PARSIPPANY, N.J.—RCI, a global leader in vacation exchange and part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands, recognized the winners of its 2013 RCI Green Awards at a recent ceremony in Carlsbad, Calif., home of Grand Pacific Resorts, the developer of all three winning properties. RCI senior leadership presented the awards to the general managers of Grand Pacific Palisades Resort, Carlsbad Seapointe Resort and Hilton Grand Vacations Club at MarBrisa.“Going Green is not only the right thing to do, it’s fiscally responsible, and our guests expect us to be good stewards of the environment,” said David Brown, co-president, Grand...

NEW YORK CITY—Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Carter Strickland, CEO of NYC & Company George Fertitta, and CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City Joseph E. Spinnato announced that eleven of the city’s premier hotels have joined the New York City Hotel Water Conservation Challenge. As part of the challenge, each hotel will reduce their annual water consumption by 5 percent and thereby save a total of approximately 13 million gallons of water each year. Commercial buildings in New York City, and hotels in particular, represent a significant opportunity for water and financial savings because they...

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—On Monday, August 12, 2013, California’s Assembly Natural Resources Committee approved SB 254 (Hancock/Correa) by a 7-0 bipartisan vote. The intent of SB 254 is to create a used mattress recycling program that will keep old mattresses out of landfills, off highways, and out of vacant lots and alleys. Per the authors of the legislation, Senator Loni Hancock representing Berkeley and Senator Lou Correa representing Santa Ana, this type of legislation creates a win-win situation by furthering California’s overall recycling goals.Specifically, SB 254 creates a used mattress recycling program that will have a dedicated funding mechanism, reduce the...

MINNEAPOLIS—Executive Chef Aaron Hagerdorn announces that Prairie Kitchen & Bar, which just celebrated its first anniversary at Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, now features an outdoor patio on Nicollet Mall, an expanded menu with summer specialties, and also utilizes three on-premise beehives for honey used in menu items and handcrafted cocktails.The 5,500-square-foot restaurant specializes in locally grown and seasonal items that evoke the Scandinavian and farming heritage of Minnesota. Chef Hagerdorn is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. “Our enhanced menu features items that reflect Minnesota’s unique heritage with a continued emphasis on fresh ingredients native to The Land...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International unveiled the United States’ first commercial fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) fueled Cadillac Escalades during the National Clean Energy Summit at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Uniquely converted by World CNG, a nationally recognized leader in alternative fuel technology, the six EPA-certified luxury vehicles will service ARIA Resort & Casino and Bellagio Resort & Casino.“We are excited to introduce the nation’s first commercial fleet of CNG Cadillac Escalades, which is further demonstration of our company’s commitment to drive innovation in environmental stewardship, while maintaining the highest standards in guest service,” said Jim Murren, chairman...

LONDON—The International Tourism Partnership and Greenview seek hoteliers’ views and perspectives on sustainable supply chain management. Earlier this year, ITP’s supply chain working group performed a high level risk mapping exercise of the supply chain in order to inform the future direction of the group’s activities. Weighing various criteria of spend, risk, impact and the likelihood of success, it gave a strong steer to the group where the opportunities for collaboration lay.In the next phase of its supply chain work, ITP has teamed up with Greenview to create a common framework for the hotel industry to discuss and approach...

NEW YORK—Fifty percent of global consumers surveyed are willing to pay more for goods and services from companies that have implemented programs to give back to society, an increase of five points (45 percent) from 2011, according to a new study from Nielsen, a leading global provider of information and insights into what consumers watch and buy. Willingness to spend more with socially responsible companies increased in 74 percent of the countries Nielsen measured.The Nielsen Global Survey on Corporate Social Responsibility surveyed more than 29,000 Internet respondents* in 58 countries. The percentage of consumers willing to pay more increased...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown will hold its fourth annual Sustainability Fair (formerly Green Fair) on Friday, August 16h from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the hotel’s Colonnade Room. The event will showcases the eco, health and safety efforts of many D.C.-based organizations as well as the hotel’s own sustainability program.The following organizations will be represented: Balance Gym, Better bodies by Bethany, CarsToGo, ChemSearch, Dietztogo, District of Columbia Department of the Environment, District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU), Eco-Artware, Fairmont Pittsburgh (LEED Gold Certified), Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown’s Beekeepers, KEYS for the Homeless, KARMA by Erwin...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—By the end of this year, the Green Seal Standard for Lodging Properties, GS-33, will be updated, improving upon a program that was first introduced in 1999. While there have been years when the program has had more than 100 participants, this year GS-33 is still going strong with 83 certified properties at either the Bronze, Silver or Gold level. Eight additional applications are currently in progress.According to Linda Chipperfield, vice president of marketing and communications for the nonprofit Green Seal, the organization’s growth strategy includes working with cities and states. Green Seal has made progress in Chicago...

NEW YORK—Advance registration is now open for North America’s largest annual hospitality industry gathering—the co-located 98th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) and the 4th annual Boutique Design New York (BDNY) trade fair. Taking place this November at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, IHMRS and BDNY will collectively present nearly 1,100 hospitality industry suppliers and attract nearly 23,000 trade attendees. A discounted registration fee of $30 is available through October 4, 2013. After this date and on-site, the rate increases to $50. Registration to either show offers admission to both. IHMRS is sponsored by...