MANCHESTER, N.H.—Xeros, the innovator of an ultra low water cleaning system, announced that Choice Hotels International has selected it as a qualified vendor for its more than 5,000 U.S. franchises. Xeros’ nearly waterless laundry system helps hotels significantly reduce laundry costs, increase the life of linens, and helps hotels advance their commitment to green operations.“We were one of a select group of qualified laundry vendors that showcased the Xeros system at the recent 60th Annual Choice International Convention and the franchisees showed great interest,” said Jonathan Benjamin, President, Xeros North America. “We were selected by Choice because of our...

RIPON, WIS.—IPSO introduces the Cygnus Ultra Pro control system on washer-extractors for on-premises laundry managers. Cygnus Ultra Pro builds on the features of Cygnus Ultra.  “The Cygnus Ultra Pro control system allows on-premises laundry managers to have complete control of their equipment,” said Kathryn Rowen, North American Sales Manager for IPSO. “With increased usability and flexibility, Ultra Pro gives laundry managers the tools they need to easily achieve peak efficiency.” The new Cygnus Ultra Pro control includes 10 optimized wash program options, allowing for 60 customizable wash cycles to meet the needs of any on-premises laundry room. Extra wash...

INDIANAPOLIS—Buckingham Companies and The Alexander, a Dolce Hotel, announced that they’ve been awarded LEED Silver certification in LEED’s New Construction & Major Renovations category. The Alexander is the only hotel in Indianapolis with LEED certification and is part of the 10-acre CityWay neighborhood, located at South and Delaware streets, developed by Buckingham Companies.“Sustainability was central to the vision for The Alexander and CityWay,” said Scott Travis, Senior Vice President of Development at Buckingham Companies. “From construction through completion, environmentally-friendly practices were a priority.”LEED is the primary program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. More than 44,000...

MILWAUKEE, WIS.—GRAFF, a manufacturer of precision-engineered contemporary products for the bath and kitchen, recently introduced the TERRA Collection. This latest bath collection features 25 new products.TERRA, meaning “Earth” in Italian, brings the essence of nature into its organic design. Inspired by the beauty and simplicity of the world around us, TERRA appeals to the interests of top industry designers, functional needs of interior projects, and fits within budgetary constraints. Bringing a dynamic combination of bold lines and simple shapes, the TERRA Collection delivers a superior style to the bathroom. The round edges of the spout and sleek lines of...

TRAVELERS REST, S.C.—T&S Brass announces its new Pre-Rinse Swivel Product #018200-40. The only product of its kind, the pre-rinse swivel fits between the spray handle and the hose of a pre-rinse spray unit (PRSU) and is available both as a separate component for retrofit installations, or factory installed on select T&S pre-rinse units and spray assemblies. The T&S pre-rinse swivel fits and functions on all T&S and Equip pre-rinse units, and on those of many other manufacturers’ models.“We asked ourselves how we could improve the pre-rinse spray unit, a product invented by T&S almost seventy years ago that is...

KANSAS CITY, MO.—Marriott International announced that the Courtyard Kansas City at Briarcliff in Missouri is the company’s first hotel to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) green building program status through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) prototype precertification program.The only LEED certified Marriott property in Missouri, the Courtyard Kansas City at Briarcliff was constructed on top of a mine, land previously undevelopable, and 10 percent of building materials used contain recycled content. Like all Marriott LEED Certified hotels, this hotel features a number of elements that focus on energy conservation, water efficiency and recycling. Some of...

DUSSELDORF, GERMANY—GROHE, a leading bathroom fittings manufacturer, recently teamed up with the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group to organize a shared workshop at their headquarters in Dusseldorf. For the first time partners from the fields of hospitality, hotel technology, architecture and design met to examine how water is used holistically in the hotel industry.The workshop looked at the challenges of water sustainability, current and future innovative technology solutions and, above all, ways to enrich the guest experience while minimizing the water footprint of the products and services offered. Discussions focused on three main areas: design for sustainability in new builds,...

TRAVELERS REST, S.C.—T&S Brass and Bronze Works, manufacturer of commercial plumbing and foodservice products for a worldwide market, announced that six of its high-efficiency pre-rinse spray valves have been selected for WaterSense labeling by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The agency recently announced eight recommended spray valves, six of which are manufactured by T&S Brass. Those models include the EB-0107-J, EB-0107-C, B-0108-C, B-0107-J, B-0107-C, and equip 5SV-C.“After successfully completing third-party performance testing and certification earlier this year, the T&S design engineering team takes great pride in receiving the coveted WaterSense recognition for these high-efficiency pre-rinse spray valves,” said T&S...

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA—Five years in the planning, the Biohotel Organic Suites is just one month from opening in Bogota, Colombia in the district of Usaquen, known as the culinary and cultural hub of the city. The seven-story, 72-room property is “my retirement plan,” says Samuel Huertas, majority owner. Huertas is aiming for LEED Gold certification for the hotel that includes the Green Piece restaurant and meeting space to accommodate up to 150 people.True to its name, the Biohotel Organic Suites is green throughout. The exterior of the building features windows made from recycled glass and vertical “gardens” that help to...

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—With California facing its worst water shortage crisis in modern history, Save Our Water—a partnership between the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR)—has launched a ‘Californians Don’t Waste’ Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign to bring awareness to simple ways citizens can save water every day.The public service campaign efforts kicked off this week with the release of several short videos focused on the simple, yet critical, message: “We Are Californians and We Don't Waste.”“Our California economy, environment and daily lifestyle depend on water to flourish,” said Mark Cowin, Director of...