NEW ORLEANS—The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) has made sustainability a top priority and is taking steps to reduce environmental impacts. While the coronavirus pandemic impacted hosting events in 2020, NOENMCC took advantage of the downtime and made critical facility upgrades that will reduce their environmental footprint, and in turn, help make the facility a leader in sustainable events. “As one of the top convention center facilities in the nation, it is crucial that we meet and exceed national standards when it comes to sustainability and environmental impact,” said Michael J. Sawaya, Convention Center President. “Nowadays, sustainability...

LIBERTYVILLE, ILL.—Electrical services and energy solutions provider Aetna Corp. and global electric vehicle charging solutions company EVBox Group announced a strategic partnership to help grow EV charging infrastructure in the United States, with a focus on New England and the Mid-Atlantic states—an area Aetna Corp. has served for more than 90 years. Aetna’s expertise in serving retail, hospitality and grocery establishments is expected to play a key role in delivering EV charging to drivers in the places they frequent most. “There has never been a better time for businesses to invest in EV charging, and we are pleased we can now offer EVBox...

NEW YORK—SolarWindow Technologies, Inc., developer of transparent electricity-generating coatings and processes which generate electricity on plastics and glass, announced the planned appointment of Company Director, John Rhee, to President of SolarWindow. Rhee additionally continues to serve as President of the Company’s Asian subsidiary where he has actively established SolarWindow operations, strengthened and expanded the management team, and supported important technology advancements. “In the upcoming quarters my first order of business is to build on our recent record-setting achievements and further strengthen SolarWindow technology capabilities by boosting power output while lowering costs. We will concurrently deepen our management team with global...

WHATCOM COUNTY, WASH.—With the success of its exclusive beachfront resort in Costa Rica, Igloo Mountain Lodge announced its upcoming expansion into the United States. Construction on 50 of its uniquely styled self-check-in air form domes and a geodesic greenhouse used for social space will commence in Washington State in early 2022. Having stayed open throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Igloo Mountain Lodge has selected a site in Whatcom County Wash. as the location for its first U.S. branch, costing around $5 million to complete. Visitor spending was $705.7 million in Whatcom County in 2018, with lodging accounting for over 10 percent. The...

LAS VEGAS—Sands’ Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report summarizes its commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen through key performance metrics in the report’s namesake areas. Measuring and reporting ESG performance has helped drive results, supporting the management of the company’s utility consumption, ensuring the disciplined execution of efficiency projects and compelling it to explore innovations to its resort operations. Along with the key metrics covered in the ESG Report, Sands is currently in the process of broadening its company disclosures to incorporate an even wider range of metrics. The areas of emphasis in environmental performance, all reflected in the report, include...

GREENOUGH, MONT.—Created by the founders of The Resort at Paws Up and set in the heart of Montana’s Blackfoot River Valley, the green o is slated to open on June 1, 2021, as a year-round, off-the-grid contemporary luxury retreat, primed for small-group buyouts. An array of customizable itineraries ideal for intimate weddings, milestone celebrations, incentive retreats, family office meetings, private board meeting getaways and more will be available. Designed for maximum privacy and seclusion, the green o will offer exclusive experiences in 12 design-forward accommodations—from the elevated Tree Haus to the Green Haus with a rooftop deck perfect for stargazing, the Round Haus with a sunken living room and the Light Haus with a glass-enclosed bedroom....

CINCINNATI, OHIO—If you were to look at all of the companies servicing the hospitality industry, there are few that have reached the level of sustainability as Cincinnati-based Melink Corp. The list of its accomplishments is long and so too are its future goals—from the headquarters it operates from to the products and services it offers. The company has been around a while. “I started the company in 1987,” says Steve Melink, Chairman & CEO. “We started as an HVAC company doing commissioning for restaurant chains.” It was not long before Melink saw that many restaurant ventilation systems were running constantly,...

ATLANTA—ASHRAE recently formed a task force to address climate change through responsible decarbonization strategies for the built environment. The ASHRAE Task Force for Building Decarbonization (TFBD) has been established to develop technical resources and provide leadership and guidance in mitigating the negative carbon impact of buildings on the environment and the inhabitants of our planet. “In a similar vein to how ASHRAE took the lead in responding to the energy crisis of the 1970s era and defined the energy efficiency journey, ASHRAE has much to offer with respect to paths for responsible decarbonization strategies,” said 2020-21 ASHRAE President Charles E. Gulledge...

MIAMI—SH Hotels & Resorts, an affiliate of global private investment firm Starwood Capital Group led by Chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht, announced that it will open its award-winning Treehouse Hotel in Miami, the brand’s first U.S. location, in 2025. Treehouse Hotels debuted in London in 2019. Treehouse Hotels are about freedom and fun—the wondrous, childhood feeling of climbing into a treehouse and making up your own rules. Designed to appeal to the child in all of us, Treehouse Brickell will be imaginative and nostalgic—inspired by simple joys. Urban yet earthy. Responsible and caring. Dreamed as a space where travelers can converge...

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA.—​Keystone Property Group​, a leading real estate developer and investor of mixed-use properties, announced it has broken ground on the new Hotel West + Main, part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, a significant milestone in its 520,000-square-foot SORA West development. This $325 million mixed-use project includes a new global headquarters for Fortune 10 pharmaceutical distribution company AmerisourceBergen, the reuse of a 146-year-old historic firehouse, and a 12-story public and private parking garage. A groundbreaking event is scheduled for March 4, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. EST and will also be accessible via livestream​. Keystone has partnered with ​Concord Hospitality Enterprises​...