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2/2/2012
SANTA ROSA, CALIF.—The recently renovated Best Western Plus Wine Country Inn & Suites officially joined the EcoStay program. EcoStay is a national initiative that helps hotels measure their carbon footprint, identify and fund reduction strategies and balance off their greenhouse gas emissions through carbon offsetting.
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.”
1/24/2012
ROSWELL, GA.—Kimberly-Clark Professional has received the 2011 Sustainability Award from Marriott International and is the first product supplier to receive the prestigious award, which recognizes organizations that help Marriott reach its environmental sustainability goals worldwide.
1/24/2012
ITHACA, N.Y.—With energy representing the single fastest-growing operating cost in the hospitality industry—some 3 to 6 percent of total facility costs—hotel operators can no longer ignore the need to implement strategic energy-efficient management systems. Guests, corporate clients, employees, and investors have demonstrated increasing interest in understanding a business’s approach to key environmental, social, and governance topics that widen the scope of performance. The Cornell School of Hotel Administration is addressing these needs with a new Certification in Hotel Properties Management and Sustainability.
1/23/2012
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, COLO.—Its tracking mechanism may not be the most sophisticated in the industry—it consists of a master spreadsheet file—but there may be no better company in the world at tracking its environmental impact than Xanterra Parks & Resorts. For almost 11 years now Xanterra has been tracking everything from its carbon emissions to the percentage of solid waste diverted. Xanterra calls its tracking system “Ecometrix.” It falls under the company’s larger “Ecologix” program. Introduced in the company’s most recent sustainability report is yet another term—“Ecometabolism”—which is defined as “a measure of resource usage normalized by annual dollars of revenue or per room night.” Whereas Xanterra collects and reports absolute data—a tally of actual total resources consumed, pollutants emitted, or waste generated—Ecometabolism defines overall environmental impact per unit of product (tourist-related activities, which include rooms, restaurants, retail, transportation, and support facilities) while accounting for company growth or reduction in size due to acquisitions or divestitures.
1/17/2012
HONG KONG—Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts announced its Sustainable Seafood Policy which includes the commitment to cease serving shark fin in all of its operated restaurants as well as accepting new orders for shark fin products in banqueting with immediate effect. At the same time, Shangri-La announced that it will phase out Bluefin tuna and Chilean sea bass in all its operated restaurants within the year. In December 2010 the company initiated the process with the removal of shark fin products from its restaurant menus. The new policy is a continuation of Shangri-La’s journey towards sustainability. The company launched its first CSR initiatives in 2005 which were streamlined and formalized in 2009 in the three main areas of Sustainability, Embrace and Sanctuary towards a strategic commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility. Sanctuary, Shangri-La’s Care for Nature project was introduced specifically to ensure consistency in biodiversity, conservation and habitat protection across all resorts. Projects include the development of marine sanctuaries to ensure reef protection and stability of the underwater and marine life.
1/17/2012
PORTLAND, ORE.—Sustainable Travel International (STI) announced that its STEP eco-certification standard has been officially recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. To achieve this recognition, STEP underwent a rigorous review and authorization procedure. As a result, STEP is now considered equivalent to the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, the worldwide minimum sustainability requirements for tourism businesses of all sizes.
1/11/2012
NEW YORK—The Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium announced that JLF/lone meadow (aka JL Furnishings), a leader in sustainable hospitality furniture design and manufacturing, has joined the Consortium as a Contributing Member. JLF/lone meadow specializes in the design, manufacture and marketing of furnishings to the contract market. Its membership in the Consortium moves further toward establishing the new Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Index (HSPI) as the industry resource for sustainable purchasing.
1/9/2012
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—This past October was a landmark month for the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC). It was then that the nonprofit turned five years old. SFC is a nonprofit coalition of materials suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and designers committed to promoting sustainable practices in the home furnishings industry. While focused on home furnishings, different elements of SFC cross over into hospitality—e.g., suppliers, designers, and the criteria by which furnishings are deemed sustainable. “Many of our manufacturer, supplier and designer members also work in commercial,” says Susan Inglis, executive director and founding member of SFC. “All of our members are companies that have made a justifiable commitment to sustainability and continuous improvement.” Inglis says SFC now has almost 400 members. They represent companies ranging from Victor Group to Lazar Furniture to The Comphy Co. Members are categorized and are searchable on the SFC website. SFC’s impact is particularly strong in the designer community. More than 600 participants, many of whom are designers, have graduated from the SFC-sponsored GREENleaders Certified Sustainability Training program.
1/4/2012
LAS VEGAS—Crystals Retail & Entertainment District at CityCenter has earned Gold sustainable design awards from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the global trade association of the shopping center industry. The awards were earned in ICSC’s annual U.S. Design and Development Awards competition.
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