AVON, COLO.—Colorado’s Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa announced that it has been awarded Silver Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The Westin Riverfront is the first hotel in Colorado to achieve this coveted green accolade and only the ninth hotel in the country to earn Silver LEED status. The Beaver Creek resort, which opened a year ago this week, is also the first Silver LEED Certified hotel in the Westin brand, which includes more than 160 hotels around the world. “East West Partners is proud to have been a leader in...

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The environmentally-focused Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte has opened, becoming the first LEED-built hotel for Ritz-Carlton and the first for greater Charlotte. The contemporary 146-room hotel features a 13,000-square-foot Wellness Center, 12,000 square feet of meeting and conference space featuring recycled aluminum conference tables and green meetings as a standard, and a slate of innovations for frequent travelers. An eco-focused rarity among top-tier branded hotels, The Ritz-Carlton is located in Charlotte’s thriving Uptown, within walking distance of the city’s most popular sports, entertainment and business destinations. Highlights of the Property • A green roof vegetated with 18,000 plants insulating the building, slowing...

LOS ANGELES—Last week, officials at the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles announced that the property had received the city’s first Green Seal Silver Certification. In a press release announcing the honor, it was stated that the hotel expects to save approximately $225,000 a year because of its energy-saving and waste reduction initiatives. However, according to Steve Silva, chief engineer at the 1,354-room hotel, the Green Team has “just scratched the surface” of what can be saved and he expects the $225,000 number to eventually grow to $1 million a year. According to the online publication “blogdowntown,” the certification of...

STATE COLLEGE, PA.—The development team of The P Hotel and Spa announced suspension of construction of The P Hotel and Pure Spa project at Waddle Road and Colonnade Boulevard pending stabilization of the economy. The developers had been pursuing LEED Gold for the development here in State College. “Other components of the Waddle Road development will continue as planned but the owners have decided that we need to put The P on hold pending a better understanding of how the economy is going to unfold,” said Benjamin Heim, CEO of Tricore Group, LLC and lead developer on the project. “We...

SEATTLE—The Olive 8 building, a 39-story hotel/condominium building located in downtown Seattle, has officially received LEED Silver from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a first for hotel/condominium buildings in the Seattle area. As the first mixed-use hotel and residential project to be LEED certified in Seattle, Olive 8 has been recognized as a high-performance building that is a responsible and efficient place to live, vacation and work. The cornerstone Hyatt at Olive 8 hotel located within the Olive 8 building is now also one of only 20 hotels in the United States to be officially designated “green” by...

NAPA VALLEY, CALIF.—Silverado Resort’s frenetic executive chef Peter Pahk believes some things must be done slowly. Pahk has been instrumental in driving the Napa Valley resort’s numerous food-related environmental initiatives, and he has realized that to be a true leader you cannot expect overnight results. One of his many initiatives is to embrace organizations such as Slow Foods Napa and Slow Foods USA, organizations committed to identifying, preserving and promoting small agricultural producers and to educate the public about distinctive regional food traditions. The resort’s membership in Slow Foods aptly illustrates the commitment of Pahk and other resort leaders in...

TETIAROA, FRENCH POLYNESIA—Located on the French Polynesian atoll of Tetiaroa and a product of the late Marlon Brando’s vision, construction on The Brando has officially begun with completion slated for late 2011. Construction of the luxury eco-resort has commenced with the official authorization from the Tahitian government after several years of studying the impact of construction on the environment. The Brando will feature: 47 deluxe bungalow villas (each with private plunge pools), a spa, fitness center, community pool, as well as various island activities including scuba diving and archaeological tours of royal Tahitian sites. Construction of The Brando began with...

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—When The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte opens in October, it will be the first LEED hotel to open in the greater Charlotte, N.C. area and the first Ritz-Carlton property anywhere to earn the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED designation (the company is also pursuing LEED for its new Lake Tahoe property expected to open later this year). The 146-room hotel has been designed to earn LEED Gold certification once it opens, to be followed by LEED Gold for Existing Buildings certification a year later. The luxury hotel, which is managed by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co., will minimize its environmental impact...

STOWE, VT.—One of Stowe’s oldest inns has gotten fresh and gone green by joining the Vermont Fresh Network. By partnering with local farmers and food producers to add native ingredients to its restaurants, they’re helping strengthen and preserve the state’s agriculture base. Going local is also part of their long-term sustainability plan. “The name ‘Vermont Fresh’ says it all—the freshest, highest quality ingredients, all grown or produced right here in Vermont,” said innkeeper Patti Clark. “Customers have long recognized the Vermont brand means quality. Here at the Green Mountain Inn, diners now have food choices with meaning, value and a...

PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC—The World Travel & Tourism Council announced that Grupo PUNTACANA, the parent company of the PUNTACANA Resort & Club, located in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, has been selected as the winner of the 2009 Tourism for Tomorrow Award in the Destination Stewardship category. The honor was granted due to the company’s dedication and success in developing a program of commitment for sustainable tourism, and for strengthening the economic and social wellbeing of their product and surrounding region. The accolade recognizes the protection of natural and cultural heritage, social and economic benefits to local people, and environmentally-friendly...