CINCINNATI—With colder weather right around the corner, it’s a good time to look at energy consumption in your business and make changes to reduce energy use. The Greater Cincinnati Green Business Council recently announced eight energy-saving strategies for the workplace, including some that can start saving your business money today.“Organizations often overlook simple changes they can make to save money today and into the future,” said Jeremy Chapman, General Manager, Melink. “But the benefits go beyond cost savings to include reducing the environmental impact of your business which can help increase employee engagement and customer loyalty.”The Council’s tips for...

NATIONAL REPORT—Printer cartridges may not fall at the top of your list of green purchasing priorities but if you approach cartridge purchasing wisely you can help reduce the flow of spent cartridges to the landfill and impact the amount of energy, water and materials spent on cartridge production. The key, according to industry experts, is purchasing remanufactured (a.k.a. reengineered) printer cartridges.“In the United States there is no specific information on where printer cartridges end up,” says Mike Ducey, Vice President, Print Division of Guy Brown, a reseller of remanufactured toner and ink cartridges. “My estimate is that half of...

CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels Corp. announced that its subsidiary has initiated a four-year, $1 million partnership with Women for Women International, a global development organization that offers education, training and income generation opportunities for marginalized women in areas impacted by war and conflict. The investment will help support more than 60,000 women in Afghanistan, Rwanda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, South Sudan, Nigeria, Iraq, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kosovo—regions in urgent need of support and countries where many Hyatt colleagues around the world were born and raised and still have family members living there.The newly announced partnership is rooted in Hyatt’s...

AMSTERDAM—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has signed an agreement with Bari Gruppe GmbH & Co. KG to open the first Element hotel in The Netherlands. Located at Gelderlandplein in the vibrant Zuid area of Amsterdam, a cosmopolitan district just south of the city-centre, Element Amsterdam will cater to today’s savvy and environmentally conscious travelers. Offering bright, modern design and green-minded sensibilities, Element Amsterdam will offer both business and leisure travelers a bright, stylish atmosphere.“Following the success of the recently opened Element Frankfurt Airport Hotel, we are proud to expand our relationship with the Bari Gruppe as we introduce...

LAS VEGAS—Employees of MGM Resorts International donated more than 1.6 million pounds of food to Three Square Food Bank this holiday season in one of the largest single-city food drives in the nation.Three Square reported that MGM Resorts employees donated 1,610,461 pounds of food during the company’s fifth annual October food drive. Company employees well-exceeded last year’s donation of 922,161 pounds, setting a new record for the largest amount of food received in a single donation by Three Square. This unprecedented donation will provide 1,342,050 meals to the nearly 137,000 individuals Three Square serves monthly through its approximately 1,300...

QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC—Group Germain Hotels announced that all electric vehicle (EV) enthusiasts will literally be able to recharge their batteries while getting a good night’s sleep at its Le Germain and Alt Hotels across the country. The independent Canadian hoteliers are among the first to roll out the new Tesla Destination Charging program thereby providing guests access to a private network of over 20 EV charging stations capable of delivering a full charge in four to eight hours. “Sustainability and innovation have always been top of mind for us at Group Germain Hotels,” said Jean-Yves Germain, co-president of Group...

HONOLULU—Hokulani Waikiki by Hilton Grand Vacations Club, which opened a year ago in December 2013, has achieved LEED certification as recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The upscale, urban timeshare resort earned the internationally recognized certification for implementing environmentally friendly construction practices and building systems.“Hokulani Waikiki was built and designed with a strong focus on honoring Hawaii’s unique cultural heritage,” said Kim Kreiger, Senior Vice President Club and Resorts for Hilton Grand Vacations. “This certification further demonstrates the importance and responsibility we feel to preserve and respect Oahu’s land and natural resources, which is part of what...

DENVER—The piece-of-pie shaped Brown Palace Hotel, a fixture in the heart of Denver since 1892, has been undergoing a green transformation the last couple of years that has caught the eye of many. The 241-room property won the Good Earthkeeping Award in 2013 from the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Assn. and the Good Earthkeeping Award in 2014 from the American Hotel and Lodging Assn. While dabbling in sustainability for a number of years—bee hives have been on the hotel roof as part of the hotel’s Bee Royalty Initiative since 2009—it was in October 2012 when good things really started...

NEW YORK—The International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) has announced the winners for the 34th annual Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design. A record number of entries of over 280 international projects were considered by a team of nine prominent judges for these awards, which recognize outstanding hospitality design worldwide for properties completed or renovated from March 1, 2013 to March 1, 2014. Winners of the Gold Key Awards were revealed at the annual gala on Monday, November 10, 2014 at New York’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The Gold Key Awards were sponsored by Boutique Design and...

DENVER—In a press release issued by Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Xanterra says it has found it necessary to file a motion for a preliminary injunction in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado asking the court to step in to essentially keep the NPS from having to shut down most visitor services on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.Unless the Court grants the preliminary injunction Xanterra seeks in this motion, Xanterra argues that the primary visitor services (restaurants, hotels, mule rides and basic services) at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will...