and staff will remain in place to provide uninterrupted service to more than 500 customers. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The EcoLogo Program helps public and corporate purchasers, as well as consumers, find and trust environmentally preferable products across...

ORLANDO, FLA.—The Regal Sun Resort, an Official Walt Disney World Hotel, has selected Hospitality Battery Holders’ Electronic Lock Battery Holder to replace its wrap-around battery packs. This will allow the hotel to use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable battery packs, according to Charlie Rodriguez, account manager for Hospitality Battery Holder. The Regal Sun Resort installed the Electronic Lock Battery Holder in its 626 rooms. “The Regal Sun Resort is expected to save more than $8,000 dollars within the next five years,” Rodriguez says. Go to Hospitality Battery Holder.

AUSTELL, GA.—YKK AP America announced the “Building a Better Tomorrow, Today” YouTube video competition to encourage innovation while further advancing the green building industry. Interested participants can now submit videos showcasing their ideas for how America can enhance the built environment for generations to come, whether it’s through an energy-savings, green building or sustainability perspective. Submissions are encouraged from architects, designers, contractors, manufacturers, students and the general public, and can consist of a new or existing idea, design, product or project. Winners will be announced at GreenBuild in Chicago in November. To enter, participants can post their videos, which should...

SAINT PAUL, MINN.—Hotel owners have a personal and corporate responsibility to keep nearly a million mattress sets out of landfills each and every year. Mattress Renewal Pro, Saint Paul, Minn., has engineered a system that can eliminate this waste, save 50 percent of the cost of mattress replacement, and provide a sustainable product that will be equal to or surpasses the comfort and quality of the original mattress. Mattress Renewal Pro has been developed by specialists with 45 years of mattress manufacturing knowledge. This program has never been offered before in the lodging industry. The Mattress Renewal Pro system: • The company...

BOULDER, COLO.—Sustainable Travel International (STI) announced that Sonnenalp Resort of Vail has achieved its Luxury Eco Certification Standard (LECS), becoming the first hotel in the western United States to pass the intensive on-site inspection and receive this distinction. Designed to educate, as well as help luxury hotels create and implement a sustainability management framework, LECS is a voluntary, global certification program focusing on people, planet and profit. In order to become LECS certified, hotels must undergo a preliminary desk audit, complemented by an on-site, third-party assessment handled by Leading Quality Assurance. The five areas that are evaluated include: policy and...

NEW YORK—The International Copper Association (ICA) announced a new heat exchanger coil technology that benefits from smaller diameter copper tubes. The new product designs and associated manufacturing processes are a culmination of years of research. Heat transfer from the refrigerant to the tube wall is more effective inside copper tubes with diameters smaller than the conventional diameter. Consequently, coils can be made less bulky and air conditioners with higher energy efficiency can be made smaller and lighter. “It is true that highly efficient air conditioners currently are being made with conventional copper tubes,” says Nigel Cotton, global leader of OEM Initiative...

CHICAGO—Cintas Corp. introduced the Full Circle Eco Polo, a “green” polo made from a recycled polyester/eco-charcoal blend. At the end of its lifecycle, the garment can be recycled into new material, creating a closed-loop system and helping organizations to further enhance their green apparel programs. “Our new polo is one of the most sustainable garments available,” said Todd McKeown, vice president of Hospitality at Cintas. “It keeps water bottles out of landfills and helps reduce resource exhaustion and global warming. This is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to show they’re serious about combating the environmental impact of their operations.” Fifty percent...