IHG and EnviroSpark Energise Hospitality with Expansive EV Charging Network

IHG and EnviroSpark Energise Hospitality with Expansive EV Charging Network

By Nishang Narayan

Published on March 17, 2024

In a strategic move to accommodate the surging adoption of electric vehicles, IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced a partnership with EnviroSpark, a company specialising in electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions. This collaboration is set to significantly expand the availability of EV charging stations at IHG-branded hotels throughout the United States and Canada, augmenting the hospitality giant's existing global network of 1,100 EV-equipped hotels.

This initiative allows individual IHG hotels to work directly with EnviroSpark to develop bespoke EV charging solutions that meet their unique needs and guest demands. In an era where sustainability is increasingly prioritised by travellers, this move not only enhances guest convenience but also supports the broader transition towards a low-carbon economy.

Recognizing the importance of accessibility to charging infrastructure for EV owners, IHG has also updated its mobile app with a new feature. Guests can now utilise an EV charger search filter, enabling them to easily identify hotels with charging facilities and plan their travel routes accordingly.

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Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Global Guest Experience at IHG Hotels & Resorts, emphasised the alignment of this partnership with IHG’s sustainability commitments under its Journey to Tomorrow initiative. "Providing guests with more EV-charging convenience is a natural next step for IHG,” McGuinness stated. "Through our agreement with EnviroSpark, we’re offering more options for IHG owners to install EV chargers at hotels while facilitating easier travel for sustainability-minded travellers.”

Aaron Luque, Founder and CEO of EnviroSpark, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the partnership’s role in promoting environmental sustainability and EV adoption. "Together, we aim to create a seamless and environmentally friendly experience for travellers, contributing to a greener future and bringing us closer to our vision of widespread EV adoption,” Luque remarked.

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To further encourage the installation of EV charging stations, IHG is providing hotel owners with a comprehensive EV charging guide. This initiative is part of a broader effort to equip over 4,100 IHG properties in North America with the infrastructure needed to support eco-friendly travel.

By expanding its EV charging network in collaboration with EnviroSpark, IHG Hotels & Resorts underscores its leadership in sustainable hospitality. This initiative not only enhances guest convenience but also significantly contributes to the industry's transition towards greener, more sustainable travel practices.


Kaapi Machines Launches Kaapi One to Simplify Coffee Equipment Journey

Kaapi Machines Launches Kaapi One to Simplify Coffee Equipment Journey

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on October 11, 2026

Kaapi Machines has launched Kaapi One, a digital platform designed to make the coffee equipment journey simpler, more connected and transparent for customers. The platform brings together service, equipment information, orders, learning and support, giving coffee businesses a streamlined way to manage their relationship with their equipment.

As India’s coffee ecosystem continues to evolve, equipment ownership goes beyond the initial purchase and installation. Timely service, maintenance, access to information and ongoing technical support are important for keeping coffee operations running smoothly. Kaapi One brings these interactions together on a single platform, making them easier for customers to access and manage.

The platform was launched around International Coffee Day 2026, reflecting Kaapi Machines’ focus on using technology to strengthen the overall coffee ecosystem and enhance the experience of coffee businesses beyond the point of sale.

Service remains a key part of the Kaapi One experience. Customers can raise service requests directly through the app, track their progress, view status updates, see the engineer assigned to a request and access service information and records. This provides greater visibility into the service process and reduces the need for repeated follow-ups.

Beyond service, Kaapi One connects customers to the wider Kaapi ecosystem. Users can discover new equipment launches, access orders and machine information, explore coffee training and learning opportunities, and find solutions for different business formats, including cafés, hotels, offices, bakeries, QSRs and cloud kitchens.

The app works alongside Kaapi Machines’ existing network of engineers, technical expertise and after-sales support. While technology adds another layer of accessibility and transparency, the human expertise behind the service remains central to the customer experience.

Kaapi One reflects a broader move towards making equipment ownership more seamless while keeping coffee businesses connected to the information, services and support they need throughout their equipment journey.

Through Kaapi One, customers can:

  • Discover new equipment launches.

  • Access their orders and machine information.

  • Raise and track service requests.

  • Follow service updates.

  • Access coffee training and learning opportunities.

  • Explore solutions for their business requirements.


Miele Showcases Smarter Home Appliances at IFA 2026

Miele Showcases Smarter Home Appliances at IFA 2026

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on October 10, 2026

Miele presented its latest home appliance innovations at IFA 2026 under the motto “The end of housework is in sight”, showcasing how intelligent technology can make everyday tasks easier. The company introduced the G8 Diamond dishwasher, the AI-based CulinaryCoach in the Miele App, an expanded W2/T2 laundry care range and the Cary concept study, with a focus on reducing household work and simplifying everyday decisions.

For 127 years, Miele has focused on making people's lives better by gradually reducing the effort involved in housework. From mechanising physically demanding tasks to introducing automatic programmes and dispensing systems, the company has continued to develop appliances that recognise situations and respond to users' needs. Its latest approach focuses on making technology more capable while keeping it simple to use.

"Our customers shouldn't have to be experts in programmes or functions. The expertise has to sit in the appliance," says Dr. Reinhard Zinkann, Executive Director and Co-Proprietor of Miele. "The more decisions technology takes off our hands, the more important trust in the result becomes. Real relief comes when technology takes over the tasks and decisions we'd rather not deal with in everyday life. That's exactly what we mean when we say: the end of housework is in sight."

In the kitchen, Miele's CulinaryCoach in the Miele App aims to make cooking easier by combining artificial intelligence with the company's recipe and appliance expertise. The assistant answers questions about food preparation and can transfer suitable settings directly to a Miele oven. It helps users choose the right operating mode, temperature and cooking time for familiar recipes as well as new dishes.

