GARDEN GROVE, CALIF.—Sterling Sleep Systems’ 625 Imperial Pillow Top mattress was presented with the Award of Excellence in the 2010 Annual International Interior Design Association (IIDA)/Hospitality Design Product Design Competition at the recent Hospitality Design Exposition and Conference in Las Vegas. Sterling Sleep Systems won an award in the Case Goods and Freestanding Furniture category. Judges selected the winners based on the following: innovation, technical advancements, cost effectiveness, environmental responsibility, aesthetics, need and usage in the hospitality industry, and both client and user benefits. “As the developer of Sterling’s sustainable bed system, the idea of being able to replace worn...

CROSSVILLE, TENN.—Crossville has enhanced its Empire Porcelain Stone line, which echoes the grandeur of 19th-century France with the look and feel of natural marble. Empire now boasts 20 percent SCS-certified recycled content, has an updated color palette (including a stunning new Alabaster white), and is offered in a range of sizes and shapes, from newly designed mosaics to 21" x 21" large format to popular plank shapes. A choice of polished and unpolished finishes increases Empire’s versatility. Designed by renowned color forecaster, Barbara Schirmeister, ASID, DC, CAUS, for both commercial and residential installations, Empire’s Porcelain Stone is durable,...

GREAT FALLS, MONT.—eComponents Technology, a leading provider of hotel energy and environmental management solutions for the past decade, announced that as an Energy Star Partner it will offer automated benchmarking services for Energy Star certification. President and CEO Keith Kemble explained what this means for current and future clients: “Our Energy Star Automated Benchmarking Service allows your organization to compare facilities’ performance and energy usage with thousands of similar buildings across the United States. Organizations that use our ABS will reduce the costs of using Energy Star by eliminating the complexity of manually entering facility and enterprise energy consumption data.” ...

SPOKANE, WASH.—Sister Sky introduces its hotel amenity line that captures the indigenous essence and spirit of Native American heritage. Indigenous cultures have rich and meaningful plant traditions respecting nature’s own healing herbs from the Earth. Honoring this tradition, Sister Sky infuses botanical ingredients to enhance health and wellness. Sister Sky is a certified minority business enterprise owned by sisters Monica Simeon and Marina TurningRobe of the Spokane Tribe. “As Native Americans, we are deeply committed to creating products that honor the Earth and soothe the spirit,” said Simeon. Sister Sky’s signature fragrance is Sweet Grass which is long believed by Native...

ZIONSVILLE, IND.—FANIMATION unveils The Inlet, an Energy Star-rated ceiling fan with energy efficient compact fluorescent lighting. The Inlet is a sleek and functional, close-to-the-ceiling mounted fan that is available in Oil-rubbed Bronze and Satin Nickel finishes with an Opal Frosted glass lighting fixture. Reversible Cherry/Walnut blades are included and available with Cherry and Walnut finished woven housing accessories. The fan has a 52-inch blade sweep while optional blade sets offer a 42-inch blade pitch. Ideal for installations on lower ceilings, The Inlet is flush mounted at a distance of 8 3/8 inches from the ceiling, with a total height...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Sylvania Lighting Services as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. SYLVANIA Lighting Services (SLS) can help hotels comply with tougher new regulations for hazardous waste disposal and recycling. The company’s national recycling program sends 8.6 million lamps to recycling facilities annually, keeping 113 pounds of mercury out of landfills. SLS will pick up lamps as part its maintenance and retrofit service contracts—ensuring that hotels are in compliance and removing liability. SLS is a subsidiary of OSRAM SYLVANIA and is headquartered in Danvers, Mass., with its Canadian headquarters...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Blu-Drop as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. Blu-Drop makes it easy to upgrade from a standard toilet to a dual-flush toilet without having to purchase a new toilet. The company’s easy-to-install WF-11C system is less than one-tenth the cost of a new toilet and can double the efficiency of an existing toilet. With the WF-11C system one need only replace the existing flapper and handle with the patented dual-flapper and dual-action handle. There is no need to remove the toilet tank. The WF-11C will fit nearly...

INDIANAPOLIS—Gilchrist & Soames announced a three-year exclusive partnership with Orlando, Fla.-based Clean The World, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to saving lives and preserving the environment through an innovative hotel amenities recycling program. “We have been in talks with Clean the World for quite a while, and our joint efforts during the aftermath of the January earthquake in Haiti really kicked things into gear for us,” said Kathie De Voe, president of Gilchrist & Soames. “We ultimately made the decision to formalize a long-term relationship.” The strategic alliance with Gilchrist & Soames will help Clean the World realize their mission...

VANCOUVER, B.C.—JRS Amenities, a leading supplier of custom and branded guestroom amenities to the international hotel, airline, hospitality and cruise industries, announces the launch of the latest addition to their branded amenity collection—Borghese. “We are proud to introduce one of the most established and renowned international couture cosmetic lines in the world.” said Susan Howard Memory, president and creative director of JRS Amenities. “By partnering with Borghese to create this luxurious and effective amenity line, guests are able to pamper themselves with high-quality products even when they are away from home.” With a history in skincare and spa therapies...

ALPHARETTA, GA.—The Refinishing Touch, a specialist in providing environmentally safe and sustainable on-site furniture refinishing, upholstery and armoire modifications to public and private organizations, has launched a teaming agreement with Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (also known by its trade name UNICOR), a government corporation which provides job skills training to inmates within the Federal Bureau of Prisons, to recycle televisions as part of its e-waste program. The Refinishing Touch will work with UNICOR to recycle electronics safely and responsibly as part of its TV recycling program, designed to complement its armoire conversion services and reduce e-waste. According to a...