ISLANDS OF LORETO, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, MEXICO—When the Danzante Golf Course opens at the Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto on February 14, it will operate with the least amount of environmental impact possible. The 7,400-yard Rees Jones-designed course on the Islands of Loreto, Baja California Sur in Mexico, was designed to work with the natural beauty and serenity of its surrounding environment. Where possible, plants that were removed during the construction of the course were transplanted and relocated throughout the golf course to maintain native landscaping. Those plants that were unable to be transplanted were used...

BOULDER, COLO.—Eco-Products has earned an innovation award for its new compostable plates that solve a predicament for party-goers: how to hold food and drink while shaking hands and greeting other guests.Eco-Products’ Gala Cocktail Plates feature a patented finger grip that allows guests to hold their food and drink in one hand while simultaneously being able to eat and greet with the other. Made from sugarcane, the plates are 100 percent renewable and certified as compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI).The plates earned Eco-Products the Innovation in Convenience Award from the Foodservice Packaging Institute and QSR magazine. Simple & Effective “The...

KEY WEST, FLA.—Waste Management and Casa Marina, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, teamed up to make the Seventh Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit a successful, first-ever Zero Waste Event in Florida.At the Summit held in Key West which concluded December 3, Waste Management and hotel personnel worked together to recycle 90.3 percent (1,713 pounds) of all waste generated by the more than 400 attendees at the summit. The remaining 9.7 percent of waste was processed at a waste-to-energy facility and produced renewable energy in the form of electricity.Traditional recyclables (431 pounds)—including cardboard, paper, and plastic items and aluminum...

STAMFORD, CONN.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced another step in the company’s journey to be more sustainable by launching new, easy-to-use guides to help associates select from a wide variety of pristine catch that protects their local communities and the environment while maintaining and even enhancing the culinary experience for guests at restaurants and food and beverage services around the world.  Created in partnership with the New England Aquarium, and through collaboration across Starwood’s global business units, the back-of-house poster, purchasing pocket guide and supplemental instruction materials guide associates to species they should avoid in their region and...

OSHKOSH, WIS.—Continental Girbau Inc. recently partnered with Commercial Laundry Systems of the Rockies, in Johnstown, Colo., to provide on-premise laundry equipment throughout Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. As a result, the company will represent Continental’s complete line of on-premise washer-extractors, drying tumblers and ironers.Established in 2015 by Pete Valconesi, Commercial Laundry Systems of the Rockies serves Montana, Colorado and Wyoming. The Commercial Laundry Systems of the Rockies team holds years of industry knowledge directly related to on-premise laundry renovation and development.“Clients rely on Commercial Laundry Systems of the Rockies for unrivaled customer care, high-performance laundry equipment, replacement parts, and technical...

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK—Thanks to a years-long, and ever-expanding effort by restaurants in Yellowstone National Park, visitors can be assured of a wide range of fresh, healthy food choices. And the National Park Service (NPS) has recognized that ongoing initiative with a 2015 Environmental Achievement Award.Each of the 17 restaurants operated by Yellowstone National Park Lodges offers menu items that use as many sustainable ingredients as possible. In 2014, the percentage of sustainable sourced food in the park was 38 percent, and that number continues to grow as more local farmers and suppliers make more choices available. Each restaurant also...

LONDON—Hilton Worldwide announced it is the first global hotel company to serve Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) eco-labelled and certified cod in its restaurants in 41 properties across the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Belgium. These properties have achieved MSC chain of custody certified status, and Hilton’s 41 remaining luxury and full-service owned, leased and managed properties in these countries are on track to receive MSC chain of custody certification by 2017. This step is part of Hilton’s strategy toward more responsible and sustainable sourcing around the world. Last April, the company implemented a shark fin ban across all restaurants and...

NEW ALBANY, MISS.—Master-Bilt, manufacturer and supplier of a full line of premier commercial refrigeration, introduced their new Alternative Industrial Refrigerant (AIR) Initiative which outlines the use of Hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) blended refrigerants and foaming agents to meet the EPA’s Significant New Alternative Policy (SNAP) guidelines.A blended refrigerant is a combination of two or more single component refrigerants that drastically reduce global warming potential when compared to traditional hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The new refrigerants are approved and supported by major component manufacturers and have similar energy efficiency and performance characteristics of HFCs. The blends are non-volatile and non-flammable and can easily be...

BLOOMINGTON, MINN.—The JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America has opened. The property, which was designed in collaboration with award-winning architects DLR Group and acclaimed hospitality industry leader Design Force, is the JW Marriott brand’s first in Minneapolis and is part of Mall of America’s recent luxury expansion. Executive leadership from the property along with officials from the City of Bloomington, Mall of America, hotel developers Mortenson, and hotel ownership Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) hosted an event as the hotel opened its doors to the public for the first time.“The Twin Cities region is particularly well-suited for our continued...

TORONTO—Totally Green Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Cam Carver as Chief Executive Officer effective November 2, 2015. Carver was most recently the Co-founder and CEO of Temporal Power Ltd. As CEO, Cam Carver succeeds Shawn Dym, who will continue to serve as an active member of Totally Green’s Board of Directors.“The Board is excited and proud to welcome Cam Carver as CEO,” said Shawn Dym. “We’ve brought on a proven leader at a time when Totally Green is in a strong position in the marketplace. He brings more than 15 years of experience as a...