The company also introduced the G8 Diamond, the top-of-the-range model in its new dishwasher generation. An integrated camera identifies the load level and types of dishes inside the appliance, allowing it to adjust the wash cycle accordingly. The dishwasher automatically dispenses the required amount of detergent, while its newly developed hot-air drying system aims to deliver dry dishes, including plastic items.

Through the Miele App, users can also set personal preferences, such as allowing the dishwasher to start only when it is 80 per cent full and after 10 pm. With these features, users can load the dishwasher, close the door and let the appliance handle the rest.

"Technology shouldn't make extra demands on us in everyday life; it should give us back time and attention for other things," says Dr. Markus Miele, Executive Director and Co-Proprietor of Miele. "With the CulinaryCoach and the G8 Diamond, we show two different ways to achieve this: providing guidance during cooking and taking over tasks and decisions after the meal."

Beyond the kitchen, Miele also expanded its W2/T2 laundry care generation at IFA 2026. Following the introduction of the top-of-the-range W2/T2 Nova Edition models at the beginning of last year, the company added further appliance classes while maintaining a uniform design language. Convenience features from its top-of-the-range models will also become available in other appliances in the future.

The new laundry care range is designed to help users select suitable wash cycles according to fabric types and load sizes, dispense detergent automatically, make drying easier and care for clothes gently. These features aim to reduce the number of settings users need to manage while helping them keep their favourite clothes in good condition for longer.

Miele also presented Cary, a concept study exploring the future of laundry care. Modern washing machines offer more than a million possible combinations involving programmes, temperatures, spin speeds, additional functions and detergents. Cary aims to simplify this process by using intelligent sensors and AI to identify textile types and colours, then adjust the programme and detergent dosage accordingly.

The concept reflects Miele's vision of making laundry care simpler, allowing users to load their clothes and press start without needing expert knowledge of washing machine settings.

"Intelligence can be programmed. Trust has to be earned," says Dr. Axel Kniehl, Executive Director Marketing & Sales at Miele. "AI is increasingly becoming the standard. The crucial question, therefore, is whether people will entrust their laundry to the technology; here, quality, reliability and 127 years of experience make the difference – all bundled at the touch of a button. This creates more time for the truly important things in everyday life and in the current times of mental overload."

Through its latest products and concepts, Miele highlighted how intelligent appliances can take over more household tasks and reduce the decisions involved in cooking, dishwashing and laundry care.


Blum India Launches New Experience Centre in Ahmedabad

Blum India Launches New Experience Centre in Ahmedabad

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on October 3, 2026

Blum India, the global leader in premium furniture hardware, has launched the Blum Index Experience Centre on the Sardar Patel Ring Road corridor between Bhadaj and Ognaj Circle in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The new centre offers interior designers, architects and homeowners an interactive space to experience Blum’s furniture hardware in fully functional, real-world settings.

The Experience Centre was officially inaugurated by Maarten de Vries, Managing Director of Blum India and Regional Director of Blum Asia Pacific, along with local partner store owners Sanjay Ojha and Kailash Sarswat. Located along the growing Bhadaj-Ognaj corridor, the centre brings Blum’s furniture hardware solutions closer to the region’s expanding residential and commercial market.

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The facility showcases several of Blum’s latest solutions, including the space-saving REVEGO pocket systems, LEGRABOX premium drawer systems, AVENTOS top lift systems and SERVO-DRIVE electric motion support systems. Visitors can experience how these solutions support flexible space planning, smooth movement and everyday functionality in kitchens and other furniture applications.

Speaking on the inauguration, Maarten de Vries said, "Expanding our interactive network into Ahmedabad is a deliberate step in Blum's growth strategy for Western India. This region is defined by steady economic momentum and a community that values structural quality. Our goal here is to bring our world of ergonomic and intuitive furniture hardware innovations closer to the local market. We are glad to work closely with our partners at the Index Blum Experience Centre, whose local expertise allows us not only to bring Austrian engineering into Ahmedabad but also to strengthen our connect and understanding of the local market here."

Store owners Sanjay Ojha and Kailash Sarswat highlighted the changing requirements of Ahmedabad homeowners and designers. "Over the last few years, we have seen a clear shift in what Ahmedabad homeowners demand for their spaces. With the residential growth along the SP Ring Road corridor, clients are moving away from standard, off-the-shelf fittings. They want smooth motion, smart space utilisation, and durability. Establishing a dedicated hub for Blum in Bhadaj addresses an important need for local designers. We built this interactive space so our industry peers can see exactly how functional furniture fittings in Ahmedabad add long-term value to a project."

The Index Blum Experience Centre is open to furniture makers, interior designers and architects looking for a hands-on understanding of Blum’s products for upcoming projects. The centre welcomes both direct walk-ins and dedicated B2B product tours, while homeowners can also visit to explore Blum’s modular hardware solutions designed for daily and long-term use.

  • Blum Experience Centre: Index
  • Address: INDEX Blum Experience Centre, Shop No. 2, Block A & B, Tatvam Pride, Sardar Patel Ring Road, Bhadaj to Ognaj Circle, Bhadaj, Ahmedabad – 380060.

Blum was founded in Höchst, Austria, by Julius Blum in 1952 and specialises in lift, hinge, drawer, pocket systems and motion technologies for furniture, supported by assembly devices and services. The company operates 11 production plants across Austria, Poland, the USA and China, along with more than 30 subsidiaries and representative offices. Blum has more than 2,100 patents worldwide, serves customers in over 120 markets and has 9,846 employees globally. The company has also implemented sustainability initiatives to reduce its environmental footprint and has been ISO-14001 certified since 1997.

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