NATIONAL REPORT—Two years after the final standard of the nine APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meetings Standards—the one focusing on accommodations—was published, and more than three years after the first eight standards were released, adoption of the standards has been mixed. At press time, just one accommodation—the PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.—had achieved certification to standard E2772, the Specification for Evaluation and Selection of Accommodations for Environmentally Sustainable Meetings, Events, Trade Shows, and Conferences. The resort also achieved certification to the ASTM Standard pertaining to the Evaluation and Selection of Venues for Environmentally Sustainable Meetings, Events,...

CHICAGO—The Langham, Chicago announced that it has achieved the LEED Gold level of certification. The LEED rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance. “The Langham, Chicago’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach farther than ever before, and The Langham serves as a prime example of just how...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Assn. (AH&LA) announced the winners of the AH&LA Stars of the Industry Awards for outstanding hotel properties. Awarded annually since 1966, these awards distinguish individual hotels that have developed outstanding programs, events, and campaigns. Winners were chosen in the categories of Community Service, Special Events, Guest Relations, and Good Earthkeeping. In the Good Earthkeeping category, the small property award winner is the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid, N.Y. In the large property category the winner is the Lake Lawn Resort & Spa in Delavan, Wis.“These properties represent the best of the...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its outstanding efforts in food recovery. The entertainment and hospitality company received two national Food Recovery Challenge awards for reducing food waste and, in the process, conserving natural resources.“MGM’s zero waste leadership has turned mountains of food scraps into compost to help fight waste and climate change,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest.MGM Resorts and MGM Grand Las Vegas are two of the 32 recipients that received the 2014 Food Recovery Challenge Award, and the only recipients in Nevada. The award was...

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—Due to the severity of California’s drought, the state’s experts have been managing water resources to deal with the effects of the drought and prepare for the next one. As part of the solution, the California Energy Commission approved standards for water appliances which will save more than 10 billion gallons of water in the first year. Over time, the water savings is estimated to reach 105 billion gallons per year—a savings of more than three times the annual amount of water used by San Francisco.“California is serious about water conservation and is committed to consistent and clear...

NEW YORK—W Hotels Worldwide, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., announced a new partnership with global music artist and entrepreneur will.i.am and The Coca-Cola Co. to shake up the hotel industry, one guestroom at a time. Together, they are bringing the EKOCYCLE brand to W Hotel rooms around the world, changing sheets and changing minds. W Hotels will soon begin re-making their beds with new EKOCYCLE branded sheets, which are made in part with rPET (polyester partially made using recycled plastic). Rolling out into W Hotels in North America first with global properties to follow, each king size...

BURBANK, CALIF.—Disney published its 2014 Citizenship Performance Summary. The summary focuses on Disney’s FY14 performance against its Citizenship targets. Highlights include progress against environmental stewardship commitments, including a 31 percent decrease in net emissions from 2012 levels and the first disclosure of Disney’s water usage companywide.In addition, Disney achieved 82 percent visibility into facilities producing Disney-branded products, up from 58 percent in 2013, as part of increased oversight across Disney’s global supply chain.Disney met and exceeded several targets ahead of schedule, including the donation of 18 million books as part of Disney’s long-standing tradition of storytelling and fostering imagination.Disney...

ORLANDO, FLA.—The world’s only large-scale recyclers of hotel soap have combined their operations and charitable efforts. Clean the World and Global Soap have contributed to a 30 percent reduction in pre-adolescent deaths from hygiene-related illnesses since 2009. Now consolidated under the Clean the World banner, they join forces to improve even more lives through an integrated social enterprise. The blended organization capitalizes on strengths developed separately by each group over the past six years. Under the new operating structure, Clean the World Foundation manages all soap and plastic bottle collection and recycling in North America, while Clean the World Asia...

ATLANTA—Taking green meetings to the next level, The Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta, the largest Green Seal Silver Level certified convention hotel in the Southeast, is launching the Green Tour. This new on-site specialty event for meeting attendees provides a behind-the-scenes look at the sustainability, conservation and environmental efficiency efforts in the John Portman-designed AAA Four Diamond hotel. From event serveware made of leaves to the Go Green Racing teambuilding activity and single-stream recycling system, The Westin Peachtree Plaza is redefining what it means to be green. “Environmental stewardship is increasingly important to meeting planners and attendees when selecting a...

BETHESDA, MD.—Courtyard by Marriott announced a national partnership with National Academy Foundation (NAF) launching its Success for Youth program that activates its commitment made to the Clinton Global Initiative that promises to provide 30,000 volunteer hours and engage with 10,000 students in three years. The announcement was made at the Courtyard by Marriott bi-annual General Managers Conference, in Washington, D.C. where more than 200 NAF students conducted informational interviews with 800 general managers who were in attendance. The Success for Youth program will engage Courtyard hotels across the country with NAF students through a series of work-based learning activities....