MADRID, SPAIN—The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and the Tour Operators’ Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development (TOI) recently announced their merger, as approved by the boards of directors of each organization.“While retaining our vital DNA as a neutral and independent arbiter of standards for sustainability in travel and tourism, which is well established in our bylaws and organizational structure, the GSTC from our inception has welcomed the participation of all subsectors within travel and tourism,” said Randy Durband, GSTC’s CEO. “Tour operators uniquely touch all facets of the tourism value chain and therefore can play a vital role in...

ATLANTA—IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) and Carr City Centers announce a new InterContinental Hotels & Resorts property in Washington, D.C. The 278-room new build hotel will be part of The Wharf, a world-class, mixed-use waterfront development located on the historic Washington Channel. IHG, Carr and Clark Enterprises partnered together to form a joint venture with Wharf Master Developer Hoffman-Madison Waterfront to develop and own the InterContinental. The Washington D.C. property will apply for LEED Silver certification, contributing to the overall LEED-ND Gold status of The Wharf.The new InterContinental hotel will complement the iconic Willard InterContinental Washington D.C. hotel—also part of...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Visitors to the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) end-user website, Equipment Finance Advantage, will find new enhancements that make it a more powerful resource than ever for helping businesses take advantage of the benefits of equipment finance. The site has improved navigation for a better user experience and offers a wider range of resources focused on how companies of all types and sizes can use leasing and financing to their strategic advantage to acquire the equipment they need to operate and grow. ELFA launched the original Equipment Finance Advantage website two years ago. Highlights of the site’s...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. has launched “Heart of the House.” The new custom-built social platform features real stories, submitted by guests and hotels worldwide, about guest service, community service, innovation, culture and recognition. The launch continues to align with Marriott International’s Global Content Studio global strategy of developing, producing, and distributing content that informs, entertains, and adds value to travel lifestyle consumers.“We constantly hear from guests about hotel staff going above and beyond to make travel experiences unforgettable,” said Debbie Marriott Harrison, Global Officer, Marriott Culture and Business Councils. “We’re excited to finally have a dedicated storytelling channel to...

NAPA, CALIF.—Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa treats diners’ taste buds to a true garden-to-table experience year round. It may be winter, but the Napa Valley hotel’s on-site restaurant, VINeleven, is giving travelers a taste of sunny California with farm-fresh flavors. Incorporating vegetables, fruits and herbs that are grown in the gardens on-site, VINeleven provides an authentic Napa dining experience.Featuring over 2,000 square feet of raised and in-ground beds, an herb garden and communal dining table that serves 18 guests, The Heirloom Gardens are produced and planted 12 months a year, creating a constant flow of rich flavors and...

DANA POINT, CALIF.—The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel has joined with marine life artist Wyland for “Whales, Wonders, and Wyland.” The collaboration includes an overnight experience, a display of more than 25 Wyland original paintings, limited editions, and sculptures throughout the resort, as well as an exclusive reception for guests to meet Wyland and enjoy a special multi-media retrospective of Wyland’s Whaling Wall public mural project. Wyland is also the Grand Marshal for the 2015 Festival of Whales, taking place in Dana Point the first two weekends in March.The Wonders of Wyland Reception will be held Friday, March 6, 2015. The...

NATIONAL REPORT—In the auto industry the “Big Three” most generally has been Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. In the world of mattress manufacturing there has also been a big three of sorts—Serta, Sealy and Simmons Bedding. These three companies have historically been the primary suppliers of mattresses to the U.S. lodging industry. Green Lodging News contacted each of these companies to participate in this article on mattresses but for different reasons they chose not to participate (they never responded or said the timing was bad). These companies, in varying degrees, have sustainability initiatives in place. Their websites provide some...

ROCKVILLE, MD.—Choice Hotels International, Inc., one of the world’s leading hotel companies and franchisor of 11 hotel brands including Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Cambria hotels & suites, Sleep Inn and Quality, has partnered with celebrity entertainer and philanthropist Steve Harvey to help raise funds in support of The Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation and its youth initiatives. The dollars raised will go toward the Foundation’s mission of helping young men and women, largely from inner-cities and single parent families, set and achieve their goals through programs like the Steve Harvey Mentoring Camp for Young Men. Choice Hotels President and...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton Worldwide announced Meet with Purpose, a concept designed to make it easier for meeting professionals to reduce waste and incorporate health and wellness into meetings and events. Meet with Purpose provides meeting professionals with sustainable choices to incorporate into events that not only enhance the experiences of attendees, but also align with many customers’ corporate responsibility goals. Inspired by Hilton’s corporate responsibility strategy, Travel with Purpose, Hilton gathered feedback from customers and sales Team Members to identify the most pressing sustainability issues for meetings and events. To meet these needs, Hilton created Meet with Purpose, supported by...

NEW YORK—The Call for Entries opened for the EBie Awards, a national juried competition created by the Urban Green Council that celebrates significant performance improvements in existing buildings and the people who made them happen. Entries are due by March 30, 2015.The EBies (EE-bees, short for Existing Buildings) seek to recognize improved environmental performance in existing buildings among building operators, facilities managers, owners, engineers, retro-commissioning agents and other professionals who conceived and implemented the work. The awards put a spotlight on the real people who have found replicable solutions that cut energy and water use, measurably reduce waste, make...