ATLANTA—The itinerary for the Green Meeting Industry Council’s Sustainable Meetings Conference is taking shape. This year’s event, with the theme, “Power to Change,” will be held June 17 to 19 in Atlanta at The Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel. Registration is currently open.A featured speaker on June 17 this year is Laura Turner Seydel, Chair, Captain Planet Foundation. The Atlanta-based Foundation was founded by Ted Turner in 1991 and is now chaired by his daughter, Laura Turner Seydel. The Foundation supports high-quality, hands-on environmental stewardship projects that have enabled more than 1.1 million youth across the United States and around...

NEW ORLEANS, LA.—A smoke-free ordinance went into effect in New Orleans last week. The unanimous passage of this ordinance, led by Councilwoman LaToya Cantrell and Councilwoman Susan Guidry, has thrust New Orleans into the national spotlight as a leader in public health advocacy. New Orleans joins eight Louisiana communities and more than 1,200 municipalities nationwide that have gone smoke-free. Additionally, the New Orleans ordinance has created a landslide effect across the state as other cities have taken notice and are considering similar ordinances. The Harrah’s New Orleans Casino is now smoke-free.In recognition of the historic nature of this ordinance...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the sole national association representing all segments of the 1.8 million-employee lodging industry, has released Hotel Industry Principles as part of the industry’s long-standing effort to raise awareness of human trafficking and provide hotel operators tools and resources to educate employees on identifying and reporting these crimes. The release of these principles comes on the heels of Senate passage of legislation (S. 178) to help victims of sex trafficking and crack down on perpetrators of this heinous crime. “As an industry, we recognize that hotels can play an important role in...

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA.—PGA National Resort & Spa has become the first U.S. resort property to achieve the International “Environmentally Sustainable Meetings & Events” certification from ASTM International, an ANSI accredited standards development organization.PGA National attained dual certification in the Venues and Accommodations Level 1 categories. iCompli, a division of BPA Worldwide, performed the third-party certification. These categories are two of the nine criteria developed by the industry to provide event planners and suppliers with specifications for producing events in a more sustainable manner. Staff management, communications, waste management, energy, air quality, water, procurement, and community partners are all...

BETHESDA, MD.—As part of its global sustainability strategy to address climate change, Marriott International announced the company’s global energy intensity decreased cumulatively by 2.6 percent over 2013, 13.1 percent compared to a 2007 baseline.Across the majority of the company’s four global regions, energy results continued to decline. In The Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe, energy intensity for managed hotels decreased over 2013 by 3.0 percent, 0.7 percent and 1.3 percent respectively. In the Middle East and Africa, energy intensity increased by 1.2 percent over 2013 as the region stabilized and travel increased.“Our global decrease in energy intensity demonstrates the...

MONTEREY, CALIF.—The Portola Hotel & Spa partnered with the Monterey Regional Airport to celebrate Earth Day. Today, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Portola Hotel & Spa staff were stationed at the Monterey Regional Airport Baggage Claim area to give away reusable bags made of 100 percent recycled materials. The phrase “I used to be a plastic bottle” was printed across the reusable bags as a friendly reminder of the utility that comes with recycling. Portola Hotel & Spa will also be giving out reusable bags to guests checking into the property on Earth Day while supplies last.“Portola Hotel...

BORREGO SPRINGS, CALIF.—Cwc La Casa Del Zorro LLC, the owners of the upscale 42-acre, 67-key La Casa del Zorro resort in Borrego Springs, Calif., recently decided that spending $1.3 million a year on utility costs was unacceptable. Given the resort’s desert location—the busiest time of the year, thanks to the desert heat, is from November 1 until the end of May—the owners decided that investing in solar technology for heating water and generating electricity made sense. So far just a portion of $3 million committed to solar has been spent but the resort is already experiencing energy savings.The first...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—The upscale Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand is extending a spa-inspired ambiance to guestrooms with the launch of a new bath amenity program designed to elevate the guest experience while also supporting the brand’s commitment to sustainability and reducing operating costs for hotel owners.Now available at Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Wyndham Grand and Wyndham Garden properties throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, the new Blue Harmony personal care bath amenities feature a signature Gingerlily scent and are made with sea botanicals and minerals. Additionally, the amenity line is biodegradable, paraben-free and never tested on animals, adhering...

KENNESAW, GA.—The University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents approved the naming of the Michael A. Leven School of Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality at Kennesaw State University. Michael Leven, a veteran hospitality industry executive and President and CEO of the Georgia Aquarium, made a commitment of $5 million to name Kennesaw State University’s School of Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality. The gift represents the largest single contribution from an individual in the University’s 52-year history.In addition to naming the School, Leven’s philanthropic gift will be used to support an endowed faculty chair as well as scholarships for culinary sustainability and...

MCLEAN, VA.—Partnering with Clean the World, Hilton Worldwide has reaffirmed its global commitment to the recycling and redistribution of used soap and hygiene products to millions of people around the world. With more than 850 hotels currently participating in soap and amenity recycling, Hilton Worldwide properties have donated nearly 600,000 pounds of soap, which have been converted into more than one million new bars to help prevent hygiene-related deaths and illness.Since 2011, Hilton Worldwide has joined with key organizations on soap and amenity bottle recycling programs that help to reduce waste at properties while providing access to basic hygiene...