NATIONAL REPORT—With advancements in controls technology and equipment design, washer-extractors (washers) are becoming increasingly more sophisticated and flexible. This is good news for hoteliers looking to save money in a recovering economy. In the race to gain new business, vendors are manufacturing higher G-force machines that spin off more water faster, allowing linens to dry in less time. In some cases, advancements have allowed rinse cycles and dryers to be eliminated entirely. While innovation has allowed vendors to squeeze just about as much water as they can out of the washing process, other advances, especially in software programming, are...

RALEIGH, N.C.—In October, the Raleigh Convention Center joined an elite group of convention centers—those that have earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. In Raleigh’s case, it earned LEED Silver, joining the Phoenix Convention Center, Spokane (Wash.) Convention Center Expansion, and the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Ore., as LEED Silver recipients. The Raleigh facility earned the LEED designation a little more than a year after the center opened in September 2008. The Raleigh Convention Center is owned and managed by the City of Raleigh. According to Laurie Okun, director of...

FRANKLIN PARK, ILL.—Sloan Valve Company is presenting its water-efficiency message as the focus of its newly redesigned website, emphasizing the company’s eco-friendly plumbing products and corporate direction. Sloan announced its completely revamped website, which provides information about its water- and energy-efficient plumbing products, systems and services, in conjunction with the 2009 Greenbuild International Conference and Exhibition last month. Sloan comprehensively covers its plumbing products and systems in both a general “Our Products” category that is subdivided by product groups, such as Manual Flushometers and Faucets, and within specialty categories, such as Water Efficiency and International Products. Separate sections for Technical...

LAS VEGAS—Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, a hotel located at the new CityCenter on The Strip, has achieved LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It is the first hotel in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to receive a LEED rating, and marks the sixth LEED Gold certification for CityCenter, which is one of the world’s largest sustainable developments. “Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is known for demonstrating its leadership in the hotel industry,” said Rajesh Jhingon, general manager of Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas. “We are honored to have the Group’s first LEED Gold certified hotel.” Mandarin Oriental Highlights • The...

HILLSBORO, ORE.—Caroma, a leader in dual flush toilets and stylish bathroom sinks, was chosen by Goodman Realty Group to furnish high efficiency toilets (HETs) for the historic Hotel Andaluz in Albuquerque, N.M. The hotel, with 107 guestrooms, opened on October 1, 2009, after a $30 million renovation. One goal for the Andaluz is LEED Gold certification, potentially the first for a hotel listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Caroma was chosen by Goodman Realty Group to help maximize water savings in the guestrooms and because of toilet design. The hotel has been retrofitted with Sydney Smart 270 and...

LOS ANGELES—The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that Falcon Waterfree Technologies, a leading global supplier of water-free urinals, has received the President’s “E” Award for Export Growth. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke presented Falcon CEO James Krug and president Phillip Hermann with the award recently in Washington, D.C. “Exporting U.S. manufactured goods and services plays an important role in rebuilding the American economy and creating jobs at home,” explained Secretary Locke, while congratulating Falcon. “With 95 percent of the world’s consumers living outside our borders, there is great potential to boost economic growth and to create new jobs in America through...

SILVER SPRING, MD.—Choice Hotels International, Inc. announce its recent recognition as the 2009 Top Franchise for Excellence in Diversity, as selected by Oliver Tree Publishing, Inc., publishers of the Black EOE Journal, Hispanic Network Magazine and Professional Woman’s Magazine. The company’s Excellence in Diversity award comes as part of the publisher’s 2009 “Best of the Best” Annual Review Series, now in its eighteenth year. This annual evaluation sets the standard for identifying corporations that are providing the best career opportunities for minorities and serves as an evaluation of corporate America’s career advancement opportunities for minorities. Choice Hotels was selected...

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS—With its recent $1 billion in renovations, the Holiday Inn brand has earned well-deserved publicity. Perhaps the Holiday Inn property deserving of the most buzz this year, however, is the brand new Holiday Inn Northwest/Sea World in San Antonio. The 194-room hotel is on track to be the first LEED certified hotel in Texas and the first LEED certified property within the 3,300-property Holiday Inn brand. The hotel, which opened on October 5, is owned by a group of investors out of Lubbock, Texas, and managed by Dallas-based Hospitality Management Corp. Green highlights of the 100 percent...

NEW YORK—The total number of exhibitors may have been less than previous years due to the economy and other factors but the number of vendors offering green products and services was stronger than ever at this year’s International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS). The event was held November 8 to 10 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Visitors to the show found exhibitors featuring amenity bottles that biodegrade much faster than traditional plastic bottles; dispensers that eliminate amenity bottles altogether; a nonprofit that matches up hotels with other nonprofits to help eliminate food, toiletry...

LAS VEGAS—Crystals, the retail and entertainment district at CityCenter, has achieved LEED Gold Core & Shell certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making it the world’s largest retail district to receive this level of recognition. Opening in December, CityCenter was created with a vision to introduce a new level of environmental consciousness to the world-famous Strip and has emerged as a leader in sustainable urban development. Crystals’ achievement marks the fourth LEED Gold certification for CityCenter; previous recipients included 1. ARIA Resort’s hotel tower, 2. ARIA’s convention center and theater, and 3. Vdara Hotel & Spa. CityCenter...