SHARM EL-SHEIKH—Bluewater, a Swedish innovator of award-winning hydration solutions and beverages, has lashed out at the lack of decisive action by world lawmakers to halt the production of single-use plastic bottles despite growing evidence of the threat posed to planetary and human health. “Some 1.3 billion plastic bottles are purchased around the world every day and unfortunately many ultimately end up in landfill or the oceans after being discarded, subsequently then leaching a variety of potentially health threatening chemicals and microplastics into the environment,” said Philip Russell, Managing Director of Bluewater’s U.K.-based events company, in a landmark speech in the...

CINCINNATI—Cintas Corp. announced the grand-prize winner and runners-up in the 2022 Cintas S.H.I.N.E. (Star Housekeepers in a New Era) Award. Christine Perkins, a housekeeper at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Cedar City in Cedar City, Utah won the contest’s $5,000 cash grand prize. Additionally, her property will receive a comprehensive product, training and consultation package from Cintas and its contest partners. “This year’s S.H.I.N.E. Award finalists truly embody what a strong work ethic looks like,” said Nicole Beall, Vice President—Hospitality & Gaming Strategic Markets at Cintas. “Housekeepers in the hospitality industry have shown great resilience and dedication to overcome tremendous...

ATLANTA—Acuity Brands, Inc. announced that 18 architectural lighting luminaires representing the company’s A-Light, Eureka, Gotham, Hydrel, IOTA, Juno, Luminaire LED, Luminis, MARK Architectural Lighting, and Peerless brands were selected as 2022 Product Innovation Award (PIA) winners by Architectural SSL magazine. The PIAs recognize innovative LED and solid-state luminaires and fixtures on the market, while also spotlighting the players behind the components that make up these light sources. PIA Winners Include: A-Light: Absorb I Suspended Luminaire is an acoustic luminaire that delivers form, style, and sound absorption to an environment. Made for areas with hard surfaces, tall windows, and high ceilings. Relay Suspended Luminaire features curved and softened design elements, allowing...

MIAMI—Vindow Inc., the cloud-based travel technology platform that brings buyers and sellers of contracted accommodations together to facilitate a more effective RFP and contracting process, is now a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), working with the organization to make travel more sustainable. Vindow is the only cloud-based, SaaS platform that combines a centralized, full lifecycle management of the procurement process—from RFP generation through contract management—with AI-powered, intelligent market analytics. In addition to the valuable business benefits the platform offers, it also gives buyers and sellers an easy way to decrease their carbon footprint. Vindow’s online RFP management and contracting functionality facilitates...

BETHESDA, MD.—myDigitalOffice (MDO), the fast-growing hotel performance management platform, released an online sustainability calculator and certification program aimed at shining the spotlight on hotel owners and operators dedicated to reducing their environmental footprint. The calculator allows any hotel company to enter information specific to their sustainable operating processes and apply for MDO Sustainability Certification, which can be included in the organization’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) materials, including requests for event proposals. Innovative companies today are prioritizing sustainability and building a better future. Recent studies show that a new generation of travelers wants to patronize properties that align with their values...

SEATTLE—SportsArt, a leader in socially responsible fitness equipment and solutions for over 40 years, recently launched the G778 ECO-POWR Stepper, further expanding its innovative energy-generating line of cardio equipment. The non-motorized G778 ECO-POWR Stepper provides an effective step workout while generating usable electricity in any workout setting. Using SportsArt’s innovative ECO-POWR technology, the G778 converts up to 74 percent of human energy into clean, renewable energy. The built-in technology drives a connection between individual actions and environmental impact by generating up to 220 Wh of electricity per hour workout, offsetting energy consumption. That’s enough to power a computer for more...

SEATTLE—Award-winning lighting innovator LightArt brings natural materials to light with their first curated selection of wood grain colors and shades. Introducing Woods is a collection of wood-inspired shades and laser-cut patterns for LightArt’s signature fixtures. Designed with parent company 3form’s signature Varia resin, the biophilic print materials emulate complex textures found in nature and come to life with LightArt’s LED lighting technology. Named after six prominent tree types—Black Ash, Cherry, Grey Oak, Walnut, Wenge, and White Oak—the Woods colorways showcase the diverse possibilities of LightArt’s offerings with 3form materials at their fingertips. The colors are also available with two...

CINCINNATI—Cintas Corp. unveiled its new Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) branding identity, which was created to help raise awareness and bring consistency and cohesion to Cintas’ ongoing ESG efforts and initiatives. The newly introduced brand will be prominently featured and discussed in the Cintas 2022 ESG Report, which will be published in January 2023. The company’s third sustainability report will recap the company’s fiscal year 2022, which ended on May 31, 2022. “Cintas’ sustainable business strategy dates back to our company’s origins and we have always worked closely with the communities in which we live and serve, so the theme ‘A...

KEHL, GERMANY—For the past four decades, signature creations from Amouage, the acclaimed high perfumery House born in the Sultanate of Oman, have captivated fragrance connoisseurs in all corners of the world. For the first time in its history, Amouage fully breathes its artistic prowess into a hotel amenities collection following a hallmark partnership with ADA Cosmetics. The line, which currently debuted at the leading international trade show EquipHotel in Paris, is scented with Reflection, one of Amouage’s most iconic scents. With its vibrant aromatic opening, its floral heart and charismatic woody and leathery base, Reflection embodies the avant-garde spirit of...

BALTIMORE, MD.—MD Energy Advisors, a Baltimore-based commercial, utility, and financing energy solutions company and recognized as one of the nation’s fastest growing firms, has added John Hehir to the team as Director of C-PACE Origination. C-PACE, or Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy, is a public private financing mechanism through which private lenders provide low-cost, long-term funding for ground up construction, gut rehabs, and renewable and water conservation projects in commercial properties. Hehir, most recently a Senior Vice President with PNC Bank, brings nearly 35 years in commercial and corporate banking to the team of MD Energy Advisors with eight years focusing...