TETIAROA, FRENCH POLYNESIA—The Brando, a unique resort and model of sustainable technology, located on the private island of Tetiaroa in French Polynesia, and a product of the late Marlon Brando’s vision, announces the launch of its official website.The website debut is the latest advancement for The Brando, the one-of-a-kind resort located on Tetiaroa, an atoll composed of 12 islets surrounded by the blue expanse of the South Pacific, 30 miles northeast of the island of Tahiti. Tetiaroa has always been a privileged retreat—first for the Tahitian royalty as recorded by Bougainville, Cook, Bligh, and others, and more recently for...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, announced that in 2012 it achieved a nearly 12 percent reduction in carbon emissions per square foot of its operationally controlled assets versus its carbon footprint in 2011.The company, which is working toward a goal to reduce its carbon emissions by 16 percent by 2016 and by 20 percent by 2020, announced this latest accomplishment in its third annual Sustainability Report.“Advancing sustainability best practices remains among our top priorities not only because it’s good for the environment, but because it’s also good for business,” said Stephen P. Holmes, chairman...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Restaurant Assn. (NRA) announced the members of the Conserve Sustainability Advisory Council as part of its plan to help restaurateurs better understand environmental awareness and become more resource-efficient through its Conserve program.  The advisory council is composed of 14 members of the foodservice and allied industry, all of whom are sustainability experts in their own right. As council members, they will be tasked with sharing their education, lessons learned and best practices applied at their own businesses. “We are pleased to announce this group of some of the most influential sustainability leaders in the foodservice industry today,”...

NEW YORK—MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and Delos, a real estate developer, have decided to expand Stay Well, their wellness hotel room concept. After a positive guest response and growing demand since launching in October 2012, Stay Well at MGM Grand is quadrupling its Stay Well room count from 42 to 171 rooms and suites, encompassing the entire 14th floor of the hotel’s main tower.“The success of the Stay Well rooms exemplifies the large consumer demand and appetite for a healthier, wellness-oriented travel experience,” said Delos founder Paul Scialla. “We are thrilled to expand the Stay...

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—IEHA and Phoenix-based Best Western International (BWI) are partnering to produce the first Healthy Hotel Housekeeper (HHH) Certification, with the goal to make hotel environments cleaner and healthier by empowering housekeeping professionals with knowledge and training, supported by an ongoing certification program administered by IEHA.BWI, representing more than 4000 hotels globally, and some 2,200 domestic properties, is the largest midscale hotel chain in the world, and the IEHA Healthy Hotel Housekeeper Certification Level One (HHH L1) will be offered first to BWI’s U.S. directors of housekeeping (DOHs) in tandem with BWI’s membership commitment to IEHA, and IEHA’s commitment...

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—On Thursday, September 12, 2013, the California State Senate voted to approve SB 254 authored by Senator Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) and Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) by a 31-8 bipartisan vote. SB 254 now moves to the Governor’s desk for review and signature.SB 254 (Hancock/Correa), which has enjoyed bipartisan support throughout the legislative process, creates a used mattress recycling program that will have a dedicated funding mechanism, reduce the impact of illegally dumped mattresses, harness existing infrastructure for transporting used mattresses to recyclers, create jobs, and minimize costs to both government and consumers.“We are very pleased SB 254...

AVALON, N.J.—Concord Suites is officially a TripAdvisor GreenLeader after demonstrating ongoing green initiatives. The TripAdvisor GreenLeaders Program recognizes hotels that are committed to green practices such as alternative energy, water efficiency and recycling.  GreenLeaders make a large, positive impact on the environment around them through their efforts to go green.Concord Suites has not stopped looking for ways to reduce its environmental footprint. Last year, the hotel installed a 434-panel solar array on its rooftop which now harnesses the sun’s energy and provides the Concord with 60 percent of its overall energy usage.The Concord Suites has added energy-efficient light fixtures...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The green team at Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Washington, D.C. has had a lot to smile about lately. The hotel was presented with the Technology Innovation, Medium Property award earlier this summer by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. That honor followed last year’s Mayor’s Sustainability Award. More importantly, in the last two years the hotel has completed a long list of projects—$2.4 million worth—that have resulted in a drop of 48 percent in utility costs, 24 percent reduction in energy use, 31 percent reduction in energy rates, and 32 percent drop in water consumption.Getting to its current operating...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Electric utilities continue upgrading their customers’ analog electric meters with digital “smart” meters, according to a new IEE report, Utility-Scale Smart Meter Deployments. “Smart meters enable two-way power and information flows between the utility and the customer,” said IEE executive director Lisa Wood. “Electric utilities are using the real-time information provided by smart meters and other investments in the digital grid to improve the efficiency and reliability of the electric system.”IEE, an Institute of The Edison Foundation focused on innovation and efficiency in electricity, found that smart meters were installed in more than 45 million (or nearly 40...

STAMFORD, CONN.—The New York City borough of Queens will soon be home to a dual-hotel development featuring two Starwood brands. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced plans to open Four Points by Sheraton Flushing and Element Flushing in September 2015. Owned by Century Construction Group, the hotels will boast a convenient location, just ten minutes from LaGuardia Airport.“This exciting, new project will combine our affordable and stylish Four Points brand with our eco-wise Element brand in one location within the vibrant borough of Queens,” said Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “Travelers will...