ORLANDO, FLA.—The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently welcomed the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center into the Florida Green Lodging Program. The 1,406-room resort is one of the largest in the state to participate, and the first in Osceola County’s popular Kissimmee resort corridor. In addition, the resort announced the upcoming rollout of a new guest communications program, called “We’re Eco-Logical,” designed to share the spirit of the resort’s eco-friendly initiatives with guests and meeting planners, while encouraging them to take an active role in the programs. “Together with the citizens of Osceola County, we have created...

FREEPORT, MAINE—Rates will be reduced by 50 percent at some of Maine’s finest inns and resorts this spring in support of Hospitality for Habitat, a Maine Innkeepers Association (MEIA) program designed to raise funds for local chapters of Habitat for Humanity while encouraging spring travel to Maine, announced Greg Dugal, executive director of MEIA. This year, after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, a portion of the funds raised will be distributed to Habitat for Humanity projects in Haiti as well. Innkeepers all over the state, participating in the seventh annual Hospitality for Habitat, will reduce their room rates...

SAN FRANCISCO—Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants has introduced Wines That Care during its hosted nightly wine hour at nearly 50 hotels nationwide. For guests in the mood to mix and mingle in the living room-style lobby with a glass of red or white, every savored sip will come from a featured winery of the month chosen for its dedication to the earth and local communities. Hand-picked by Kimpton’s wine director and master sommelier, Emily Wines, Wines That Care will offer pours from a different winery each month that has a unique story and genuine commitment to environmental preservation and sustainability....

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.—Worrell Water Technologies and YMCA of Silicon Valley announced that YMCA Camp Campbell in Boulder Creek, Calif., installed a Living Machine ecological wastewater treatment and reuse system for its year-round camp. The YMCA opted to install an on-site solution that would support year-round camping and also serve as an outdoor learning lab for its popular Outdoor Science School. The school is aimed at fifth and sixth grade students visiting from 75 schools in the area surrounding the camp. The Living Machine system can be used in rural locations or in rapidly developing areas that have failing or...

OTTAWA, ONT.—For the past six years, the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) has conducted a comprehensive survey of Canadian travel trends and intentions for the upcoming year. Unveiled during HAC’s Annual Conference and Trade Show in February, the results of this year’s survey revealed several important insights of great value with respect to a hotel’s sustainable initiatives. The survey identified important trends with respect to the “environment” which hoteliers should note, including increasing awareness of environmental issues among hotel guests, and an increased importance related to both green certified hotels and hotels promoting eco-friendly practices to their guests. Relating specifically...

TORONTO—For the third consecutive year, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will participate in Earth Hour, a global event organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to raise awareness about climate change. On Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 8:30 p.m., all 60 of Fairmont’s landmark hotels and resorts around the planet will participate by turning off their lights for one hour. “Earth Hour is a unique opportunity for Fairmont colleagues and guests to participate in the world’s largest global climate change initiative,” said Brian Richardson, vice president of brand marketing & communications. “It furthers our ongoing support of environmental awareness and demonstrates...

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA.—Since 2004, when the Convention Industry Council (CIC) appointed a green meeting task force that produced a white paper of best practices for suppliers and planners, interest in the concept of green meetings has steadily been growing. Discussions between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CIC and the Green Meeting Industry Council revealed a tremendous need in the meeting and event industry for a uniform measure of environmental performance. Following up on this interest, the CIC’s Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) program teamed up with ASTM, and ASTM Subcommittee E60.02 on Hospitality is currently addressing a wide variety of green...

SAN FRANCISCO—Community Marketing, Inc. (CMI), the market research, strategic consulting, and communications specialists, announced the release of its CMIGreen 1st Annual Green Traveler Survey Report. The Annual Green Traveler Survey Report is the result of a unique, pan-industry cooperative initiative between tourism businesses and nonprofit, environmental and sustainable business organizations, from the development of the survey to the interpretation of its findings. The report is being offered free to the tourism and hospitality industries, in order to advance efforts toward greener travel. The CMIGreen study surveyed the purchasing habits, travel behavior, environmental commitment, expectations and motivations of 1,736 self-defined,...

DENVER—When compared to last year’s Sustainable Meetings Conference in Pittsburgh, attendance was up significantly at this year’s event held in Denver from February 9 to 11. This year’s conference was held at the Colorado Convention Center. The facility, which has a 300-kilowatt solar system on its roof, is in pursuit of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. A total of approximately 250 people attended this year’s event, reflecting the growing interest in the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC), the organizer of the conference. Two years ago, membership in GMIC stood at 185 members. Today, there are 577...

DENVER—Denver will soon play host to some of the finest up-and-coming students in the international meetings and incentive travel industry. The Future Leaders Forum will take place in association with the Green Meeting Industry Council Conference (GMIC) Green Meetings 101 on February 9, 2010, at the Sustainable Meetings Conference in Denver. The program, designed and delivered jointly by the IMEX Group—producers of the leading international meetings exhibition—and GMIC, offers gifted young students the opportunity to gain a unique insight into how to develop a successful career in the meetings and incentives travel industry. The focus of this Future Leaders Forum...