IH/M&RS Announces Editors' Choice Award Winners

An innovative air conditioner took Best in Show.

Mairi Beautyman -- Interior Design, 11/11/2008

The 93rd annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show wraps up today in New York. What are the crowd-pleasers for 2008? Selected from 150 submissions, 10 new products take home Editors' Choice Awards this year, and one product earned the coveted Kenneth F. Hine Best of Show Award.

Products were recognized in the categories of décor, essentials, luxury, restaurant and technology. Green innovation awards were also bestowed for each category.

Winners were selected based on four criteria: innovative product design; how a product answers a particular industry need; creative use of material or construction; and development or use of a new technology.

Judges were: Michael Birchenall, Foodservice Monthly; Margaret Rose Caro, Hotel Food & Beverage Executive; Glenn Hasek, Green Lodging News; Dick Johnson, Hotel Online; Adam Kirby, HOTELS; Fred Klashman, Total Food Service; Dennis Nessler, Hotel Business; Stephanie Ricca, Hotel & Motel Management; Len Vermillion, Lodging; Brian Ward, Restaurant Equipment Reports; and Ed Watkins, Lodging Hospitality.

A complete list of winners is below.

Kenneth F. Hine Best of Show
LG Electronics U.S.A. (Lincolnshire, Illinois) for Art Cool Picture, a 17.5 by 17.5-inch frame that combines the high-end style of artwork or photography with the smart technology of an air conditioner.

Décor
LG Electronics U.S.A. for Stretch Screen, a unique digital signage monitor measuring approximately half the height of a traditional 17-inch display, fitting seamlessly into any environment.

Essentials
MJSI (Shorewood, Illinois) for HydroClean Toilet Fill Valve, a unique water management tool that reduces water usage by 36 percent and eliminates leaks in high-rise buildings.

Luxury
LG Electronics U.S.A. for Art Cool Picture, a 17.5 by 17.5-inch frame that combines the high-end style of artwork or photography with the smart technology of an air conditioner.

Restaurant
Rubbermaid Commercial Products (Winchester, Virginia) for the Safe Ice Handling System, a complete ice transfer system that promotes safe handling and reduces the risk of cross-contamination in commercial kitchens.

Technology
Earlex (Stanley, North Carolina) for Raycop Anti-bacterial Handheld Vacuum, a revolutionary vacuum cleaning system that utilizes UVC technology to eliminate bacteria and reduce allergens from fabric surfaces such as bedding, sofas chairs and curtains.

Green Décor
Cintas Corporation (Chicago) for Eco-friendly Suiting Collection, a 100-percent-recycled, polyester suiting collection made from recycled plastic bottles that offers style, comfort and functionality.

Green Essentials
The Sugar Cane Paper Company (San Francisco) for Biodegradable Standard Roll Toilet Tissue, made from 90 percent recycled waste and 10 percent recycled paper.

Green Luxury
Valley Forge Fabrics (Pompano Beach, Florida) for Living Fresh, a natural, high thread count bedding collection featuring an exotic blend of fibers from eucalyptus and cotton.

Green Restaurant
The Sugar Cane Paper Company (San Francisco) for Premium Dinner Napkins, made from 90 percent recycled waste and 10 percent recycled paper.

Green Technology
BioHitech (Secaucus, New Jersey) for GohBio 1001, an onsite, high-speed food waste decomposition system that reduces a foodservice establishment's carbon footprint and increases their bottom line.


The Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitalitiy Design were also announced at the show.

Image courtesy of LG Electronics.