MIAMISBURG, OHIO—FreshMarx, a leader in automated date coding and the supplier of Monarch products and services, announced the release of its FreshMarx XL®PRO 29FFS three line labeler and supply system for improved efficiency and waste reduction. With the release of the FreshMarxTM XL® PRO 29FFS three line labeler and supply system, restaurant owners and food service managers will be able to reduce the amount of labeling stock and labelers they keep on hand, while improving the accuracy of their date coding systems. “XL PRO does the date coding work of seven different labels all with one labeling...

DANVERS, MASS.—At a time when many are searching for a convenient compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) recycling option, North American lighting leader Osram Sylvania has unveiled two CFL recycling options: the MiniPak CFL mail-back recycling kit, and the Community Pail RecyclePak. “It’s exciting to be the first lighting manufacturer to offer all of our customers a recycling solution,” says Jennifer Dolin, environmental marketing manager, Osram Sylvania. “With recycling and disposal options available in only a few communities, our MiniPak and Community Pail options allow consumers and small communities everywhere to recycle their spent lamps easily. Simply purchase the pre-labeled...

SANTA CRUZ, CALIF.—Benchmark Hospitality International, the operator of Chaminade at Santa Cruz, has been awarded Green Business Certification for exceeding environmental regulatory requirements, preventing pollution and conserving natural recourses. The award was presented to the resort, which overlooks Monterey Bay, by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. Chaminade is the first hospitality business in Santa Cruz County to receive the important certification. “We are thrilled to receive the Green Business Certification,” says Jeff Bloom, Benchmark’s general manager at Chaminade. “As a responsible corporate citizen we strive to be as green as possible and also encourage our guests...

NATIONAL REPORT—State-of-the-art concrete building systems can save a hotel owner money through energy savings. But equally important, concrete systems can provide hotel guests with a comfortable, healthy, environmentally friendly place to relax during their time away from home. Concrete can provide a sustainable structure that will maintain its durability, energy savings and beauty for the full life of the building. Hotels built with concrete wall, floor and roof systems that incorporate rigid foam insulation with concrete, have optimal energy performance because of their inherent thermal mass properties. Thermal mass has the ability to store heat during the hottest periods of...

LOUISVILLE, KY.—New from LSI Wallcovering, Second-Look is the first program to reclaim previously installed vinyl wallcovering and turn it into new fashionable wallcovering designs with 18 percent recycled content and a minimum of 10 percent post-consumer. Recycled wallcovering collections are available through LSI’s Versa, Cirqa and Plexus distributors. The recycled selections have the same aesthetic quality, durability, warranties and price as the company’s standard wallcovering. Three Second-Look collections include fresh designs in versatile colors and tactile embossed textures as well as some of LSI’s best-selling classics. The initial recycled offering includes 62 selections in the Versa collection, noted...

BOCA RATON, FLA.—Cendyn, a leader in interactive marketing for the hotel, travel and hospitality industries, can now support sales and catering teams in their efforts to go green with the implementation of eco-friendly sales tools which enhance client presentations, convert more business and impact the bottom line. As a vendor to these industries, Cendyn is responding to the direction of its clients in searching for cost-effective measures which encourage, promote and support ecological consciousness. The eco-friendly suite of products from Cendyn includes online, Web-based brochures, cards, menus and proposals customized with rich content and with multi-media animation—all delivered...

ATLANTA—The Simmons Hospitality Group, the contract division of Simmons Bedding Co., has launched three new bedding products—the Beautyrest Black luxury line, the zip-off EverNU mattress top and the Natural Care latex line. The products are designed to provide hotel guests with quality sleep that meets their specific needs and desires regarding luxury, comfort and environmental sustainability. “Hotel guests increasingly are becoming interested in luxury-oriented and environmentally-friendly properties, and Simmons is launching our Beautyrest Black and Natural Care bedding lines to cater to these growing trends,” says Steve Tipton, vice president of the Simmons Hospitality Group. “Plus, we developed...

HONOLULU, HAWAII—The Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa has won its second Green Business Award from the State of Hawaii. The award is sponsored by the following: State Department of Health; Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. The award is given to companies that employ innovative green practices and do their part to ensure that residents and visitors continue to enjoy a healthy environment. The Hilton property has a long history in Hawaii. With close to 3,000 rooms, it is one of the Hilton Hotels Corporation’s (100 percent) flagship...

In one of my previous working lives I worked for a well-known pizza chain for about six months—as a waiter and delivery driver. One of my most vivid memories from that time is the volume of waste that was generated. Each night I would haul garbage bags full of unused pizza dough to the dumpster. In the hot weather it was quite a site—a huge container full of sticky, yeast-smelling dough just waiting to grow into something resembling the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. For all of those out there with restaurants, I hope you are doing a better...

LAGRANGE, GA.—InterfaceFLOR unveiled four new product collections at HD Expo in Las Vegas. Breaking traditional boundaries, the styles take modular flooring to the next level, providing enhanced color and texture. Styles range from soothing, nature-inspired patterns to diverse stripes with a hip velour finish, to modern Asian-inspired designs. “The beauty of modular carpet is its flexibility,” says Cindi Marshall Oakey, vice president of hospitality strategies for InterfaceFLOR Commercial. “Our products demonstrate to designers that they are not confined by pattern, color or size with InterfaceFLOR Commercial. The design opportunities are virtually limitless.” InterfaceFLOR is committed to providing...