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December 29, 2011
IHMRS: Laundry Exhibitors Seeing Pent-Up Demand for Goods Among Hotels (Part 2 of 2)

NEW YORK – Manufacturers of laundry machinery, textiles and chemicals reported renewed interest in their products from the hotel industry at the 96th annual International Hotel, Motel+Restaurant Show (IHMRS) here in November.

Exhibitors at the Jacob Javits Convention Center on Manhattan’s West Side expressed satisfaction with increased foot traffic at the show. Attendance peaked at 23,953, up 2,800 from the previous year, including managers and executives from major hotel chains and independent properties, according to show management.

The show provided manufacturers of textiles and formulators of chemicals with an opportunity to tailor their products to the hotel industry.

Standard Textile Co. targeted the high end with a new line of sheets, dubbed “Luxury That Endures,” developed in collaboration with Todd-Avery Lenahan, a hospitality designer. Pre-laundered and room-ready, the sheets are designed to withstand the harsh environments of central laundries. A high-end visual appearance combines with a tensile strength of 117 pounds to create a more durable luxury product, according to Greg Eubanks, group vice president for hospitality sales and marketing at Standard Textile.

“The traffic and interest at our booth has been fantastic,” says Eubanks.

Several manufacturers, among them Riegel and Cintas Corp., exhibited new earth-friendly, eco-conscious products for the hotel industry.

Riegel, a division of Mount Vernon Mills, drew interest with its RieNu line of recycled polyester table linen, made from recycled plastic bottles, otherwise destined for landfills. The use of one of its table napkins eliminates three plastic bottles from landfills, the company says. Riegel offered the table linen in five colors at the show.

“We believe there’s a great deal of pent-up demand in the hotel industry,” says W.H. Rogers, vice president of Riegel. “We’re hoping that will be reflected in the new budgets for hotels in 2012.”

Cintas was among 10 exhibitors who received Editors’ Choice Awards during the opening ceremonies at the show for best new products within the categories of design, equipment and supplies, and green guest amenities. The company was recognized for its Eco Cobra Jacket, an eco-friendly garment option for bellmen, doormen and other front-door hotel professionals, and the latest product within the company’s EcoGeneration™ collection.

Cintas also drew interest with the industry’s first machine-washable tuxedo, which is partially composed of recycled polyester, made from recycled plastic bottles. The company partners with Boardroom Eco Apparel and its mills to take discarded plastic bottles and transform them into recycled fibers. The process breaks bottles down into flakes; from those flakes, a filament is extruded, which is spun into yarn. The plastic-formulated yarn is then woven into a fabric to create the tuxedos. After use, the tuxedos can be tossed into a standard washer and dryer. The company estimates that the machine-washable tuxedos can save hotels up to $1,000 per employee annually.

The hotel industry is also demanding a broader palette of colors in table linen for its facilities, according to Elizabeth Barrett, associate brand manager for Procter and Gamble, makers of the color-safe Tide Professional Laundry System. “There’s definitely a trend toward the use of more color,” says Barrett.

Ecolab, a maker of laundry chemicals, also attracted an increase in floor traffic at the show. “This show was much better than the show two years ago,” says Jim Moore, assistant vice president for corporate accounts. “We’ve met with hoteliers from all over the world.”

Mercedes Benz USA, a Daimler Company, made its first appearance at the show with an exhibit of three vans, including the Sprinter Cargo Van. The diesel-powered van offers payload capacity of up to 5,358 pounds, 547 cubic feet of cargo space, and a standing height of 6 feet 4 inches.

The IHMRS will return to New York on Nov. 10-13, 2012.

Click here for Part 1.

December 22, 2011
IHMRS: Laundry Exhibitors Seeing Pent-Up Demand for Goods Among Hotels (Part 1 of 2)

NEW YORK – Manufacturers of laundry machinery, textiles and chemicals reported renewed interest in their products from the hotel industry at the 96th annual International Hotel, Motel+Restaurant Show (IHMRS) here in November.

Exhibitors at the Jacob Javits Convention Center on Manhattan’s West Side expressed satisfaction with increased foot traffic at the show. Attendance peaked at 23,953, up 2,800 from the previous year, including managers and executives from major hotel chains and independent properties, according to show management.

The increase in show attendance may reflect a rebound not only in New York’s economy, but also in the hotel and motel industry, following three years of recession.

