NATIONAL REPORT—Using different technologies, two innovative suppliers are making sure that the energy housed in laundry machines is not just sent down the drain after each wash load. Hotel owners investing in such systems are saving money, water, energy and helping to reduce their environmental impact at the same time. The two companies are AquaRecycle and SHARC International Systems. While AquaRecycle has been helping hoteliers for many years, SHARC International Systems is just beginning to establish a presence in the lodging industry. AquaRecycle specializes in recycling laundry waste water. AquaRecycle has more than 400 systems installed worldwide and has recycled...

SANTA FE, N.M.—La Fonda on the Plaza Hotel has been named “Sustainability Champion” in the Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide 2018 Awards of Excellence. Each year, the Historic Hotels Awards of Excellence honor the most exemplary historic hotels, hoteliers, and leadership practices in multiple categories. The winners were chosen from more than 200 nominees. “Congratulations to the recipients of the 2018 Historic Hotels Awards of Excellence,” said Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Director, Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. “These 2018 winners represent more than 400 years of history and include the finest legendary and iconic historic...

MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA—Cannúa, a first-of-its-kind, 18-room boutique hotel set within a protected forest in Antioquia, Colombia, is scheduled to open in April 2019. Rooted in permaculture design principles and taking a holistic approach to sustainability, this 27-acre mountain-side property intends to forge a new era of experiential travel within the region. Guests of Cannúa will be among the first to explore this renewed, flourishing destination—one of the most biologically diverse and temperate in the world—through exquisite accommodation, natural encounters, and excursions designed to build a sense of community among neighbors, partners and visitors. “As Colombia continues to evolve as a destination of natural and cultural wonders, we’re proud to be...

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Hydrofinity (formerly known as Xeros), announced that it signed a series of regional full-service sales and distribution service agreements across the United States for its sustainable near-waterless commercial laundry systems. These partnerships follow on the agreements Hydrofinity signed with Eastern Laundry System (ELS) covering New England, New York and New Jersey and with Your Laundry Source in Georgia, which is covering its home state as well as Alabama and South Carolina. Hydrofinity’s new regional sales and service partners include: Viking Services, SAESPY and ECW, covering California; Clean Source, covering Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona; RJ Kool, covering the Midwest; Industrial Laundry...

DENVER—Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center officially opened its doors as the largest combined resort and convention center in Colorado. Just 10 minutes from Denver International Airport, the resort is the fifth Gaylord Hotels property and one of the largest resorts in the world to debut under the Marriott International brand this year. Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center has 1,501 rooms, 485,000 square feet of convention center space and an extensive indoor/outdoor water park on an 85-acre site. Numerous steps have been taken at the complex to reduce its environmental impact: Straw-less drinks: As part of the Marriott initiative to eliminate plastic straws and stirrers from...

PARIS—Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts, a leading brand within the AccorHotels Group, announces the release of its 2018 Sustainability Report Update, “Made with Sustainability in Mind”. This report covers the brand’s strategies and actions to continuously improve its sustainability performance throughout the years of 2015, 2016, and 2017. Previous Sustainability Reports were issued in 2012 and 2015. The 2018 Sustainability Update provides insight as to how Swissôtel tackles areas which are most important to its internal and external stakeholders based on materiality assessments conducted by the brand’s sustainability management team and third-party experts. The report includes updated performance data, recent case...

PISCATAWAY, N.J.—Engineered to deliver superior performance compared to conventional pressure-assist toilets, the VorMax flushing platform from American Standard, part of LIXIL, is available in two back outlet commercial models for the first time. Designed to suit any installation requirements, the new toilets include the wall-hung Glenwall VorMax and the floor-mount Yorkville VorMax. The award-winning VorMax technology has been independently verified to clean the bowl two times better than conventional toilets, and completely removes and flushes paper seat covers to offer an improved user experience. Eliminating the traditional tiny rim holes around the bowl that carry water during a flush, the...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company, has received a Gold recertification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program for the company’s headquarters in Parsippany, N.J. The recertification designates Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ corporate campus as one of the highest-performing green buildings in the country, reflecting the company’s commitment to minimizing its environmental footprint. LEED is a third-party certification program and premier benchmark for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. It uses a point system to determine the environmental merits of a building, with four levels of...

NEW YORK—A solar powered USB charging station. An electric bicycle lending program. A one hundred percent recyclable wine glass. A system that integrates an alarm clock, HVAC and lighting controls, Wi-Fi and more into a single unified platform. A salad-making robot (vending machine) named “Sally” that delivers eight-component meals in seconds. These are just some of the products that were introduced at HX: The Hotel Experience and Boutique Design New York (BDNY). Both events were held November 11 to 12 at the Javits Center in New York City. It would be impossible to list all the eco-friendly products and...

NEWARK, CALIF.—Mission Linen Supply, a leading provider of linens, uniforms, laundry services and supplies, has been honored with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for its plant in Newark, Calif. The plant, which celebrated its grand opening in February 2018 and serves organizations throughout the Bay Area, includes a wide variety of “green” features. LEED certification, a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement offered through the U.S. Green Building Council, is awarded to facilities that are built to save water, energy and resources while generating less waste and supporting human health. Mission’s Newark plant received 52 points...