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2/2/2012
RAPID CITY, S.D.—Atmosphere Hospitality Management LLC has assumed the management and license contract of a former downtown Rapid City branded hotel and has plans to convert it to the first Adoba Eco Hotel. The conversion of the nine-story, 177-guestroom property will include a full property guestroom renovation and public area restoration beginning mid-February. The hotel will stay open during the renovation that is expected to be done by May. The destination inspired, sustainable guestroom design will be created by Antonio Ballatore from HGTV’s “The Antonio Treatment” TV show. “In terms of hotel conversions, there is nothing like this,” said Karim Merali, owner of the property. “The incredibly purposeful, forward thinking approach to the evolution of the hospitality industry, supported by the most current proprietary technology systems will validate all our sustainable practices while establishing benchmarks for continuous future improvements. With the notable industry experience of the Atmosphere team and vision behind the project, it was too incredible for us not to be involved.”
2/2/2012
ATLANTA—The engineering, architectural and green building communities, as well as governmental agencies, are seeking to fundamentally change energy-use aspects of the built environment. The ASHRAE conference, High Performance Buildings: A Focus on Deep Energy Savings, addresses what really works when tackling major improvements in energy efficiency, renewable applications and operating practices in buildings.
2/1/2012
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) announces that Amadeus, Melia, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, Sabre Holdings and TUI Travel are among the first group of global travel and tourism corporations to publicly commit to promoting sustainable tourism products and services recognized by the GSTC. Each of these companies has committed to using the GSTC Criteria—a global framework for defining a sustainable travel benchmark—as the reference for sustainable travel. The objective of the program is to recognize and reward genuine practitioners of sustainable tourism, which in turn builds confidence and credibility with consumers. The commitment from these organizations demonstrates their belief that sustainable tourism is an important component of their business practice and that the widespread adoption of sustainable tourism standards is relevant. “Amadeus, Melia, Sabre, Royal Caribbean and TUI Travel have shown remarkable leadership in making this public commitment to sustainable travel,” said former U.S. Senator Timothy E. Wirth, president of the U.N. Foundation. “Their pledge supports the development of consumer confidence and a credible marketplace for sustainable travel and tourism.”
2/1/2012
MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton Worldwide and Sundance Institute announced the winners of the newly launched Hilton Worldwide LightStay Sustainability Award program, which includes $25,000 for one feature film and one in-process category winner. The prizes will be presented at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival this week. Additionally, Hilton Worldwide will screen the winning feature film, The Island President, at a special private event during the Festival. A Q&A session with director Jon Shenk will follow the screening. The Island President will be released by Samuel Goldwyn Films on March 28.
1/31/2012
OAKLAND, CALIF.—Fair Trade USA, the leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States, unveiled a newly redesigned certification label and significant revisions to its Multiple Ingredients Product Policy. The changes will better serve the needs of farmers, businesses and consumers that look to the Fair Trade Certified label to ensure that rigorous standards, transparency and efforts to provide the greatest impact possible have been met. Under the revised Ingredients Policy, which applies to all food and personal care products, only products that contain 100 percent Fair Trade Certified ingredients may bear the full Fair Trade Certified label. Products containing at least 20 percent Fair Trade Certified ingredients will now bear a new Fair Trade Certified Ingredients label. The Fair Trade Certified label, now found on more than 10,000 products throughout the United States, ensures shoppers that the farmers and workers producing the labeled goods were paid fair prices and wages, work in safe conditions, protect the environment, and earn community development funds to empower and improve their communities.
1/30/2012
NATIONAL REPORT—An increasing number of solar thermal systems are being used by the hospitality industry. Almost every brand has invested in this technology to lower heating bills. These systems work in a wide variety of climates from southern Singapore to northern Denmark and throughout the United States. Solar thermal systems are a proven technology that has been around since the early 1900s. However, the technology has greatly advanced. Today’s solar collectors are very efficient and have a lifespan of more than 25 years. Evacuated tube solar collectors are a popular choice for solar hot water systems and are dependable, efficient and cost effective. Evacuated tube solar collectors function according to the same principle as the thermos bottle; the sun’s rays enter the tube and the heat remains trapped inside. The collector consists of a row of parallel transparent glass tubes that are connected to the collector’s manifold. Each tube contains a glass outer tube and metal absorber inner tube. The tube absorbs solar energy well, but inhibits radiative heat loss.
1/30/2012
NAPA, CALIF.—Designated as a Best Western Plus hotel, Inn at the Vines features accommodations that suit the needs of both business and leisure travelers. Now, the Best Western Plus Inn at the Vines is a certified green hotel through Best Western International. Best Western properties in compliance with at least one of the national or international eco-labeling programs for the hotel industry are now able to be noted as such on bestwestern.com and related websites.
1/26/2012
ST. LOUIS—Drury Hotels Company, a family owned and operated company based in St. Louis, is in the process of rolling out amenity dispensers in the bathrooms of its guestrooms in all 123 of its Drury branded properties. The five Drury brands include Drury Inn & Suites, Drury Inn, Drury Suites, Drury Plaza Hotel, and Pear Tree Inn by Drury. Drury properties can be found in 20 states. Alison Casler, director of training and communication for Drury Hotels Company, says the new dispenser standard will save the purchase and disposal of at least 1.8 million amenity bottles a year. Drury will still offer a facial bar soap at the bathroom sink. “It makes really good sense and is a great initiative for the environment,” Casler says. “It makes the room cleaning process easier. It makes sense operationally. The feedback overall has been very good. We are working on the in-room signage.” The only guest concerns so far have related to dispenser security but Casler emphasizes that the dispensers are “locked and secure.”
1/25/2012
LOS ANGELES—MindClick SGM and Expedia.com announced the results of a study of 5,000 consumers conducted in early January 2012 that measures awareness, expectations and the impact of hotel sustainability efforts. The study revealed that consumers applaud such efforts, but need to better understand the tangible impact to their travel lives. Over the past decade, hotels have implemented and promoted sustainability programs including energy efficiency, water conservation and recycling, and green building through the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification program. With operational sustainability awareness levels at 80 percent among consumers surveyed, the industry has succeeded in telling at least part of the story. This means that the concept of hotel sustainability is being factored into hotel purchase consideration. Hotel air quality is a prevailing consumer concern: four in 10 consumers list indoor air quality as a highly important in their selection criteria. Hotels that promote higher indoor air quality earn higher favorability ratings among almost two-thirds of consumers surveyed.
1/25/2012
WISCONSIN DELLS, WIS.—You may not make it to Africa this year, but your soaps may. Home to America’s largest indoor waterparks, the authentically African-themed Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center has partnered with Orlando, Fla.-based social enterprise Clean the World to collect and recycle hotel soaps and shampoos to help fight the global spread of preventable diseases.
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