ORLANDO—On the heels of InterContinental Hotels Group’s (IHG) announcement that it would partner with Clean the World—potentially adding 3,274 properties to Clean the World’s 1,400 hospitality partners—Green Lodging News spoke with Clean the World’s co-founder and CEO, Shawn Seipler, about the impact of the partnership.“It means a number of things,” said Seipler, whose organization recycles and donates partially used soap and amenities to those in need around the world. “It is another major chain on board with us. It demonstrates continued acceptance of our program by the industry. In the first year of our partnership with Starwood, we added...

SAN FRANCISCO—Green Spa Network announces the launch of the first ever “GSN Plastic Reduction Challenge”—an 11-month campaign conducted in partnership with the Plastic Pollution Coalition—where awards will be given in seven different categories to winners from day, resort and destination spas as well as spa product companies.The objective of the contest is to reduce usage of disposable plastic—like plastic bags and bottles, food and beverage items, product packaging, shipping supplies, etc.“Plastic is a material that the earth cannot digest,” says Daniella Russo, co-founder and executive director of Plastic Pollution Coalition “Every bit of plastic ever made is still here...

ORLANDO—The Peabody Orlando announced progress in its efforts to become one of the most eco-friendly hotels in the United States with the addition of ChargePoint electric vehicle chargers in its self-parking garage, which will be fully installed by early May. ChargePoint stations offer a convenient location for guests to charge electric vehicles during their stay.The Peabody Orlando has nurtured collaborations to reduce consumption and waste, and promote environmentally friendly practices throughout the hospitality industry. Through its participation in the ChargePoint America program sponsored by Coulomb Technologies and NovaCharge, The Peabody Orlando will be part of a growing network of...

TULSA, OKLA.—Totally Green, Inc., a maker of organic food processing systems and compostable packaging alternatives, announced that Intertek has approved the ORCA Green Machine to carry the ETL certification mark on all current production models. ETL certification represents a globally recognized standard that ensures consumers of product quality and safety.Intertek is a global inspection, product testing and certification company that is the largest tester of consumer goods in the world. It is an industry leader with more than 127 years of experience with more than 30,000 people in 1,000 locations in more than 100 countries.“After an extensive process, where...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Cascades Tissue Group as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Cascades Tissue Group is the fourth largest paper tissue producer in North America and serves the hospitality, office building, institutional, and foodservice market segments. Cascade offers a broad range of products including bathroom tissue, paper hand towels, facial tissue, napkins, perforated roll towels, wipers, and dispensers.Cascades Moka bathroom tissue is made from 100 percent unbleached recycled fiber. In making Cascades Moka, corrugated box fiber is added to the pulp mixture at a ratio of 20 percent....

TRENTON, N.J.—The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in concert with several other state and federal agencies, is launching a program designed to help New Jersey hotel owners and operators increase energy efficiency and cost savings through the utilization of green practices. Participating hotels in the DEP’s Garden State Green Hotel Project will have the opportunity to learn of profiting through sustainability in several workshops and training sessions scheduled in the coming months. In addition, 120 hotels will receive no-cost and no-obligation environmental and energy reviews that could serve as a first step to green certification from various programs...

CHICAGO—An independent panel of judges has selected the finalists for the National Restaurant Association’s inaugural Operator Innovations Awards. Three finalists in each of five categories—Sustainability, Technology, Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, and Menu Development—will be brought to Chicago for the Association’s 2012 Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show this May. The winners in each category, plus an Innovator of the Year selected from all finalists, will be announced live during Destination: Celebration on Saturday, May 5. “The Operator Innovations Awards is designed to celebrate and encourage continued advancement in the restaurant industry, while shining a spotlight on industry-leading innovators who inspire other...

ORLANDO—IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s largest hotel groups, announced a partnership with Clean the World to recycle partially-used soaps and bottled amenities from hotel guestrooms and distribute them in communities with limited access to hygiene products. Through this partnership, IHG has the potential to add 3,274 properties in the United States and Canada—representing 407,840 rooms—to Clean the World’s growing list of more than 1,400 hospitality partners throughout North America. IHG brands that can participate in the program include: InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn...

EAST LONGMEADOW—Excel Dryer, manufacturer of the XLERATOR high-speed, energy-efficient hand dryer, has entered into a strategic partnership with RMSe, a retail construction, project management and fixture installation firm that manages and executes large-scale implementation rollouts, retrofits, resets, and remodel projects for a variety of high-volume retail clientele.Through this partnership, Excel and RMSe will offer a discounted fee for the installation of XLERATOR hand dryers nationally. RMSe leverages its national buying power to lower material costs, reduce hand dryer installation fees and ensure proper hand dryer installation. Prior to this partnership, customers had to work with separate installation vendors in...

MINNEAPOLIS—Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, which is currently undergoing a $25 million renovation of the hotel’s guestrooms, suites, public areas, and restaurants, announced that the renovation will include a variety of environmentally sustainable initiatives to reduce its ecological footprint. The Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Green Team has also introduced a number of eco-friendly protocols and service projects including extensive energy and recycling conservation programs.Energy-saving initiatives from the renovation include converting all of the back of house lighting to LED, adding low flow plumbing fixtures for enhanced water savings (1.6 gal/flush), insulated drapery, closet light sensors, vending misers in all vending machines, new...