There were indications at the show that the hotel industry is beginning to increase demand for on-premise laundry machinery.

“There are many pockets of pent-up demand now because spending had declined during the recession,” says Craig Madson, national account sales manager for Alliance Laundry Systems, manufacturer of laundry machinery that includes the UniMac brand.

Other manufacturers of laundry machinery echoed that view.

“It’s been a great show for us,” says Thomas Kindy, regional sales director for Chicago Dryer Co., which shared booth space with Pellerin Milnor. “People in the hotel industry have ignored their needs for the last couple of years because of the recession. Now they’re starting to make purchases again and trying to reduce operating costs in their laundries through automation. There’s been a lot of action.”

Chicago® exhibited its Comet Executive Ironer and Air Express Small-Piece Folder. Milnor exhibited a 300-G-force washer-extractor; a 60-pound-capacity washer; and a 35-pound-capacity cabinet-style washer with EP-Express control.

Although floor traffic didn’t measure up to its level of five years ago, it was still much improved from where it was in the depths of the recession, according to Joseph Leo, sales manager for equipment distributor PAC Industries. The show generated strong foot traffic in particular on the first day, he adds.

Dick Ruel, national sales manager for Maytag Commercial Laundry, described the level of interest from the hotel industry as “fantastic.”

“Sunday [Nov. 13] was the best day we have seen in several years,” says Ruel. “People who are building hotels are interested in cost savings and control for their laundry operations. The interest has been so strong that we can’t keep up with it. There’s been a real steady growth in demand for laundry machinery among hotels and institutions.”

Some manufacturers of laundry machinery suggested that it was still important for them to have a presence at the show, even if attendance figures had not quite rebounded to match those of halcyon days.

“It’s important for us to be here for the exposure to the industry,” says Pamela Simonetti, director of marketing for G.A. Braun.

Next Thursday: The show provided manufacturers an opportunity to tailor their products to the hotel industry...

October 31, 2011
NYC Set to Host IHMRS

NEW YORK — North America’s leading hospitality industry event returns to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center Nov. 12-15, presenting more than 700 exhibitors and drawing some 30,000 professionals to discover the latest products, make purchasing decisions, and conduct business.

Highlights of the 96th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show® (IHMRS) include the Hospitality Leadership Forum, return of Boutique Design New York (BDNY), debut of the Hotel F&B Zone, and launch of an iPad application area.

Products to Discover

Product discovery will prevail next month as suppliers representing every hospitality product category convene to showcase their latest innovations and services, including food and beverage, furnishings, equipment, linens, amenities, cleaning and more.

Supporting new products, resources and innovation, the IHMRS will roll out two new special focus areas this year. Attendees will discover new attention to food-and-beverage operations through the Hotel F&B Zone, and insight into the world of “apps” within a tech-savvy iPad application section.

“IHMRS 2011 is all about cultivating new business and offering inspiration, as industry professionals get their footing in a new economy and look to make smart purchasing decisions that will impact the bottom line,” says Lynn White, show manager. “There’s a new way of doing business, and IHMRS offers the products, resources and education to succeed.”

Hotel F&B Zone

The Hotel F&B Zone is an edited division of statement-making products for hotel, resort and casino food-and-beverage operations. Exhibitors within this area will feature such products as bar equipment; breakfast foods; cooking equipment; menus; software and technology; specialty food and beverages; and table linens and uniforms.

iPad Application Area

With new applications launching at a rapid pace, the IHMRS will offer an iPad application area for the first time this year.

Sponsored by Hospitality Upgrade magazine, visitors will experience a first-hand look at apps to assist both front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house operations, such as concierge, engineering, housekeeping, check-in, security and more.

Education

Technology Issues that Keep a GM Up at Night, Bells & Whistles for Your Marketing Mix, Hotel Green Pro-grams with Return on Investment, and Boutique Brands…Global Plans are among the topics to be addressed during the 2011 Hospitality Leadership Forum (HLF) on Saturday, Nov. 12.

A full-day conference for senior-level hospitality managers, the event also will feature the highly anticipated CEO Leadership Panel and U.S. Lodging Industry Summit Panel.

Education continues on Sunday, Nov. 13, and Monday, Nov. 14, with such programs as Upgrading After the Downturn: Maximizing Hotel F&B Renovations, Tiered Purchasing Strategies, and Missed Opportunities in Hotel Food-and-Beverage Operations. These programs are free with IHMRS registration.

