CHEVY CHASE, MD.—As part of its commitment to environmental responsibility, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. has taken an important next step—the offering of environmentally-friendly water bottles at its North American hotels and select properties in the Caribbean. Noting the waste that is caused by using an estimated 5 million 16-ounce plastic bottles every year at the properties, Simon F. Cooper, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, challenged his team responsible for sustainable programs to find a better solution.“Plastic bottles are made from crude oil, take a significant amount of energy to produce, and less than...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes room3seven as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The company offers the new reCollect2 guestroom recycler for hotels and resorts. Made in the United States, it consists of two independent hubs that sit within a decorative set-base. They are easy to use and empty and are made from materials with recycled content. They are non-toxic and BPA-free. “We’ve developed a product that truly stands for something,” says room3seven president Ann Riphenburg. “The reCollect2 was designed for both functionality and high fashion in order to meet and support...

Three years ago, the W San Francisco, a 404-room property located in the heart of the city’s downtown, had a waste diversion rate of 40 percent. Today, the hotel is approaching 80 percent with its 77 percent diversion rate and saving $60,000 a year. What changed? First of all, the hotel hired a new general manager, Michael Pace, formerly with the Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group. Pace helped create and launch that company’s Earthcare program. Hiring Roger Huldi, director of operations, has also turned out to be a very smart decision. Huldi is leading the effort to pursue zero...

PORTLAND, ORE.—LeanPath announces the introduction of WasteLOGGER, a software solution for food waste tracking that helps any restaurant, hotel, caterer, or foodservice operation prevent, minimize and avoid pre-consumer food waste (which includes overproduction, spoilage, expiration, trim waste). The software runs on existing computers and does not require specialized tracking equipment. WasteLOGGER was previewed at the 2010 National Restaurant Show in Chicago and will be available commercially this summer. Food waste management is a core element of any strategy for sustainable foodservice operations and represents a significant opportunity to enhance efficiency and save resources. “The EPA’s food waste management...

WAUKESHA, WIS.—room3seven LLC has introduced its reCollect2, a new in-room recycling unit. Made in the United States, it consists of two independent hubs that sit within a decorative set-base. They are easy to use and empty and are made from materials with recycled content. They are non-toxic and BPA-free. “We’ve developed a product that truly stands for something,” says room3seven president Ann Riphenburg. “The reCollect2 was designed for both functionality and high fashion in order to meet and support each hotel property’s recycling and style needs. Moreover, we’re committed to practicing and supporting all aspects of sustainability, while emphasizing...

GARDEN GROVE, CALIF.—Sterling Sleep Systems’ 625 Imperial Pillow Top mattress was presented with the Award of Excellence in the 2010 Annual International Interior Design Association (IIDA)/Hospitality Design Product Design Competition at the recent Hospitality Design Exposition and Conference in Las Vegas. Sterling Sleep Systems won an award in the Case Goods and Freestanding Furniture category. Judges selected the winners based on the following: innovation, technical advancements, cost effectiveness, environmental responsibility, aesthetics, need and usage in the hospitality industry, and both client and user benefits. “As the developer of Sterling’s sustainable bed system, the idea of being able to replace worn...

CROSSVILLE, TENN.—Crossville has enhanced its Empire Porcelain Stone line, which echoes the grandeur of 19th-century France with the look and feel of natural marble. Empire now boasts 20 percent SCS-certified recycled content, has an updated color palette (including a stunning new Alabaster white), and is offered in a range of sizes and shapes, from newly designed mosaics to 21" x 21" large format to popular plank shapes. A choice of polished and unpolished finishes increases Empire’s versatility. Designed by renowned color forecaster, Barbara Schirmeister, ASID, DC, CAUS, for both commercial and residential installations, Empire’s Porcelain Stone is durable,...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Thanks to organizations such as Clean the World and the Global Soap Project, recycling partially used soap and shampoo has become much easier for lodging establishments. In a little more than a year, Orlando-based Clean the World, which was started by Shawn Seipler and Paul Till, has more than 200 properties in 25 states participating, almost 90,000 guestrooms represented, and 18 employees working. The Atlanta-based Global Soap Project, also launched last year, has 50 properties participating—all in the southeastern United States. The Global Soap Project was founded by Derreck Kayongo, a humanitarian relief expert whose Uganda-based family fled...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Sylvania Lighting Services as a Green Product & Service Directory Partner. SYLVANIA Lighting Services (SLS) can help hotels comply with tougher new regulations for hazardous waste disposal and recycling. The company’s national recycling program sends 8.6 million lamps to recycling facilities annually, keeping 113 pounds of mercury out of landfills. SLS will pick up lamps as part its maintenance and retrofit service contracts—ensuring that hotels are in compliance and removing liability. SLS is a subsidiary of OSRAM SYLVANIA and is headquartered in Danvers, Mass., with its Canadian headquarters...

INDIANAPOLIS—Gilchrist & Soames announced a three-year exclusive partnership with Orlando, Fla.-based Clean The World, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to saving lives and preserving the environment through an innovative hotel amenities recycling program. “We have been in talks with Clean the World for quite a while, and our joint efforts during the aftermath of the January earthquake in Haiti really kicked things into gear for us,” said Kathie De Voe, president of Gilchrist & Soames. “We ultimately made the decision to formalize a long-term relationship.” The strategic alliance with Gilchrist & Soames will help Clean the World realize their mission...