VANCOUVER, B.C.—Burt’s Bees Canada and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced that they have expanded their WILD FOR BEES partnership by installing 16 uniquely built bee hotels across Canada, including three major bee hotels in downtown Vancouver. This brings the total number of hotels to 21 since the WILD FOR BEES partnership began in 2014.Important national partners on this project include Pollinator Partnership Canada and Sustainable.TO Architecture + Building (Sustainable.TO), a leading Canadian architecture firm. Sustainable.TO led the design and construction of the bee hotels nationwide, while Pollinator Partnership Canada provided strategic guidance and expertise on pollinator health. In Vancouver,...

MINNEAPOLIS—Radisson Blu Mall of America announced that it has officially become the first hotel in the metro Twin Cities area to house honey bee colonies from the University of Minnesota Bee Squad. As the first LEED certified hotel in the greater Twin Cities area, this further enhances the hotel’s commitment to the environment and sustainable programs.Without the pollinating services bees provide, there would be serious challenges in the production of many common foods as 35 percent of global food supply and more than 80 percent of flowering plants are dependent on animal pollination.Inspired by Dr. Marla Spivak at the...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—The 600-room Hilton Cleveland Downtown, currently under construction and scheduled to open in June 2016, is asking Cuyahoga County residents to submit snapshots that will be used to create a unique art installation that will be on display at the new hotel when it officially opens next year. The request is simple: snap a picture of yourself in a place that is authentically Cleveland and upload it to http://www.myclevelandphoto.com.“Our goal is for the faces of the Cuyahoga County community to come together to create a photo-mosaic that will be displayed in the lobby of the hotel,” said Teri...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Hotel Group announced LEED certifiable, new construction prototypes for its two largest and most well-known brands, Days Inn and Super 8. The announcement builds on efforts by the company over the last two years to refine its prototypical offerings, which now span a total of six brands, and provide U.S. owners and developers with complete, turn-key, design-forward solutions.Announced at the 37th Annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, the two prototypes—which focus on style, performance and efficiency—are complemented by updated offerings for the company’s Baymont Inn & Suites, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, Microtel Inn & Suites by...

PHILADELPHIA—Aramark, the $15 billion global provider of food, facilities management, and uniforms, recently announced a new set of animal welfare principles and purchasing commitments that address a broad spectrum of issues impacting the treatment of animals for egg, pork, veal, beef, poultry and dairy products served across Aramark’s U.S. operations.“Our commitments to health, wellness and sustainability are core to our mission of enriching and nourishing lives and include our pledge to responsible purchasing and animal welfare practices,” said Eric J. Foss, Aramark Chairman, President & CEO. “The broad reach of our supply chain provides an opportunity for us to...

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.—Duke Energy Florida has received approval to build, own and operate a 5-megawatt solar facility that will serve the Reedy Creek Improvement District near Orlando. The Reedy Creek Improvement District Board of Supervisors voted to accept a 15-year power-purchase agreement with Duke Energy Florida Solar Solutions LLC, a subsidiary of Duke Energy Florida, to purchase solar energy from the facility. Once constructed, all of the energy from the facility will be sold to the district to meet its energy needs.“Our new solar facility agreement is another example of how we’re always looking at innovative ways to conserve...

OAK BROOK, ILL.—The Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center recently unveiled its Horticultural Gallery. Spearheaded by a new full-time horticulturalist, Karen Paquin, the sustainable ecology program officially kicked off on Earth Day, April 22. Unlike a typical art gallery, the Horticultural Gallery at Oak Brook Hills, an IACC Green Star/Gold Status property, presents a cutting-edge array of eco-friendly initiatives happening outdoors in real time, headlined by the resort’s groundbreaking beekeeping program. The Horticultural Gallery is open to everyone to enjoy and tour—from individual guests to client groups. Paquin, who has been trailblazing in San Francisco’s progressive horticulture...

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO—From fostering orphaned wildlife in the general manager’s private pool to diverting 750 pounds of raw food waste daily to a local hog farmer, Velas Vallarta is committed to environmental sustainability. So, in response to guest interest, Mexico’s Velas Vallarta has launched new complimentary tours showcasing the resort’s relationship with local ecology.“We are certified with EarthCheck and also with TripAdvisor’s GreenLeaders program,” said Donald Willis, Assistant Manager of Operations. “TripAdvisor developed the GreenLeaders program with help from national and international green industry experts including the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Certification Program and the United Nations Environment...

ATLANTA—The importance of building and system commissioning is highlighted in the Technical Program at the ASHRAE 2015 Annual Conference. The conference takes place June 27 through July 1, at the Atlanta Hilton, Atlanta. The conference Technical Program features a strong focus on the design, construction and operation of high performance buildings, refrigeration and the annual Research Summit. Laboratories, refrigeration, fundamentals, applications, systems and equipment round out the program.The program features some 100 sessions, with more than 300 presenters and 104 paper presentations. The most popular track, in terms of sessions submitted and sessions scheduled, is the Building Operation, Maintenance...

ANDERSON, CALIF.—G6 Hospitality, known for its economy lodging brands, Motel 6 and Studio 6 in the United States and Canada, announced another of its Motel 6 properties is now drawing power from the sun. The Motel 6 franchise located in Anderson, Calif., has installed more than 350 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels that are expected to generate 100 percent of energy used by the property.“We are very proud to see our franchise partner’s committed to finding innovative ways to improve our environment,” says Dean Savas, EVP Franchise and International Development at G6 Hospitality. “This solar initiative aligns with our intention...