STAMFORD, CONN.—With more than half of its current and future properties in areas facing critical water issues, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. shared its holistic water story detailing the company’s efforts to tackle this important matter. As part of the company’s overall strategy on water issues, including scarcity, flooding, and quality, Starwood has set a system-wide water reduction goal, introduced new technology and dedicated on-property actions, offered conservation-focused guest programs and joined with community partners.“Some say water is the new oil and, as we execute a global growth strategy, water is not only an environmental consideration, but also...

WOODRIDGE, ILL.—Gerber, an industry leader in high performing plumbing fixtures, has expanded its product line servicing back outlet plumbing needs. Available is a 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) gravity toilet option in both wall-hung (MX-21-021) and floor-mounted configurations (MX-21-022).Ideal for various applications including hospitality, multi-family (high-rise condos or apartments), student housing and even single family homes, the gravity back outlet solutions out perform other products in the category and are much more quiet than their pressure-assisted counterparts.“The retro-fit demand in this category is substantial,” says Eric Peterson, Gerber’s Vice President of Sales. “Many properties built around vertical, in-wall plumbing...

NEW YORK—GROHE introduces its Retro-Fit Shower System, which transforms an existing showerhead installation with concealed pressure balance valve into a luxurious shower system without breaking the wall, all in under an hour.The original Retro-Fit Shower System launched in 2012 and was well received by designers, the professional plumbing community and consumers alike. Today, the collection has expanded to include three new models with new showerhead, hand shower and shower arm options for users to choose from when selecting their Retro-Fit Shower System.“By expanding the Retro-Fit collection, we are offering even more ways to customize and transform people’s shower experience,”...

BOISE, IDAHO—Cary Thomas and Ruth Hurt, owners of QuickRinse.net, announced the launch of their first product, Quick Rinse, a new way to rinse showers during the cleaning process that is six times faster and uses up to 83 percent less water than the traditional method of rinsing with a cup. The Quick Rinse vinyl bladder, ideal for hotel housekeeping, is placed over an existing showerhead and is secured in place by a velcro strap. Just seconds after turning on the shower, water flows through the natural rubber tubing for fast, efficient rinsing. Quick Rinse is designed for all types...

MANCHESTER, N.H.—Xeros, the innovator of an ultra-low water laundry system, announced recently that it is helping five California-based businesses reduce water usage by up to 80 percent in their laundry operations. To put this in context, laundry operations in hotels represent 20 percent of their overall water usage. The California Althletic Club, Stanford Park Hotel, Quality Inn Petaluma, Fairfield Inn Sebastopol, and Hilton Universal are all using the Xeros polymer bead laundry systems. Xeros has also signed eight pioneering commercial laundry equipment distributors in California. These flagship partners are now selling, installing and servicing Xeros’ near-waterless laundry systems.In addition...

DENVER—Showcasing more than a decade of leadership while taking on the challenge of climate change, global hospitality company Xanterra Parks & Resorts has released its 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, defining and measuring its innovative sustainability improvements. The report also announces ambitious stretch targets for the next decade.The report presents details of improvements measured against goals announced in 2004. The company tracks its environmental performance across all aspects of its operations using an ISO 14001 audited program launched in 2002.Xanterra entities include lodges, restaurants, tours and activities in national and state parks, as well as resorts, a cruise line,...

NATIONAL REPORT—Hotels around the country are getting greener and more sustainable. For the most part, their emphasis has been on such things as reducing energy consumption, using less gas and electricity and using it more efficiently, along with transferring to cleaning solutions that have a reduced impact on the environment. But most recently, their big focus is on water…or, shall we say, the lack thereof. From dry California and several other areas of the United States to parts of the country that are what we could call “water rich,” hotel properties are looking into a number of ways to reduce...

NORTH OLMSTED, OHIO—Moen Commercial has introduced new modern product styles to its popular, heavy-duty M•Dura and medium-duty M•Bition lines.“Before developing our new products, Moen takes the time to listen and learn from key decision makers within the marketplace,” said Sarah Lindegarde, Senior Product Manager, Moen Commercial. “We heard from facility owners that they’re looking to make commercial spaces look and feel less institutional. And instead, create attractive spaces for residents that remind them of home, while still providing the reliability their facilities require. We’re excited to add new, modern designs to two of our most popular collections to meet...

NEW YORK—To mark its centennial anniversary, the International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) is unveiling a new brand and mission to better capture the dynamic innovation of the hospitality industry. HX: The Hotel Experience—Rooms to Restaurants (HX), will debut November 8 to 10, 2015 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City and represents a bold new strategic direction.This multimillion-dollar investment aimed at revitalizing the largest hospitality trade event in North America is founded on the belief that true hospitality is anticipating a guest’s needs to create a memorable and unique experience. To achieve that, HX...

FRANKLIN PARK, ILL.—New 1.1 gpf toilet systems, which combine a vitreous china toilet fixture with either a manual or sensor-operated high-efficiency 1.1 gpf flushometer, are now available from Sloan Valve Co. for use in hotels, motels and other hospitality facilities. The new combinations provide consistent, reliable performance designed to help architects, engineers, contractors and building owners achieve their goals of lowering water usage while maintaining performance expectations in new or retrofit construction.These new toilet systems represent Sloan’s most water efficient products, using 14 percent less water than the company’s current lowest combinations at 1.28 gpf, and 31 percent less...