BORREGO SPRINGS, CALIF.—Cwc La Casa Del Zorro LLC, the owners of the upscale 42-acre, 67-key La Casa del Zorro resort in Borrego Springs, Calif., recently decided that spending $1.3 million a year on utility costs was unacceptable. Given the resort’s desert location—the busiest time of the year, thanks to the desert heat, is from November 1 until the end of May—the owners decided that investing in solar technology for heating water and generating electricity made sense. So far just a portion of $3 million committed to solar has been spent but the resort is already experiencing energy savings.The first...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—The upscale Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand is extending a spa-inspired ambiance to guestrooms with the launch of a new bath amenity program designed to elevate the guest experience while also supporting the brand’s commitment to sustainability and reducing operating costs for hotel owners.Now available at Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Wyndham Grand and Wyndham Garden properties throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, the new Blue Harmony personal care bath amenities feature a signature Gingerlily scent and are made with sea botanicals and minerals. Additionally, the amenity line is biodegradable, paraben-free and never tested on animals, adhering...

KENNESAW, GA.—The University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents approved the naming of the Michael A. Leven School of Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality at Kennesaw State University. Michael Leven, a veteran hospitality industry executive and President and CEO of the Georgia Aquarium, made a commitment of $5 million to name Kennesaw State University’s School of Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality. The gift represents the largest single contribution from an individual in the University’s 52-year history.In addition to naming the School, Leven’s philanthropic gift will be used to support an endowed faculty chair as well as scholarships for culinary sustainability and...

MCLEAN, VA.—Partnering with Clean the World, Hilton Worldwide has reaffirmed its global commitment to the recycling and redistribution of used soap and hygiene products to millions of people around the world. With more than 850 hotels currently participating in soap and amenity recycling, Hilton Worldwide properties have donated nearly 600,000 pounds of soap, which have been converted into more than one million new bars to help prevent hygiene-related deaths and illness.Since 2011, Hilton Worldwide has joined with key organizations on soap and amenity bottle recycling programs that help to reduce waste at properties while providing access to basic hygiene...

NATIONAL REPORT—Two years after the final standard of the nine APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meetings Standards—the one focusing on accommodations—was published, and more than three years after the first eight standards were released, adoption of the standards has been mixed. At press time, just one accommodation—the PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.—had achieved certification to standard E2772, the Specification for Evaluation and Selection of Accommodations for Environmentally Sustainable Meetings, Events, Trade Shows, and Conferences. The resort also achieved certification to the ASTM Standard pertaining to the Evaluation and Selection of Venues for Environmentally Sustainable Meetings, Events,...

CHICAGO—The Langham, Chicago announced that it has achieved the LEED Gold level of certification. The LEED rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance. “The Langham, Chicago’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach farther than ever before, and The Langham serves as a prime example of just how...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Assn. (AH&LA) announced the winners of the AH&LA Stars of the Industry Awards for outstanding hotel properties. Awarded annually since 1966, these awards distinguish individual hotels that have developed outstanding programs, events, and campaigns. Winners were chosen in the categories of Community Service, Special Events, Guest Relations, and Good Earthkeeping. In the Good Earthkeeping category, the small property award winner is the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid, N.Y. In the large property category the winner is the Lake Lawn Resort & Spa in Delavan, Wis.“These properties represent the best of the...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its outstanding efforts in food recovery. The entertainment and hospitality company received two national Food Recovery Challenge awards for reducing food waste and, in the process, conserving natural resources.“MGM’s zero waste leadership has turned mountains of food scraps into compost to help fight waste and climate change,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest.MGM Resorts and MGM Grand Las Vegas are two of the 32 recipients that received the 2014 Food Recovery Challenge Award, and the only recipients in Nevada. The award was...

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—Due to the severity of California’s drought, the state’s experts have been managing water resources to deal with the effects of the drought and prepare for the next one. As part of the solution, the California Energy Commission approved standards for water appliances which will save more than 10 billion gallons of water in the first year. Over time, the water savings is estimated to reach 105 billion gallons per year—a savings of more than three times the annual amount of water used by San Francisco.“California is serious about water conservation and is committed to consistent and clear...

NEW YORK—W Hotels Worldwide, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., announced a new partnership with global music artist and entrepreneur will.i.am and The Coca-Cola Co. to shake up the hotel industry, one guestroom at a time. Together, they are bringing the EKOCYCLE brand to W Hotel rooms around the world, changing sheets and changing minds. W Hotels will soon begin re-making their beds with new EKOCYCLE branded sheets, which are made in part with rPET (polyester partially made using recycled plastic). Rolling out into W Hotels in North America first with global properties to follow, each king size...