NEW YORK, NY, November 8, 2009�Ten exhibitors were honored with Editors' Choice Awards during the Opening Ceremonies of the 94th annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show® (IH/M&RS), Sunday, November 8, 2009, at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.  The Awards program recognizes best new products within the categories of décor, essentials, luxury, restaurant and technology, as well as an eco-friendly equivalent to each of these categories.  From the 10 winners, the Kenneth F. Hine "Best of Show" Award also was selected. 

The 2009 IH/M&RS Editors' Choice Award winners are:

Kenneth F. Hine "Best of Show" - Bittel Electoronics, Ltd. (Aptos, CA) for UNO, a hotel guest room phone, alarm clock/radio with high-end audio performance and iPod/mp3 player in a single converged unit.

Décor - MTS Seating (Temperance, MI) for the Impilato Stacking Chair, a stacking chair that is unique in design and comfort and available in five upholstered wood and metal back designs. 

Essentials - Protect-A-Bed®-Chicago (Northbrook, IL) for Protect-A-Bed® Storage or Disposal Bag, a product that minimizes the spread of bed bugs during transportation and provides easy disposal of infested mattresses. 

Luxury - Bella Luna Yoga (Great Barrington, MA) for the Onsite Resort Yoga Program, a comprehensive yoga/wellness program that offers a competitive edge to attract the modern customer and elite traveler.

Restaurant - Frieling USA, Inc. (Charlotte, NC) for the Emsa FLOW Carafe, an elegantly designed carafe featuring a unique cooling coaster with a freezable pad inside that keeps beverages cool for up to four hours. 

Technology - Bittel Electoronics, Ltd. (Aptos, CA) for UNO, a hotel guest room phone, alarm clock/radio with high-end audio performance and iPod/mp3 player in a single converged unit.

Green Décor - JKF Contract, LLC (New York, NY) for the Rho Series Lounge Chair, a contemporary collection of outdoor furnishings that serves as a high-tech solution for any outdoor space.

Green Essentials - Pacific Coast Feather Company (Seattle, WA) for Renova Recycled Eco Fiber by Restful Nights, a complete bedding line made from 100 percent post consumer, recycled 2-liter, clear, plastic soda bottles.

Green Luxury - BluePoint Living (Tampa, FL) for BluePoint Towels, the first cotton towels manufactured with a technology that utilizes pre-consumer cotton waste to spin thick, soft towels.

Green Restaurant - Ciao, Inc. (Boulder, CO) for CIAO, spring water packaged in a 100 percent biodegradable bottle, the new alternative to traditional plastic.

Green Technology - Energy Eye, Inc. (Poway, CA) for EyePower Solution, the only HVAC energy management solution that has been rigorously tested for performance and is platinum certified by the Globally Green Energy Consortium.

"This year's competition featured a wide array of revolutionary products for the hospitality industry that will have great impact on guest satisfaction," said Lynn White, show manager.  "We're pleased the winning companies have selected the IH/M&RS to launch these exciting new products."

Editors from leading hospitality trade publications reviewed nearly 100 submissions of cutting-edge, new products, and selected winners based on 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 for the 14th annual IH/M&RS Editors' Choice Awards were: Michael Birchenall, Foodservice Monthly; Glenn Hasek, Green Lodging News; Fred Klashman, Total Food Service; Dennis Nessler, Hotel Business; Stephanie Ricca, Hotel & Motel Management; Len Vermillion, Lodging; and Ed Watkins, Lodging Hospitality.

The 94th annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show runs through November 10, 2009, at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.  Following a full-day of conference and networking activities on Saturday, November 7, the IH/M&RS features three full days of exhibits from Sunday, November 8, through Tuesday, November 10.  

The International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show is sponsored by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc., and the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association; and is managed by GLM®, LLC.  

For IH/M&RS exhibitor information, contact Lynn White, show manager, at GLM, 1133 Westchester Avenue, White Plains, NY 10604-3547.  Telephone (914) 421-3249.  Fax (914) 948-6197.  E-mail: [email protected].  For attendee information, contact GLM Customer Relations at (914) 421-3237, or by email, at [email protected].  Additional information and registration is available online, at www.ihmrs.com.