BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. released its 2014 Sustainability Report—available this year as 10 separate and concise issue reports—sharing the company’s progress against a 2007 baseline, including a nearly 13 percent decrease in water intensity, 11 percent decrease in energy intensity, and a 12 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions intensity. One of Marriott’s key environmental goals is to achieve a 20 percent reduction in energy and water intensity by 2020. “Our sustainability strategy is critical to the growth and success of our communities, our company, and our efforts to help protect our planet’s natural resources,” said Arne Sorenson, President...

HORSHAM, PA.—Roxanna Lopez, an Operations Manager for LRA Worldwide in the Audits and Inspections Group, has achieved LEED Accredited Professional (AP) status from the United States Green Building Council. Lopez’s certificate is in the Building Operations & Maintenance specialty. Previously, Lopez was recognized as a LEED Green Associate; the LEED AP credential signifies an advanced depth of knowledge in green building practices along with the ability to work in the specialized LEED Rating System.Lopez has been at the forefront of LRA’s work in the sustainability field, developing the on-site verification process for the Green Key Eco-Rating program, the hotel...

DALTON, GA.—Tandus Centiva, a Tarkett Co., announced that its ethos products, ethos modular and Powerbond ethos cushion have completed an Environmental Health Statement (EHS). An EHS is a third-party reviewed declaration of content and material assessment for building products. The material assessment and review of content was performed by the Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency (EPEA) International, the scientific institute founded by Dr. Michael Braungart. The EHS is designed to thoroughly address ingredient disclosure, possible human and environmental health impacts as well as post-use considerations. The EHS discloses, within a rating system, whether or not an ingredient may pose a...

DES PLAINES, ILL.—The Geberit Monolith floor-mount toilet was chosen as the Best New Product for 2014 at the recent meeting of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), New Jersey Chapter.“We are honored that Geberit Monolith was voted ‘best’ by professional designers attending the ASID show,” says John Fitzgerald, Vice President of Marketing for Geberit North America. “It is especially gratifying to know that our efforts to design and introduce new bathroom products that promote high design, value and economy are recognized by the design industry. We are proud to be part of ASID and their commitment to the...

ITHACA, N.Y.—A new study from Cornell University has found that hotels gain a revenue benefit when they are certified under the LEED sustainable building program. By comparing LEED certified hotels with a competitive set of non-certified hotels, the study found substantial increases in average daily rates and revenue per available room for the LEED hotels. The study, “The Impact of LEED Certification on Hotel Performance,” by Matthew Walsman, Rohit Verma, and Suresh Muthulingam, is available at no charge from the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) at the School of Hotel Administration.“The hotel industry has embraced environmental sustainability and...

NEW YORK—Leading textile manufacturer Carnegie has introduced a line of acoustic sheers from Swiss textile innovator Creation Baumann. Using breakthrough yarn and weaving technology these lightweight textiles significantly contribute to sound reduction in a space while preserving transparency. At a time when open spaces are becoming the norm across all market sectors and traditional noise absorbers such as heavy drapes and acoustical panels have been replaced with hard surfaces, acoustic problems have become a great source of user dissatisfaction.Research shows that noise negatively affects productivity, learning, healing and well-being. This first collection of acoustic sheers includes three patterns: Alphacoustic,...

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK—Featuring a lineup of top architects, historians and preservation specialists, Yellowstone National Park will be the site this fall of a two-day event focused on the preservation of outstanding rustic architecture. Scheduled for September 30 to October 3, 2014, the Conference on Preservation & Stewardship of Historic Places will be presented through a partnership between the National Park Service, Yellowstone concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts, the Montana Preservation Alliance and American Institute of Architects Historic Resource Committee. The conference will become an annual event.The event will take place at the Old Faithful Lodge Recreational Hall, just a...

PEARL RIVER, N.Y.—For the 19th consecutive year, Hunter Douglas has won more awards than any other company in the Window Covering Manufacturers Assn. (WCMA) Product Awards. This year the company captured 30 honors out of the 56 conferred and earned the Product of the Year for the 14th year.In addition, Hunter Douglas swept three product categories: “Green Products: Energy Efficiency,” “Green Products: Sustainability,” and “Verticals and Panel Tracks” and won 10 out of 12 Merchandising Awards.  “We’re delighted with the very strong endorsement that we received from the Window Covering Manufacturers Association’s independent panel of judges,” said Marv Hopkins,...

STAMFORD, CONN.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced plans for a dual-branded hotel development in Columbus, Ohio, featuring its Aloft and Element brands. Owned by Indus Hotels, the 136-room Aloft Columbus and 123-room Element Columbus will be located adjacent to The Ohio State University, minutes from downtown Columbus. Marking the debut of both the Aloft and Element brands in Columbus, the hotels are slated to open in early 2017.“Our fast-growing Aloft and Element brands are a perfect fit for the lively city of Columbus and will help meet the demand for high-caliber lodging generated by The Ohio State University...

NEW YORK—Green Lodging News has finalized its speaker lineup for the five green seminars it is coordinating at the International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show. The seminars will take place over three days beginning Saturday, November 8 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. The following are the session titles: Crafting a Career in Sustainability in Hospitality & Tourism—Sustainability Trends in Hospitality Education; Hotel Energy Management All Stars; Gone Platinum! A First-Time Ever Gathering of Leaders of Three LEED Platinum Hotels; The Power of Green Certification—Updates from Lodging’s Leading Certifiers; and Waste Management Champions Making...