A complete listing of educational programs is available at ihmrs.com.

Boutique Design New York

The event that brought hospitality design back to New York returns alongside the IHMRS Nov. 13-14, at Javits Center North.

BDNY will present 50% more exhibitors over its 2010 debut, with a carefully-edited selection of suppliers. Some 5,000 designers, architects, purchasers and developers, along with crossover attendance from the IHMRS, are expected.

Registration

Registration fees are $50, and registration for either show offers admission to both markets.

HLF registration is a separate fee of $139, which also includes admission to the IHMRS and BDNY.

Lodging, foodservice and design professionals can register at ihmrs.com or bdny.com, where they can also review participating exhibitors, travel information and more.

December 3, 2010
Busy Aisles, Enthusiastic Buyers Leave IHMRS Exhibitors Optimistic, Show Manager Says

NEW YORK — Organizers of the 95th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show® (IHMRS) report that more than 600 exhibitors experienced “busy aisles filled with owners and operators ready to buy, indicating positive signs for a recovering economy and industry.”

November 30, 2010
New Online Toolkit Intended to Help Hotels Address Growing Bed-Bug Problem

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Ecolab and the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) have launched www.bedbugtoolkit.com, a free online resource to help hotel owners and operators stop bed bugs before they spread.

November 15, 2010
Cintas Wins IHMRS Editors’ Choice Award for Washable Tuxedo

NEW YORK —Cintas Corp.’s new washable tuxedo earned the company the Editors’ Choice Award for “Green Guest Amenities” on Sunday during the opening of the International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS).

The single-breasted tuxedos for men and women are partially composed of recycled polyester fibers woven from recycled plastic bottles and are machine-washable.

September 27, 2010
Annual Hospitality Exhibition Aims to Help Attendees Prep for Business in New Economy

NEW YORK — As the economy and hospitality industry shows steady signs of progress, this year’s edition of the International Hotel/Motel + Restaurant Show® (IHMRS) will serve the important role of informing and educating as the industry prepares for business in a new economy, says GLM, the show’s longtime management firm.

October 22, 2009
Annual New York Show Primed to Recharge Industry

NEW YORK — Besides its traditional pre-show PR blitz, the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS) is trying something new to pique interest in the 94th annual event here next month: unusual appeals from pitchmen whose perspectives have, until now, been silenced.

“I’m feeling turned down,” reads the thought bubble rising from a pillow on a nicely appointed bed at www.lonelybeds.com.

January 7, 2009
Green Features, Products Headline Hospitality’s Annual NY Showcase

NEW YORK — As the lodging industry embraces the concept of sustainable operations, it’s not surprising that the 2008 International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show’s (IH/M&RS) favorite color was green.

No matter where attendees of the November event turned, the theme dominated the scene: the keynote address, seminars, a special display and awards all promoted greener operations.

November 28, 2008
IH/M&RS Reports Strong Annual Show Despite Slow Economy

NEW YORK — Exhibitors at the recent International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS) reported a market experience that far exceeded expectations given the uncertainty within the hospitality industry, reports GLM, the show’s management firm.

Held Nov. 8-11 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the 93rd annual event attracted 34,040 registrants, and saw especially significant participation from national purchasing firms, management companies, military base lodges, boutique hotel operators and multi-unit owners, GLM says.

October 8, 2008
Eco-friendliness Remains at Heart of IH/M&RS Agenda

NEW YORK — Supporting the hospitality industry’s continued efforts to decrease carbon footprints and develop eco-friendly properties, the 93rd annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS) next month features educational programming, a special exhibitor, and product awards highlighting the latest sustainable products and resources, according to show manager GLM.

November 15, 2007
IH/M&RS: Luxury Textiles at Center Stage in Hotel Branding

NEW YORK — Most laundry-related exhibitors at this week’s International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS) reported light booth traffic amid a robust hospitality industry marketplace, one driven by aggressive construction and growth, Matt Alexander, an industry consultant, tells American Laundry News.

October 26, 2007
Premier Hospitality Trade Show Turns Green

NEW YORK — The International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show® (IH/M&RS) has solidified relationships with the Green Restaurant Association and industry publication Green Lodging News to provide a full offering of “green” resources and education to attendees of next month’s event.