NEW ORLEANS—The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) is replacing 1.9 million square feet of traditional roofing with a new, energy-efficient roofing system. The $40 million roof replacement project is part of a $557 million capital improvement plan and will be under construction until mid-2024. “We are taking a comprehensive approach to enhancing and transforming our massive facilities in order to elevate the visitor experience and reduce our environmental footprint here at the Convention Center—from new technology inside to new exterior greenspaces and a fantastic new heat-deflecting roof,” said Michael J. Sawaya, Convention Center President/CEO. “This is an...

MÉRIDA, MEXICO—WAYAM Mundo Imperial may only have 52 suites but its efforts to reduce its environmental footprint surpass green-focused properties much greater in size. The property in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico just earned LEED Gold certification—the first one in Mérida with LEED certification and an ideal partner for Yucatan´s LEED Platinum International Congress Center. Fernando Zepeda, General Manager of the 72-employee WAYAM Mundo Imperial, says the hotel’s owners embarked on the path toward LEED certification about five years ago, though their commitment to sustainable development goes back decades. The property opened in the summer of 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic....

NORTON SHORES, MICH.—EarthTronics, dedicated to developing innovative energy-saving lighting products that provide a positive economic and environmental impact, introduces its EarthConnect 2.0, Bluetooth networked lighting control (NLC) system. It makes it easy for commercial facilities to maximize energy savings, improve comfort and achieve building code compliance. EarthConnect 2.0 provides enhanced efficiency which increases productivity and reduces waste. Its functionality includes quick wireless grouping, scene setting, full range dimming and scheduling. The lighting control hardware is easily installed in the field or at the factory providing project flexibility. Contractors will find it easy and quick to commission and facility managers will...

NEW YORK—Catalyst Power Holdings LLC, an integrated provider of cleaner energy solutions for the commercial and industrial sector, is launching new energy storage solutions for businesses. Its new behind-the-meter energy storage will be integrated as an option in the company’s Connected Microgrid product to provide businesses with significant energy savings from load shifting, peak shaving, and other capabilities. “Energy storage offers businesses the opportunity to realize significant savings thanks to newly available federal tax incentives for storage projects, ” said Gabriel Phillips, CEO of Catalyst Power Holdings. “We’re at a time of tremendous opportunity in the clean energy transition—businesses that take advantage...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Viva Resorts by Wyndham announced it has achieved Wyndham Green program certification as part of its comprehensive plan to have its hotels operating at maximum efficiency while minimizing their environmental footprints. This achievement that reaffirms the company’s core values, is the latest development highlighting the hotel brand’s foundational and continued commitment to protecting the environment and the communities it operates in. “Sustainability and giving back to the community have always been part of Viva’s DNA,” said Viva Resorts by Wyndham Corporate Director, Marketing and Public Relations, Erika Sordo. “We strongly believe in protecting the environment and especially our oceans....

One of the impacts of the pandemic was of course a reduction in housekeeping. It was for safety reasons and ultimately due to a shortage of housekeepers. According to Gary Leff of “View from the Wing,” at least one brand is going back to the old days of housekeeping—Hilton, and at least with some of its brands. According to an internal Hilton communication reviewed by View From The Wing, “Daily housekeeping will be a brand standard at all full-service hotels, and every other day at limited-service properties though in both cases either more or less housekeeping will be at the...

SERENGETI, TANZANIA—Long coveted by those who cherish a small and intimate tented experience in one of the continent’s most spectacular wilderness settings, the location of Singita Mara River Tented Camp (MRTC) on a dramatic riverbend in the northernmost tip of the Serengeti has been amplified with its new look. Featuring eye-catching designs inspired by the vibrant colors and patterns of local Maasai geometrics, Mara’s new iteration is a cultural celebration that sets the tone for a stay that is warm, welcoming, and entirely true to this destination. Bold yet relaxed and unfussy, locally made furniture and accessories add comfort, an...

LAS VEGAS—Las Vegas Sands has released its latest environmental, social and governance (ESG) report outlining the company’s 2022 progress on the corporate responsibility ambitions and priorities established for its 2021-2025 reporting period. Targeted for achievement by 2025, Sands’ performance on its ambitions in the People, Communities and Planet pillars of its corporate responsibility program through 2022 included: People—Aiming toward its 2025 target to invest $200 million in workforce development initiatives to advance Team Members and local talent in the hospitality industry, Sands invested $56 million in 2022 and $113 million since 2021. Funding has supported core initiatives such as the Sands...

KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII—Officially open to guests last month, Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort is privileged to call the sacred land of Kaʻūpūlehu home. An inspired reimagination of the original Kona Village Resort, which first opened in the 1960s and subsequently shuttered in 2011, a familiar silhouette has returned to the island’s horizon. Real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson took a light-on-the-land approach to reconstructing the resort and has partnered with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts to build on that foundation, prioritizing environmental responsibility and care for local culture in the guest experience. Spanning 81 acres of stunning geologic landscape, Kona Village pulls inspiration from Kaʻūpūlehu’s...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA.—Legacy Vacation Resorts (LVR), the highest scoring Certified B Corp hotel company in North America, has just debuted their latest eco-friendly renovation project at the company’s signature Lake Buena Vista property. The multi-million-dollar redevelopment includes enhancements to the resort across the design, guest experience, and sustainability programs. Encompassing 28 three-bedroom villas, the project showcases a seamless integration of the brand persona and core values towards a more regenerative approach to tourism thanks to a variety of elements that lower the overall carbon footprint of the business. Highlights include a new solar panel array, elimination of single-use...