ATLANTA—Mold contamination can cause rapid deterioration of construction and furnishing materials, leading to excessive project costs for replacement and project delays. Mold growing on these materials also can become a source of indoor air pollutants, which can lead to serious health problems, including allergic reactions and asthma attacks, and potential liability for those who design, build, operate, finance and insure the buildings in which people live and work. Manufacturers are taking the initiative to develop mold resistant products as well as taking the necessary steps to generate confidence in these products by clearly demonstrating how well they resist mold growth....

DES PLAINES, ILL.—Luxury bedding manufacturer United Feather & Down will introduce SilverFill with X-STATIC: a patent-pending new fill made with X-STATIC silver fibers, during the 2007 International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York, from November 10-13, 2007, booth number 3546. United Feather & Down is the sole manufacturer of pillows, comforters, and mattress pads with X-STATIC, a patented fiber with pure silver permanently bonded to it, delivering natural, permanent protection from odor and bacteria. During the show, considered to be the world’s largest showcase and exchange of industry products, trends and developments, United Feather & Down will...

GERMANTOWN, Md.—Telkonet, Inc., a leading technology solutions provider for broadband networking, end-to-end service support and energy management, announced that its established Preferred Provider Status for the Vantage Hospitality Group, Inc. has been extended to encompass Telkonet’s energy management solution. With Telkonet SmartEnergy, owners of Vantage’s Americas Best Value Inns and Lexington Collection hotels have the opportunity to significantly reduce in-room energy consumption by eliminating the wasteful heating and cooling of unoccupied rooms. In addition, Telkonet offers a comprehensive range of services, including wired and wireless high-speed Internet access (HSIA) and proactive customer support, all managed from a single centralized management...

VANCOUVER, B.C.—JRS Amenities, a market leader in custom and branded amenities, has introduced a luxurious guestroom amenity brand for the hospitality industry—BIODROGA Spa Sensation. This amenity collection offers guests natural and effective substances to achieve a feeling of indulgence and all-round well-being. “For almost two decades, JRS Amenities has equipped the finest hotels, resorts and airlines with some of the most desired items in guestrooms and in-flight kits—brand amenities,” says Susan Howard Memory, president and founder of JRS Amenities. “Guests appreciate the choices properties take to provide exceptional quality amenities, and BIODROGA Spa Sensation offers the ultimate in facial, hair...

DES PLAINES, ILL.—Geberit North America introduces the Geberit Concealed Tank and Carrier System. It gives a bathroom an entirely new dimension by mounting the toilet on the wall instead of the floor—allowing the freedom to create an individual style with installation flexibility. The Geberit System makes it possible to position components in any part of the bathroom, while concealing the functional components. The system’s flexibility and adaptability is also designed for installation ease. Engineered for long life and reliability, the system utilizes a steel frame supporting up to 880 pounds. Using a minimum of standard tools, the system attaches...

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA—Rheem Water Heating recently became the first industry manufacturer to offer computer software specifically intended for sizing tankless water heaters for residential and commercial installations. Based on the widely used CertiSpec software for Rheem-Ruud commercial water heaters, the new EZ-Spec tankless software application is now available for download at www.rheemtankless.com in the “Products” menu. Simple to use, the new EZ-Spec offers drop-down menus and easy-to-understand fields. The user selects a specific application (single-family home, townhome/apartment; restaurant, school, health club, laundromat, hotel, etc.) from a drop-down menu and then enters relevant sizing data, fuel type, number of hot-water fixtures, input...

SAINT PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc. announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Site Controls, LLC, a leading provider of energy management and business intelligence solutions. Under terms of the agreement, Ecolab will make a minority investment in Site Controls and create a joint venture called Total Enterprise Control (TEC), which will focus on providing energy management and remote monitoring solutions to Ecolab’s customers. “Rising operational and energy costs are one of the top concerns of our customers,” says Jim Miller, executive vice president, Ecolab Institutional Sector North America. “We saw in Site Controls the potential to provide a...

PITTSFORD, N.Y.—Care-free products, those that resist staining, are easily cleaned, stand up to the hustle and bustle of life and look great right out of the wash, have become part of our lives. Consumers want to spend less time maintaining the products they buy and more time enjoying them. Fluorochemicals are the invisible magic coating that makes all this possible, from non-stick pans to stain resistant carpets, upholstered furniture and stain resistant clothing. The incredible strength of fluorochemicals, however, may also be their greatest weakness. Fluorochemicals stay in the environment and don’t break down for decades or even centuries...

FORT LAUDERDALE—Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc. debuted its second FRESH collection at the Hospitality Design Boutique Exposition & Conference in Miami last month. The two new FRESH collections were created by New York designer Celerie Kemble and Palm Beach designers Mimi McMakin and Brooke Huttig. FRESH is an acronym for Fabrics Redefining Environmental Standards (for) Hospitality and represents the first environmentally friendly comprehensive fabric program designed specifically and only for the hospitality industry. With these new collections, the FRESH line now spans six volumes and more thant 550 skus of patterns with vibrant colors. “This collection is innovative and beautiful,” says Cliff...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Eco Crown Hospitality as a sponsor. The company, led by CEO Andrea Spiess, offers a comprehensive, globally recognized eco-certification program for the hospitality industry. Eco Crown participants receive global and local recognition in the company’s Eco Network through its 24-hour 1-877-ECO-STAY reservation system and online booking systems, industry Web links and eco organization links. Call (403) 609-2229, write to andrea101@ecocrown.com, or go to Eco Crown Hospitality to learn more about Eco Crown Hospitality’s many certification and marketing options.