CHICAGO—Cintas Corp., the largest uniform supplier in North America, has introduced its 2014 Uniform Collection. The Uniform Collection features more than 70 new colors and styles and is the first collection to include shoes and branded promotional products. Together with the company’s new website, the Uniform Collection offers retail-inspired apparel and products for professionals in multiple industries, including healthcare, gaming, hospitality and foodservice.In response to fashion trends featuring shades of grey, Cintas introduced the color within its Regeneration Suiting Collection and Velocity Housekeeping Collection, both made out of recycled polyester. These collections enable organizations to outfit staff in charcoal...

FALLS CHURCH, VA.—A recent benchmarking survey commissioned by the Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI) finds widespread but varied acceptance of foodservice packaging by material recovery facilities.“We are encouraged by the number of material recovery facilities already accepting various foodservice packaging,” said FPI President Lynn M. Dyer. “We have found that both the industry and consumers often think these products are not recycled. This study not only refutes that assumption but shows promise for increased acceptance.”Responses from nearly 70 material recovery facilities, called MRFs, in the United States and Canada showed that the three most accepted products are cup sleeves, pizza...

HONG KONG—Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts will replace approximately two million complimentary print newspapers distributed annually to guests with environmentally-friendly digital versions. The switch went into effect on March 29, 2014. The Hong Kong-based luxury hotel group has partnered with PressReader, a digital newspaper and magazine service, to replace the print newspapers. Guests and restaurant patrons will have unlimited, complimentary access to more than 2,000 local, regional and international publications from 100 countries in 60 languages.“We know how important it is for our guests to stay connected, which is why Shangri-La was the first international luxury hotel group to offer...

BAYFIELD, WIS.—Pinehurst Inn, an eight room bed & breakfast operated by Nancy and Steve Sandstrom in Bayfield, Wis., received the Governor’s Tourism Stewardship Award at the Wisconsin Governor’s Conference on Tourism last month. The annual award is presented to a business or community that uses and promotes sustainable practices. Long-time leaders in the use of sustainable practices in Wisconsin’s hospitality industry and pioneers in the development of Wisconsin’s Travel Green program, the Sandstroms are honored to receive the award. “This award feels really wonderful,” said Nancy Sandstrom. “We are thrilled to have our efforts recognized by our peers in...

LAS VEGAS—Las Vegas Sands Corp. announced a new global corporate citizenship commitment, highlighted by signature global partnerships with the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the international nonprofit organization, Clean the World.A premier developer and operator of integrated resort destinations, Las Vegas Sands (LVS), will contribute $7 million to the UNLV hotel college over five years to develop a global professional and executive education program and assist in the construction of a new academic building, as well as $1 million to Clean the World in 2014, the largest corporate...

CHICAGO—An independent panel of foodservice operator experts from across the industry has selected finalists for the third annual 2014 Operator Innovation Awards. The judges have selected finalists in each of five categories: Health and Nutrition, Marketing, Menu Development, Sustainability and Technology. The winners in each category, in addition to the Innovator of the Year, will be announced live in Chicago at the Destination: Celebration gala on Saturday, May 17, during the 2014 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show.  “The Operator Innovations Awards finalists demonstrate the business case for innovation by connecting with consumers in new and interesting ways that...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton Worldwide announced that it has extended its global soap recycling initiative to all 10 of its Japan hotels. The program supports the company’s commitment to divert waste from landfills through reuse, recycling and donations via its global RePurpose program, and enables Hilton Worldwide to make a significant contribution toward combating hygiene-related diseases in underprivileged communities in Asia.Hilton Worldwide has partnered with Hong Kong-based Soap Cycling, Asia’s first soap recycling nonprofit organization, and JTB Trading, Inc., which sponsors the collection and shipping of the recovered soap to Hong Kong.“We are pleased to extend soap recycling to our hotels...

HONOLULU, HAWAII—Eight Outrigger Hotels and Resorts properties have proved once again that it is easy being green by encouraging hotel guests to join the war on waste. The company’s 2013 eco-friendly efforts amounted to more than 27 tons of recyclable plastic bottles and aluminum cans from guestrooms, up from 20 tons in 2012. Twenty-seven tons is enough to preserve more than 200 cubic yards of landfill space, and if stacked end to end, could go up and down Diamond Head more than 80 times.Outrigger Hotels and Resorts launched its in-room recycling program in 2006 at its two Waikiki beachfront...

CHICAGO—Green Seal, an independent nonprofit providing sustainability certification for products and services, launched a new sustainability standard for restaurants and food services in conjunction with The Green Chicago Restaurant Coalition and The Rosenthal Group.The standard, GS-55, covers retail restaurants and institutional food service operations through rigorous criteria that minimize environmental impact in several categories. These include food sourcing through use of foods produced in a sustainable manner; waste management, including food waste, compostable waste, recycling and water quality management; energy use; water consumption and the use of other environmentally-preferable products and services.GS-55 is the result of a pilot program...

ORLANDO, FLA.—The two hotels in Grande Lakes Orlando—The Ritz-Carlton Orlando and JW Marriott Orlando—are among the first lodging establishments in Central Florida to send food waste to the Central Florida Energy Garden. Owned and operated by Harvest Power and located within the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the recently opened Energy Garden converts organic waste into renewable biogas and natural fertilizers. (See related article.)Twice each week, food waste from the two facilities’ banquet operations is picked up and taken to the Energy Garden. Bob Brown, Chief Engineer for the hotels, says about 20 to 30 tons a month of food...