CHICAGO—In its continuous effort to innovate around sustainability and improve the communities that it calls home around the world, Hyatt Hotels Corp. announced a new relationship with Bloom Energy, a fuel cell technology company known for its unique on-site power generation systems. Hyatt Regency Greenwich has been selected as the recipient of Hyatt’s first 500kW fuel cell, which will provide up to 75 percent of the hotel’s energy load, generating significant cost savings. By generating its own electricity on-site with Bloom Energy, the hotel will reduce its carbon emissions by 40 percent compared to electricity purchased from the grid....

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton Worldwide announced a new GED Assistance benefit that will give thousands of eligible Team Members the opportunity to earn their high school equivalency diploma. The new program marks the largest, most comprehensive high school diploma assistance benefit provided by a major hospitality company in the United States.The GED Assistance program is available to all full-time U.S. Team Members at owned and managed hotels and corporate offices with six months of service or greater. The new benefit will provide one-on-one advising and test preparation support. It will be free of charge for Team Members, and will also cover...

BETHESDA, MD.—This month Marriott International celebrates more than 25 years of its global diversity and inclusion program, along with the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and National Disability Employment Awareness Month in the United States. The company’s recently released 2015 Sustainability Report highlights its support for diversity and inclusion commitments such as these, as well as its recent achievements and initiatives supporting the environment, local communities and youth employment.Marriott spotlights a nonprofit partner that shares its founder’s name—the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities. Celebrating its 25th year, the Foundation’s Bridges from School to Work...

FAJARDO, P.R.—The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has named the winners for the inaugural CHIEF Awards honoring member hotels and tourism-related enterprises for best practices in Business Operations, Sales & Marketing and Sustainable Practices. Awardees were announced at the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) which took place October 2 to 4, 2015 at El Conquistador Resort, A Waldorf AstoriaResort in Puerto Rico.“We have witnessed extreme forward-thinking programs from each of the winning companies who rightfully earned top honors in these important categories,” said Emil Lee, President of CHTA.The resort which earned top honors for the Sustainable Practices...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently reached a significant milestone in bringing the building community together by releasing a common definition of a zero energy building, or what is also referred to as a “net zero energy” or “zero net energy” building.After leading an extensive stakeholder engagement process over the past year and a half, the Energy Department released its findings in the recently published “A Common Definition of Zero Energy Buildings,” which states that a Zero Energy Building is “an energy-efficient building where, on a source energy basis, the actual annual delivered energy is less than...

PARIS—In celebration of Global Handwashing Day Hilton Worldwide and Clean the World announced that Hilton Paris Opera is the first ever hotel in continental Europe to partner with Clean the World. Hilton Paris Opera will lead the European rollout of Clean the World by contributing discarded soap and bottled amenities that will be recycled to benefit European citizens who are at risk for hygiene-related illnesses. As the world’s largest soap recycler, Clean the World has contributed to a 30 percent reduction in pre-adolescent deaths from hygiene-related illnesses since 2009. Hilton signed a master agreement with Clean the World earlier...

YOSEMITE, CALIF.—Miraval Resort and Spa, Living Earth Crafts, Two Bunch Palms and Spa Blue at Del Mar were among the top award recipients at the Green Carpet Spa Sustainability Awards, presented by the Green Spa Network at their Annual Congress in Yosemite, Calif.Judges with decades of experience in the industry chose winners in six categories including healthy spa cuisine, innovative green products, and dedicated spa and supply brands—from individuals and companies who are shaping the green spa movement. The judging panel included: Julie Keller Callaghan, Editor-in-Chief, American Spa Magazine; Mary Bemis, Editorial Director, Insider’s Guide to Spas; Debrianna Berlin,...

NEW YORK—The panelist lineups for the green sessions that will be part of the inaugural HX: The Hotel Experience (formerly International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show) and Boutique Design New York (BDNY) have been finalized. The HX sessions will take place over three days, November 8 to 10, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The BDNY sessions will take place also at the Javits from November 8 to 9.Planned for Sunday, November 8 from noon to 12:45 p.m. is “The Numbers Behind the Trends—Gauging Traveler/Hotelier Reaction to the Greening of Lodging.” As awareness of sustainability has grown among...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, announced that it reached its carbon emissions goal six years ahead of schedule. The company achieved a 20 percent reduction in carbon emissions (measured on a per square foot basis), well-surpassing its goal. The reduction is equivalent to saving more than 14 million gallons of gasoline. “This is a huge achievement for a company with such a wide and diverse global portfolio, and especially one in the hospitality industry,” said Stephen P. Holmes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Wyndham Worldwide. “Our commitment to sustainability as one of our top...

LAAMU, MALDIVES—In early 2014, Six Senses Laamu, in collaboration with Ocean Dimensions, launched a partnership with The Manta Trust and became a valuable supporter of its flagship program—the Maldivian Manta Ray Project. The Manta Trust was formed in 2011 to coordinate global research and conservation efforts for mantas, their close relatives and their habitat.While on site at Six Senses Laamu, The Manta Trust team dives twice daily at the nearby dive site—Hithadhoo Corner—where they monitor the atoll’s unique reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) population’s cleaning, courtship and mating behavior. By simply photographing black and white spot patterns found on...