PHOENIX—The Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa has committed to setting the standard among resorts for an environmentally friendly operation with the implementation of an all-encompassing green program. “Adopting environmentally friendly practices is no longer an option but a necessity, and at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa we are committed to becoming an industry leader in this growing trend,” said Julia Thorn, director of corporate communications. “That’s why we have developed our Green Initiative that is extraordinarily comprehensive and sustainable, covering every aspect of our operations and every department of the resort, from water-saving plans and biodegradable supplies to organic...

WHITE HAVEN, PA.—Thanks to a grant from the State of Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Program, the Inn at Hickory Run here is getting closer to its goal of erecting a 6.6-kilowatt wind turbine. Construction is expected to begin within the next two weeks. Combined with its use of geothermal heating and air-conditioning, as well as high efficiency lighting and computer control systems, the turbine will help the inn achieve 80 percent of its energy from off-grid, renewable energy sources. David Pfeil, who owns the inn with his wife Nancy, says the wind turbine will cost $60,000, with the State of Pennsylvania...

DENVER—The Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center has begun to implement a comprehensive sustainability program designed to minimize the hotel’s overall carbon footprint and decrease its environmental impact. “Sparked by the passion of our staff and our customers, and Hyatt’s desire to be a part of the solution, we felt compelled to develop and implement long-term sustainability programs that would have lasting, positive results,” commented John Schafer, general manager of Hyatt Regency Denver. “Living in Colorado and waking up to one of the most magnificent views every day is a constant reminder of our connection to the...

NEW YORK—New York-based developer Time Equities, Inc. hosted a groundbreaking event on June 23 to celebrate Lower Manhattan’s iconic hotel and residential skyscraper, 50 West Street. More than 100 guests, including politicians, community officials and project partners, joined Time Equities to break ground on the site of the 65-story tower. The green residence and boutique hotel, which anticipates LEED-Gold certification when completed, will include sustainable technologies such as a green roof, water-efficient plumbing fixtures, automated blinds, and energy control systems. Demolition waste will be recycled, and the new construction materials will be sustainable and rapidly renewable. Both hotel...

MARATHON, TEXAS—Newspapers guests read at the Eve’s Garden Organic Bed & Breakfast and Ecology Resource Center will definitely get recycled. In fact, they may even end up in a wall or one of the many domed structures at the five-room inn here in Marathon, Texas. The owners—Kate Thayer and Clyde Curry—don’t like to waste anything. Bottles and cans are recycled, kitchen and yard waste are composted, and energy is saved when sheets and towels are hung out to dry on a clothesline. When you put the words “organic” and “ecology” in your inn’s name, you are expected to deliver and...

LAKE PLACID, N.Y.—The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, located on Main Street in Lake Placid, N.Y., has installed a green roof. On June 10, the 3,400-square-foot GreenGrid Green Roof System was installed atop a portion of the Golden Arrow roof; the project was completed June 11 by Weston Solutions, Inc. and GreenGrid, the company responsible for growing and installing the green roof system. While many businesses are taking steps to becoming green, The Golden Arrow is currently the only resort in New York and the North Country to offer a green roof. The Golden Arrow’s green roof will provide many...

STAR ISLAND, BAHAMAS—There have been many changes in the few years since “travel” and “sustainable” first appeared in the same sentence. Emerging technologies coupled with mounting consumer demand have given us thousands of green travel options—from luxury eco-lodges (that make a negligible impact on their ecosystems) to carbon-neutral resorts, tours and airlines. A new leader in this green revolution is Star Island, a private-island destination currently under development in the Out Islands of the Bahamas. It will open its doors in late 2009. “This is a very exciting time in the field of green technology and, by extension, sustainable tourism,”...

CHICAGO—The InterContinental Chicago, a 792-room hotel located on the Windy City’s Magnificent Mile, has just obtained its Energy Star rating from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. The hotel, in a building constructed in 1929, is the first hotel in Chicago to earn the rating. The energy performance of commercial and industrial facilities is scored on a 1 to 100 scale and those facilities that achieve a score of 75 or higher are eligible for the Energy Star, indicating that they are among the top 25 percent of facilities in the country for energy performance. The...

TALLAHASSEE, FLA.—Florida Governor Charlie Crist last week applauded Walt Disney Parks & Resorts for its achievement of 100 percent of its lodging properties earning the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Green Lodging Program designation, covering all 24 of its resort hotels. “I applaud Disney’s compelling participation in the Florida Green Lodging Program,” said Governor Crist. “Through its commitment, Disney is demonstrating the importance of environmental stewardship to thousands of employees and millions of guests.” Launched in 2004 by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Florida Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural...

SAN FRANCISCO—Joie de Vivre Hospitality has announced its latest innovation in the hotel world—Domain Hotel—located in Sunnyvale, Calif. After a complete renovation, the former Radisson was re-introduced last month with a new identity fitting with its Santa Clara-meets-Sunnyvale location. One of the few hotels going green in the south bay, the new Domain Hotel, offering 124 rooms and 12 suites on three levels, is decorated in two themes—Tranquility and Awakening—each of which are offered upon check-in, depending on the guest’s preference. If one is interested in Awakening, it’s possible to reserve one of the rooms where the outside is brought...