CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Vivaro Water as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Vivaro Water’s water delivery system utilizes advanced technology to purify water. A nine-stage process removes dirt particles, chlorine, chemicals, pesticides, metals and other solids. The appliance delivers fresh clean drinking water utilizing existing water sources and eliminates the need to store and handle bulky water jugs. Vivaro’s stand-alone, high tech, high gloss “appliance” takes up less space than the outdated bottled water coolers. They can be conveniently installed anywhere on the premises without permanent alterations to buildings. The...

VALLEY CENTER, CALIF.—Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort has diverted more than 400 tons of recyclables, reduced Styrofoam use by 25 percent and cleaned up more than eight miles of San Diego County beaches. These conservation efforts are the result of the employee driven “Green Committee,” which meets bi-weekly in support of the company’s CODEGreen Commitment. “CODEGreen is our commitment to conservation and sustainability,” says senior vice president and general manager Janet Beronio. The Green Committee is comprised of Harrah’s employees who want to make a difference. “There were so many ideas at the first meeting,” exclaims Brendan O’Kane, facilities manager...

LITTLE ROCK, ARK.—Simple, effective, visible green programs are among the easiest ways to send a message of corporate social responsibility. CynerGreen, a leading authority on sustainable hydration solutions in the hospitality industry, has launched Bottle Free programs designed for hotels and resorts. Becoming a Bottle Free hotel or resort is simple. By eliminating the purchase and distribution of plastic water bottles in retail areas, guestrooms, conference services, back of the house, and replacing them with a reusable solution, a hotel can become certified Bottle Free. This year alone, more than 73 billion beverage cans and plastic water...

CINCINNATI—Cintas continues to build on its eco-friendly tailored line with the addition of The Momentum Suiting Collection. The stretch, wrinkle-resistant fabric is made using a 54/42/4 blend of recycled polyester, wool and Lycra. The recycled polyester is comprised of 13 recycled plastic water bottles. While eco-friendly, this high-end collection offers an ideal combination of sophistication and long-wearing performance. It can be laundered at home, saving employees approximately $1,000 in dry-cleaning costs each year. The collection is available in black, charcoal and navy. Go to Cintas.

UPLAND, CALIF.—Green Suites International announced that it is now offering the new Sonoma Soap Company amenity collection in waste-reducing paper bottles. The environmentally sound packaging is fully collapsible and leaves behind, on average, only 1 percent of product after use compared to plastic bottles which contain 20 percent to 30 percent leftover product. The result is each guest needing less product to get an ample amount and ultimately means a reduction in waste, energy, and shipping materials. The soaps contain vegetable base and are also packaged using water-based inks that are cured with non-threatening UV rays. The product inside the...

LAS VEGAS—CityCenter announced that it has received three Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council for: ARIA Resort’s hotel tower; ARIA Resort’s convention center and theater; and Vdara Hotel. ARIA and Vdara will open in December on the Las Vegas Strip and are the first of CityCenter’s developments to be LEED certified. CityCenter anticipates Gold or Silver LEED certification for its remaining developments which include Las Vegas’ first Mandarin Oriental; Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district; Veer Towers, the community’s only strictly residential buildings; and The Harmon (opening late 2010),...

NEW YORK—Green Choice Vendors Distribution, a wholesale distributor of sustainable products and packaging for food service, announces the launch of their online store FoodBizSupply.com. FoodBizSupply.com offers a one stop shop for more than 300 biodegradable and compostable products made from natural renewable resources, like sugarcane bagasse, bamboo fiber and corn. Unlike Styrofoam and petro-based plastics, FoodBizSupply.com products are biodegradable with 70 percent being compostable. Their plant-based offerings combined with biodegradable polymers create products that help reduce the impact on the environment in absolute carbon footprint terms. FoodBizSupply.com products include straws, hot and cold cups, plates, bowls, trays, cutlery, take-out containers,...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Primo Water as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Primo is the only nationally distributed bottled water in a bottle made from 100 percent plants, not crude oil. Primo’s natural plant-based material is renewable, compostable (in a commercial facility) and recyclable. When compared with plastic PET bottles, Primo bottles use nearly 50 percent less fossil fuels and energy. According to Primo, if all the plastic bottles on the market in the United States today were made from Ingeo natural plastic instead of petroleum-based plastic, the savings would...

MEMPHIS, TENN.—Home2 Suites by Hilton, the mid-tier extended-stay hotel concept targeting savvy and value-wise extended-stay guests, is utilizing post-consumer recycled content carpeting by InterfaceFLOR, the largest modular carpet tile manufacturer in the world, to outfit its model prototype at the Memphis, Tenn. headquarters. The “Hip and Humble” brand intends to outfit each new location with a variety of eco-friendly design elements and flooring is one spotlighted area. “Home2 Suites is a brand that focuses on marrying style and value while remaining conscious of our environmental impact,” said Bill Duncan, global head, brand management. “InterfaceFLOR shares our commitment and has an...

LAGRANGE, GA.—Acting on input from customers and internal customer care associates, Milliken Floor Covering will eliminate all paper acknowledgements of orders effective August 31. All future notifications will be sent electronically. This move is part of an ongoing effort to eliminate unnecessary paper documents and reduce waste. Not only does this decision save time and paper for printing the documents, it conserves envelopes, postage, toner and energy. Milliken’s Chain of Green partners also will benefit from more timely information exchanges, added convenience, and less confusion due to multiple notice formats. Milliken’s Chain of Green Network encourages sustainability throughout the...