ITHACA, N.Y.—The hotel industry will be able to compare ranges of energy and water use, as well as carbon footprint, using a new tool from the Center for Hospitality Research (CHR). Developed by researchers Howard Chong and Eric Ricaurte, the “Hotel Sustainability Tool 2015” is available from the CHR at no charge. Chong is an assistant professor at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, and Ricaurte is the founder of Greenview and an adjunct instructor at New York University's Tisch Center.Chong and Ricaurte developed the benchmark ranges using aggregate input for 4,725 hotel properties from 11 international hotel...

JACKSON HOLE, WYO.—Jackson Hole’s award-winning Bentwood Inn has teamed up with Tesla Motors to provide Tesla Destination Charging, an increasingly desirable amenity. The decision to add the new charging station was easy, according to innkeepers Bob and Virginia Schrader. “Environmental sustainability and energy conservation are two of our core principles.” The inn, built in 1995 and constructed using massive 200 year old logs sustainably harvested from the Great Yellowstone Fire of 1988, is rated among the top Inns in Jackson Hole by Trip Advisor after achieving their Gold rating for environmental standards. The Bentwood Inn is the only Select Registry...

LAS VEGAS—The Green Parking Council (GPC) announced the first seven parking facilities in the United States to achieve Green Garage Certification, a comprehensive sustainability standard for existing and new parking facilities launched in 2015 and evaluating 48 elements of garage operation, programs, structure, and technology. The parking garage at the Charles Square Hotel in Cambridge, Mass., is among the seven to be certified. The Green Garage Certification program will be delivered and promoted globally by the Green Business Certification, Inc., the certification body for the U.S. Green Building Council’s global LEED green building rating system. “Cars are getting smarter, people are...

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA—Voluntourism and giving back while on vacation has long been a popular activity for conscientious adult travelers throughout the world but now a new generation of travelers are getting in on the act following the launch of a unique ‘Volunteenism’ program catered specifically for teens.Beaches Resorts, the family-focused brand of Sandals Resorts International (SRI), is expanding its voluntourism work with Island Impact, a new program set to launch in the Caribbean islands of Jamaica and the Turks and Caicos that allows students to earn community service hours while undertaking community work on their all-inclusive vacation.Students can embark...

STAMFORD, CONN.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced it has reduced energy use by 12.08 percent, carbon emissions by 16.07 percent and water use by 17.26 percent across all owned, managed and franchised properties from 2008 through 2014. The reductions stem from Starwood’s 30/20 by 20 environmental goals, launched in 2009, to cut energy use by 30 percent and water use by 20 percent by 2020 globally. In 2013, Starwood added a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 30 percent during the same timeframe.“We’re pleased with the progress and are encouraged by the reductions we made while maintaining an...

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CALIF.—Having achieved its initial goal of reinvigorating a historic property, the ownership group of Two Bunch Palms Spa Resort has retained Maxim Hotel Brokerage, Inc. to represent them in the sale of the asset. The iconic Two Bunch Palms Spa Resort located in Desert Hot Springs, Calif., is 15 minutes from the Palm Springs International Airport. Two Bunch Palms, the oldest hot mineral spa resort, is celebrating its 75-year anniversary by commissioning a 3.5-acre solar farm.The resort recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation to update and expand its rooms, restaurant, yoga, meeting facilities and IT infrastructure....

SOMERVILLE, MASS.—You’ve heard of a company’s carbon footprint. Now it’s time for the chemical footprint. Despite growing regulatory efforts, businesses around the world continue to use chemicals of high concern to human health and environment. Formaldehyde and toxic phthalates in flooring are but two examples of hazardous chemicals that have caused health issues for consumers and financial and reputation problems for companies and their products.Now, a growing number of companies are leading the way by voluntarily phasing out toxic chemicals, demonstrating how they can operate just as efficiently using safer alternatives. However, until now investors and companies have had...

AMSTERDAM—More than half (52 percent) of all global travelers report that they are likely to choose a destination based on its social or environmental impact in 2015. Findings from a survey of 32,000 travelers across 16 countries by Booking.com reveal that attitudes towards sustainable travel are evolving.While only 10 percent of respondents took a traditional sustainable trip in 2014 (defined as an eco-tour, a volunteering trip, a farm stay, a camping trip or a trip to learn about new cultures), this year will see the majority of global travelers being influenced by an intention to reduce their environmental impact,...

ATLANTA—The Green Meeting Industry Council Sustainable Meetings Conference wrapped up in Atlanta last week. The annual event, which drew approximately 200 attendees, was held at the Westin Peachtree Plaza. Highlights included keynote speeches by Laura Turner Seydel, daughter of Ted Turner and chairperson of the Captain Planet Foundation, and Derreck Kayongo, founder of the Global Soap Project. Additional highlights included educational session discussions on topics ranging from the APEX/ASTM meeting standards to best practices at green hotels and venues.Seydel kicked off the event by addressing some of the topics she is most passionate about. Environmental education for children and...

LOS ANGELES—Portola Hotel & Spa, which currently holds the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED certification for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance, has completed the recertification process. This recertification represents a continuation of the eco-friendly initiatives begun in 2009 when the initial certification began.Portola Hotel & Spa participated in the USGBC’s Recertification Beta Pilot Program, which has a specific team focused on the hospitality industry. This makes Portola the very first Beta participant coming from the EBOM 2008 rating system and hotel to undergo the recertification process.“We are honored to have been chosen as the first participant in the...