FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Mark Whalen has been named president of Electrolux Food Service Americas Division. Whalen is an industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience. He has previously led the efforts of Jackson, Vulcan-Hart and Victory and serves on the board of directors for the North American Association of Foodservice Equipment Manufacturers. In his new role, Whalen will be responsible for all aspects of the foodservice equipment business in the region. “I am delighted to join the Electrolux Team at this critical stage of the development of the markets in the Americas,” Whalen says. “The brand is a...

HERMOSA BEACH, CALIF.—Green Globe International, Inc., the worldwide owner of the Green Globe brand, and Green Hotel Certification have announced the launch of a new Corporate Membership program which is designed to make the Green Globe/Green Hotel Certification duel certification program more affordable for hotel and resort properties. The certification fee of the duel Green Globe/Green Hotel Certification was replaced by a monthly membership fee. “Given current economic conditions in the hospitality industry, a pricing structure that recognizes the challenges in the market but still delivers all the benefits of the two premier international green certification programs will make participation...

BOSTON—Seattle-based O Ecotextiles, which debuted in the United States last year, announced that its fabric was selected as one of BuildingGreen’s 2008 Top 10 Green Building Products by the editors of Environmental Building News and GreenSpec. This seventh annual award recognizes the most innovative and exciting green building products added to the GreenSpec Directory during the past year or covered in Environmental Building News. O Ecotextiles’ message is that being an “organic textile” means not just that a fabric uses organic fibers in the yarn, but that every step of the production process has been certified eco-friendly. The company produces...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes usfi | GreenWorks as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. The company is a source for printed products and services—anything that can be imprinted or screened with a brand. Examples include key cards, stationery, sweaters, coasters, laundry bags, ball caps, towels, coffee mugs and much more. The company offers three Green Earth Key Cards: 1) BioPVC, a vinyl that biodegrades naturally, 2) corn-based plastics, and 3) recycled PVC. Based in Dallas with offices nationwide, usfi | GreenWorks has been in business since 1984. The company’s products are...

GOLDEN, COLO.—Novan Solar Inc. of Golden, Colo., has installed one of the nation’s largest solar hot water systems ever built for a hotel at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz. The Novan solar thermal system will provide domestic hot water for guestrooms, the main laundry services room and all the restaurants at the 492-room resort. The 27-acre Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa has complete resort facilities, including a 2.5 acre “water playground,” 27 holes of championship golf, world-class tennis, Spa Avania and the Native American and Environmental Learning Center as a part...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Prestwick Limited as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. Prestwick Limited manufactures earth-friendly furnishings for the hospitality industry. The company’s outdoor furnishing solutions include Towel Valets, Towel Returns, Recycle Stations, Waste Enclosures, Beverage Solutions, Bellman’s Valets, Planter Boxes, Seating, Storage Boxes and Signage. Prestwick Limited’s products are available in Teak, Ipe and Forever•nu, the purest grade of recycled plastic. The source for the plastic is recycled milk jugs. The company offers numerous collections including Great Lakes, Highlands, Keystone-EL, and Sedona. Prestwick’s collections are available in...

ALSIP, ILL.—Litetronics International introduces Micro-Brite C11 torpedo lamps. They have a smaller size than bent tip C11s, allowing them to fit in smaller decorative fixtures. Their cold cathode technology dims down to 5 percent of its light output without flickering. Unlike incandescent C11 lamps that undergo color shift when dimmed, the Micro-Brite C11 dims with consistent 2850K color. Available in clear and white finishes with a candelabra base, Micro-Brite C11 torpedo lamps can be used both indoors and outdoors. The 5-watt Micro-Brite replaces a 30-watt incandescent lamp and yields up to 85 percent savings in energy costs. Its...

ROANOKE, VA.—The Comfort Inn, Butte Montana, which is managed by Town Pump, Inc., has installed Lodging Technology’s GEM System Energy Management in all 145 guestrooms. GEM System, an infrared sensor-based guestroom energy management system, reduces room energy costs 35 percent to 45 percent by maintaining “management-preferred” temperatures in rooms while guests are out. By taking this responsible step to become more energy efficient, NorthWestern Energy has given the Comfort Inn a very substantial rebate. The Comfort Inn has a mixture of GE and LG through-the-wall PTAC units, ranging in age from two to 20-plus years. Since GEM System is compatible...

TEMPERANCE, MICH.—MTS, a leading manufacturer of premium seating for the hospitality industry, announced that Bart Kulish has been named president of the company. Kulish, who joined the company in 1985, most recently served as vice president and general manager. Phil Swy, who has held the title of president since 1993, will assume the role of CEO. “Bart is an exceptional leader who has managed our day-to-day operations very effectively for the last several years,” said Swy, whose family co-founded and continues to own and operate MTS. He is uniquely qualified to continue our growth and to guide our company going...

CAMARILLO, CALIF.—Hygiena introduces SystemSURE Plus, a convenient system that hotel management and staff can use to regularly verify the thoroughness of cleaning performed throughout the hotel. Hotels around the world are using the SystemSURE Plus to monitor food preparation surfaces in kitchens on a daily basis, high touch-point areas and to teach employees the cleaning standard of the hotel. With SystemSURE Plus in place, quality assurance becomes a daily, verifiable routine that can easily be implemented in a hotel or across multiple properties. The hand-held SystemSURE Plus from Hygiena monitors adenosine triphosphate (ATP)—a biochemical found in all living organisms and...