CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes LATHER as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Since 1999, LATHER has offered spa-quality skin care products made from natural ingredients. Extracts, antioxidants, and rare fruits and herbs have been cherry-picked for their unique benefits. In addition to free standing retail locations, LATHER supplies in-room, retail and spa products to distinguished locations around the globe. LATHER is the first luxury brand to feature EcoPure, an organic compound rendering plastic packaging biodegradable. All LATHER products are certified by Sustainable Travel International. For more information, e-mail Derek@lather.com, call (626)...

NEW CASTLE, DEL.—Speakman Company will be exhibiting at the upcoming Kitchen and Bath Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, April 26 to 28 (Booth C4589). During the expo Speakman will be showcasing the latest additions to its showerhead line. Shower introductions include the new product line which prominently features the Anystream 360 degree spray technology. Developed by Speakman’s engineering team, Anystream 360 spray technology allows Speakman Anystream showerheads to achieve a 360 degree rotation to the spray adjusting mechanism (handle or faceplate). This adjustability allows the user to make small incremental adjustments to the spray of the showerhead and...

PULASKI, N.Y.—Antony Papageorgiou, a Cornell Hotel School alumnus and veteran of the hospitality industry, has been named the new COO at PURE Global Solutions, LLC in Pulaski, N.Y. Papageorgiou held several key leadership positions in hotel operations, branding and corporate training/development in the luxury and ultra premium cruise industry before starting a new career in indoor air and surface purification in 2008. “I am very excited to join the PURE Solutions Global team at a time when all of our efforts are directed toward strengthening our support to our existing distributors and broadening our presence worldwide,” Papageorgiou said. “This award-winning,...

MEMPHIS, TENN.—Memphis-based Cooper Hotels, the largest multi-unit operator of hotels in Tennessee, announced the completion of the installation of a solar thermal system at the company’s Hilton Knoxville Airport hotel. The emissions-free, completely silent system provides energy to heat almost 2,000 gallons of water per day for the five-story, 238-room hotel. In addition to being pollution-free and helping to reduce global warming, the new system also helps to preserve natural gas resources. “Cooper Hotels is committed to creating more sustainable lodging in Tennessee,” said Pace Cooper, Cooper Hotels’ president and CEO. “In addition to the Hilton Knoxville Airport solar project,...

SHANGHAI, CHINA—URBN Hotels & Resorts announced a partnership with sustainable water experts, Environtech (an operating brand of Hallmark Environmental Technologies, Inc). The two companies have joined forces on a project which will bring clean, pure, potable tap water to all of URBN’s three food and beverage outlets at the URBN Hotel in Shanghai, including their new restaurant Downstairs with David Laris. Environtech will provide the URBN Hotel with an on-site Re:Water water recycling system, which will increase the quality of water to meet or exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards. For the restaurant, this means all food...

TROY, OHIO—For the fifth year, the Hobart Center for Foodservice Sustainability (HCFS) plans to award a $5,000 grant to the organization judged to have the best-executed foodservice or grocery sustainability project. Applications are currently being accepted, and the recipient is to be announced at the 2012 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago. “The Hobart Center for Foodservice Sustainability provides a forum for sharing the best practices that help make foodservice operations more efficient, more sustainable and more profitable,” explained Rick Cartwright, vice president, ITW Food Equipment Group and an HCFS Fellow. “We are pleased to again offer a $5,000 grant...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Protect-A-Bed as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Protect-A-Bed offers a complete line of protective bedding products designed to preserve mattresses and keep them out of landfills. AllerZip is the world’s first scientifically proven bed bug entry, escape and bite proof mattress encasement featuring the patented BugLock with SecureSeal three-sided zipper system. The products also offer allergy protection, which helps hotels create a healthy and restful sleep environment. Protect-A-Bed also offers mattress pads, pillow protectors and other items. For more information, e-mail Sandra@protectabed.com, call (866) 297-8836, or...

OTTAWA, ONT.—The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) and MPI Foundation Canada announced the launch of the Green Key Meetings Program, an assessment tool for hotel and resort properties that host meetings of any size. The assessment has been designed as a tool to provide travel, meeting and conference planners with the hotel’s level of commitment to environmental issues. “HAC is delighted to be partnering with MPI Foundation Canada on this initiative,” said Anthony Pollard, president of the Hotel Association of Canada. “Meeting Professionals International is widely recognized as the global leader in the meeting and event industry. We are confident...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—The InterContinental Suites Cleveland now offers guests the option to stay in PURE Allergy Friendly Rooms. The PURE air purification system will be utilized in 13 hotel suites, in order to improve air quality and enhance guest satisfaction. In addition, PURE rooms feature deluxe bedding encasements, with virtually allergen free pillow and mattress covers, to protect guests from irritants and pollutants. The new PURE rooms are being introduced as part of the InterContinental Suites’ new wellness-themed renovation, which will transform the Cleveland hotel into a center of wellness and tranquility.  “Adding PURE rooms to the new InterContinental Suites Hotel...

STATE COLLEGE, PENN.—Ameresco, Inc., a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced that it has entered into a Guaranteed Energy Savings Contract (GESC) with Penn State University. As part of the GESC, Ameresco will provide viable energy conservation measures to the Nittany Lion Inn and the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center, located in State College, Penn. The project will include new energy conservation measures such as lighting and lighting control system improvements, domestic water reduction measures, weatherization improvements, and an updated and expanded energy management system. Collectively, these measures are expected to reduce annual utility consumption by more...