CHICAGO—Everpure LLC announced the launch of its Micro-Pure II technology at the National Restaurant Association Show in May. The Micro-Pure II filter offers safe, effective and long-lasting protection against the potential growth of bacteria in the filtering system. Everpure’s original Micro-Pure filters already provided consumers with chlorine reduction, odor removal and sub-micron particle capture. Enhancing upon this already popular technology, the new Micro-Pure II filter makes use of AgION antimicrobial technology, which ensures the best system performance for a greater length of time. The AgION technology prevents bacteria, mold and fungus from growing and multiplying on the...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—FreshStay is adding 20 to 30 properties per month to its rapidly growing network of smoke-free lodging establishments. Launched in January, the www.freshstay.com online directory of hotels offering better indoor air products and practices already has more than 225 nonsmoking member properties, including an increasing number of boutique hotels, extended-stay properties and resorts coast to coast. Ray Burger, president of Saint Charles, Mo.-based Pineapple Hospitality, revealed the states and cities that are most active in the nation’s growing smoke-free lodging movement as follows: Top Five States in FreshStay Directory California—47 smoke-free lodging properties in...

PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO—Enviro-Solutions, a leading chemical manufacturer of environmentally preferable cleaning products, announced they have agreed to help sponsor Green Seal’s development of a Green Cleaning Services standard for facility service providers (FSPs). The new Green Cleaning Services standard, which has been highly anticipated by many in the jan/san industry, will help FSPs develop and implement environmentally responsible cleaning procedures as well as instruct them on the use of green cleaning chemicals, equipment, and other products. Additionally, the standard will become the basis for verification and certification of green cleaning services throughout the industry. “The program will be...

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS—Friedrich Air Conditioning Co. San Antonio, Texas, maker of the C-90A electronic air cleaner, announced that it is introducing second-generation air cleaning technology with even better effectiveness ratings. The new C-90B, which will replace the C-90A, features high Clean Air Delivery Rates (CADR) for pollen, dust and tobacco. The C-90B is AHAM rated for up to 506 square feet and boasts clean air delivery rates that are up to 18 percent higher than its predecessor. The C-90B boasts a pollen CADR of 421. Like its forerunner, the C-90B air cleaner uses three-stage cleaning for maximum results....

DANBURY, CONN.—FuelCell Energy Inc., a manufacturer of efficient, ultra-clean power generation plants for commercial and industrial customers, announced that Bruce A. Ludemann has been named senior vice president for sales and marketing with responsibility for the company’s business development activities across all its target markets in North America, Asia and Europe. Previously, Ludemann had been a sales vice president with Siemens in Orlando, Fla., where he was responsible for more than $300 million in annual sales to electric utility and industrial customers. Over an eight-year period, Ludemann designed, expanded and oversaw sales and marketing efforts in a variety...

VISTA, CALIF.—The Green Restaurant Assn. (GRA) has endorsed five Waterless No-Flush urinal designs manufactured by Waterless Co. LLC, Vista, Calif. The five designs include: Sierra, Kalahari, Sonora, Yukon and Del Casa. Waterless No-Flush Urinals save resources by operating without water while helping restrooms remain sanitary, “touch-less,” and odor-free. The endorsement means GRA will encourage its members to use the Waterless No-Flush system. Based in Sharon, Mass., GRA is a nonprofit organization founded in 1990 that provides research, consulting and a variety of other services to restaurants looking to operate in a more sustainable, environmentally responsible manner. ...

MIAMI—The Hampton Inn-Jacksonville (N.C.) recently became the 750th lodging property to have M-Tech’s PMWorks preventive maintenance service installed as part of its overall property management solution. ASP-based PMWorks is powered by M-Tech’s HotSOS (Hotel Service Optimization System, pronounced hot sauce. PMWorks runs in a property’s regular Web browser and enforces enterprise-level standards to deliver a more consistent guest experience at all types of properties. “This is yet another milestone representing the acceptance and success of our PMWorks service in the hospitality industry,” says Luis C. Segredo, president of Miami-based M-Tech. “We’re pleased and honored that the 750th hotel...

PITTSBURGH—The Holiday Inn Select is the first hotel in Pittsburgh to offer its guests what CNN recently predicted to be a trend in the hospitality industry—PURE Allergy Friendly Rooms. The hotel, soon to be re-branded as a Crowne Plaza, added a block of PURE Allergy Friendly Rooms which will be available to their guests. The contemporary, suburban, full-service hotel is just seven miles to downtown Pittsburgh and features the latest in lodging, decor and technology with superior accommodations, executive suites and extended stay residences. “The staff at the hotel is very excited about offering this new amenity...

NIANTIC, CONN.—Jon Stults has joined INNCOM International Inc. as vice president of sales. He has more than 25 years senior-level sales experience in the hospitality technology sector. His primary concentration will be driving INNCOM sales efforts in the Midwest. Stults’s background in hospitality communications and networking systems include positions with AT&T, RCA, Williams Communications and EMCOR Technologies. Most recently, he was a regional director of sales for Austin, Texas-based Wayport. Stults earned his Bachelors degree in liberal arts from the University of Denver and his MBA specializing in marketing and finance from Northern Illinois University. “We are very fortunate to have...

MEMPHIS—Natureplex LLC has introduced SleepTight Bed Bug Killer to the lodging industry. The new bio-pesticide is aimed at the growing global bed bug problem. With SleepTight, Natureplex becomes perhaps the first bio-based product company to re-enter the battle against bed bugs, once thought to be largely eradicated in the United States. Natureplex expects SleepTight will be a new tool in the fight against an old foe. During past infestations, bed bug numbers were largely decimated by powerful chemicals like DDT. However, DDT has long been banned. Company officials hope to appeal to increased environmental concerns with a product...