DALLAS—Hotels and resorts throughout the world are discovering problems with the continued use of natural thatch roofing material, which is causing harm to the environment and financial difficulty for the hotels and resorts. A recent increase in thatch roof fires has caused the hospitality industry to examine its use of natural thatch roofing materials and structures. Natural thatching requires costly and time-consuming maintenance along with the treatment of environmentally harmful chemicals, such as flame-retardants and insect fumigants that can put guests in danger or cause the loss of business. The issues with natural thatching materials can be avoided with...

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—Concept Amenities, a leader in the supply of environmentally responsible guest bath amenities, has named Catherine “CJ” Burgher as its new vice president sales Luxury Hospitality. Burgher, who had been West Coast sales manager at rival Molton Brown, will spearhead Concept Amenities’ new luxury sector and focus on direct sales of Luxury Collection brands to the 4+ star hotel market with exclusive licensed retail brand amenities. “The expansion into luxury sales is not new to our company,” notes Gary Coward, president of sales at Concept Amenities. “We’ve created 4+ star luxury collections for over 28 years but this new...

CROSSVILLE, TENN.—Inspired by the natural stone from which it derives its name, the new Bluestone by Crossville features a field of soft earthen tones, enhanced by fossil-like impressions and the subtle pearlescence of embedded shells. Bluestone Porcelain Stone tile is available in both natural and honed finishes. Designed for both commercial and residential installations, Bluestone contains a minimum of 20 percent recycled content and is manufactured in Crossville using processes that have been certified by Scientific Certification Systems. It’s available in four colorways—Colorado Buff, Arizona Brown, Pennsylvania Blue and Vermont Black—and a variety of sizes: 24" x 24", 12" x...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—WattStopper has created a YouTube channel in order to share its growing video library with a wider audience. Viewers can choose from numerous informative short subjects on topics ranging from installing specific controls to selecting high ROI control investments. The channel is updated frequently, and subscribers receive automatic notifications when new content is added. Viewers can watch the videos on mobile devices as well as their computers. By uploading video content to YouTube, WattStopper enables sales reps and distributors to incorporate this informative content in their own communications, providing added value to customers. The YouTube channel also directly...

CHICAGO—Cleaning professionals are starting to see something new on their customers’ floors. More facilities are installing green and sustainable floors and one type of floor that is becoming increasingly popular is cork. The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., now has cork floors in sections of the building. Hilton Hotels is installing cork floors in some of its properties as are schools, restaurants, office buildings, and even hair salons.  To help cleaning workers keep these floors clean, safe, and healthy, Tornado Industries, manufacturer of professional floor care machines and equipment, offers the following Tornado Top Ten: 10 tips on maintaining cork...

MIAMI BEACH—Aeterna recently introduced its Flavored Waters on Tap multi-beverage delivery system. Flavored and enhanced water is the fastest growing beverage segment in the industry, available til now only in glass and plastic bottles. Ecologically committed Aeterna Water solves a dual consumer need by offering a fresher beverage delivered “on tap” (still or sparkling) side by side with a green solution for abating the proliferation of plastic bottled beverages. “Imagine the finest still and sparkling waters combined with Sicilian Blood Orange, Ruby Raspberry and Citrus Sparks to create an endless flow of customizable beverages with no high fructose corn syrup,...

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF.—Cogenra Solar, a provider of distributed solar cogeneration systems and renewable energy service solutions, announced that Kate Sherwood has joined the company as vice president of U.S. sales. Sherwood brings a proven sales and business development track record in the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry, including leadership positions at SunPower, SunLink and Recurrent Energy. She joins Cogenra to meet the company’s growing demand for its hybrid solar solution, applying her solar background to the rapidly developing market. “Kate Sherwood has consistently demonstrated the talent and drive to grow revenues and evolve sales teams in the solar space,” said Cogenra...

TAMPA, FLA.—LEDnovation, a developer of LED lighting and replacement lamp technology, has expanded its EnhanceLite LED MR16 line to include the first in a series of 50W equivalent (50W Eq) replacement MR16 lamps. The initial offering boasts a center beam candle power (CBCP) of 7360 Candelas at 7.9W and an efficacy of 57 lumens/watt. With a narrow spot beam angle of 11 degrees, this 50W Eq EnhanceLite LED MR16-50 is an optimum replacement for energy wasting, low-voltage halogen MR16 lamps widely used throughout the gaming industry in casinos and other hospitality venues. It offers true 50W equivalent performance, Energy Star...

NASHVILLE, TENN.—The Nashville Airport Marriott has gone green by installing two electric vehicle charging stations in the property’s parking lot. The Nashville hotel began installation the week of June 27 and the charging stations are now ready for use by its guests. The installation is part of a partnership with The EV Project that was created by ECOtality, an energy company that works to identify technological innovations in the electric transportation and storage industry. The EV Project’s purpose is to deploy electric vehicles and approximately 14,000 charge infrastructures in 18 major cities and metropolitan areas located in six states and...

CHICAGO—Culligan, a leading provider of advanced filtration and water softening solutions, recently unveiled its High Efficiency (HE) Water Softener as part of its Culligan Matrix Solutions water treatment systems, which provide greater flexibility, speed to market and cost savings to commercial companies. Culligan’s HE Water Softener offers commercial users a range of advanced features and options based on their unique water usage and quality requirements. Its unique design addresses the most common user concerns such as: operating, labor and maintenance costs, as well as the impact of poor water quality on operational efficiency and customer service levels. “Selecting the right...