PROVINCETOWN, MASS.—With the recent ban on plastic bags throughout Provincetown, a push towards more environmentally friendly solutions is sweeping town as it prepares for the summer season. The Cape Colony Inn, located in Provincetown’s East End, is working to help in this movement by offering complimentary tote bags to guests checking into the hotel. The bags are a high quality material and perfect for carrying purchases from shopping or supplies for the beach.“I am excited about this new initiative for our guests at Cape Colony Inn after Provincetown’s environmentally friendly decision,” said Steve Sleeper, General Manager. “The hotel has...

KAUAI, HAWAII—The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, located on the island of Kaua‘i, announced the completion of a multimillion-dollar project to install a cogeneration plant and reduce its carbon footprint in the Hawaiian Islands. The cogen plant will generate electricity and steam for the 18.5 acre Kaua‘i hotel, powering the resort’s eight buildings, heating water in guest villas as well as the resort’s four pools and three whirlpools. It is the first instance in the Hawaiian Islands where a cogen system has the capacity to generate up to 100 percent of a resort’s energy needs.Kaua‘i’s primary source of electrical...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp. released its first-ever corporate social responsibility report in conjunction with its annual “Serve Day.” The report, “The Business of Caring,” highlights the company’s commitment to investing in its associates, serving its communities and conserving the environment.“At Marriott Vacations Worldwide we have a tremendous culture where one of our core values is to ‘always do the right thing,’” said Stephen P. Weisz, President and CEO of Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp. “We are proud to provide our inaugural Corporate Social Responsibility report that showcases our spirit to serve the communities and the lives of those around...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Wyndham Vacation Ownership (WVO), the world’s largest vacation ownership company and a member of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies received LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program for the company’s Wyndham Branson Preview Center at 240 Terrace Boulevard in Branson, Mo. LEED is a third-party certification program and premier benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.Formerly a vacant medical facility, the three-story, 33,000-square-foot facility underwent renovations last year that included environmentally conscious construction and design, an energy-efficient HVAC system and lighting, and new landscaping....

HONG KONG—Burba Hotel Network (BHN), Horwath HTL, and Stiles Capital Events, co-hosts and organizers of the annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), announced that entries for the HICAP 2015 Sustainable Hotel Awards are now being accepted.  The deadline for Awards submissions is July 31, 2015. The 26th annual HICAP will be held October 14 to 16, 2015, at the InterContinental Hong Kong.The HICAP Sustainable Hotel Awards were launched in 2007 with the aim of recognizing hotel operators and developers in the Asia Pacific region who demonstrate exemplary sustainable practices and environmentally and culturally responsible development. Through these awards...

YOSEMITE, CALIF.—The Green Spa Network (GSN) is now accepting registrations for its 8th Annual Congress, the only spa event in the industry designed to define sustainability issues and inspire solutions. With the theme Moving Mountains: The Power of Change, this year’s event will be held at the award-winning Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite, Calif., September 26 to 30.Building on seven years of success, this year’s Congress attendees can look forward to the rich personal and professional development the event has historically fostered, tapping the infinite knowledge of nature and the incredible legacy of preservation that Yosemite is known for. Back...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, announced a three-year collaboration with Disney to get half a million kids into national parks by 2017. Disney will continue its role as lead sponsor of the Foundation’s Open OutDoors for Kids program and support the Find Your Park campaign.“Our national parks provide transformative, life-changing experiences that everyone deserves to have,” said Dan Wenk, Interim President of the National Park Foundation. “Thanks to Disney’s continued support, already more than 100,000 kids have had the opportunity to explore these treasured places, many for the first time. We are...

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA—In conjunction with Earth Day, TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel website, announced that it has extended its successful TripAdvisor GreenLeaders program into Australia and New Zealand. Developed in consultation with the United Nations Environment Programme, Ecotourism Australia and EarthCheck, the TripAdvisor GreenLeaders program helps travelers around the world plan and book greener trips by highlighting hotels and B&Bs engaging in environmentally-friendly practices. More than 8,000 properties in 67 countries, including 170 in Australia and New Zealand, have been awarded the TripAdvisor GreenLeader status, making it the largest green hotels program in the world. Properties participating in the program range...

SINGAPORE—Hilton Worldwide announced that it will reduce the environmental impact of meetings and events held at more than 90 hotels and resorts in Asia Pacific through an expanded carbon emissions solution, the Clean Air Program. Starting on May 1, meeting planners and delegates have been able to play their part in reducing carbon emissions and deliver more sustainable experiences to their customers.When customers choose any of Hilton’s participating hotels as meeting venues, the Clean Air Program will provide a calculation of the carbon emissions of the event at no cost to the customers. Hilton will then purchase the equivalent...

NEW YORK—A quick thinking hotel Security Supervisor at New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania is being hailed a hero after he saved the life of a man suffering a heart attack. On the night of Friday, May 8, Ruben Hernandez had just begun his shift as Security Supervisor at the hotel when he received a call for help. The call was for an unconscious male, not breathing and not showing a pulse. Ruben immediately removed the on-site automated external defibrillator (AED) from its box, and responded to the location of the call.Upon arrival, he and his fellow Security Officer, Danny Sandoval...