STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN—Food waste from restaurants accounts for a large proportion of a hotel’s waste in total. Leftovers from buffets, kitchen scraps, bread and what guests leave on the side of their plates all add up to hundreds of kilos every day. Much of this food waste is thrown away unnecessarily and Scandic is now taking the next step in its work on sustainability by actively working on waste management at all its hotels. A recently completed pilot shows that, with know-how and planning, the hotels can reduce breakfast waste by more than 30 percent.By training staff, controlling purchasing and...

RALEIGH, N.C.—Concord Hospitality Enterprises, one of the nation’s leading hotel developer/owner/operators, its affiliate hotels and Feed The Children (FTC), a nonprofit, worldwide relief organization based in Oklahoma City, Okla., rallied once again for their fifth annual Share Day, a volunteer event organized in eight cities in the United States and Canada.Share Day brings together some 400 hotel employees to distribute approximately 40 tons of donated food and sundries to needy families in the communities where Concord operates hotels. The donations provide non-perishable food and essentials like toilet paper and personal hygiene items sufficient to sustain a family of four...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced today that its membership has voted to adopt LEED v4, the next update to the world’s premier green building rating system. The final overall vote was 86 percent in favor of adopting LEED v4. This includes 90 percent approval from the user category of the voting body, 77 percent approval from the general interest category and 89 percent approval from the producer category. The minimum overall percentage of votes needed for a passing vote was 66.7 percent.“There are 46 countries and territories around the world and all 50 U.S. states (and...

STAMFORD, CONN.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced that its “Different by Design” Aloft brand has doubled its presence in Tulsa, Okla., with the opening of Aloft Tulsa Downtown. The opening also marks the successful completion of the Aloft brand’s second adaptive reuse project. The former City Hall was transformed into Aloft Tulsa Downtown by owner and developer TOCH, LLC. Managed by Presidian Hotels & Resorts, Aloft Tulsa Downtown offers 180 loft-like rooms and leading-edge technology.“Aloft Tulsa Downtown brings new life to a historic building by infusing it with the energy of the Aloft brand’s urban design and buzzing...

PORTLAND, ORE.—The recent success of the IMEX Frankfurt show demonstrated an elevated awareness of sustainability as a business driver for international meeting buyers. The Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC), which serves as a strategic partner with IMEX on the Green Awards program, presented five awards that recognized excellence in sustainable meetings, suppliers and commitment to community programs. The organization also celebrates ten years as the industry’s voice of sustainability by welcoming new leadership. The GMIC Global board welcomes its new board of directors: Brian Hunt, Maritz Travel; Lindsay Arell, Arell Logic and Colorado Convention Centre; Allen Weidman, InfoComm International; Roger...

NEW YORK—The Trump Hotel Collection announced that its comprehensive Trump Wellness triad of programs, designed to support each guest’s healthy lifestyle, debuted on June 17.“Trump Wellness is another important step for the Trump Hotel Collection in our effort to create exceptional personalized experiences and options for our guests that are reflective of their lifestyle,” said Jim Petrus, COO. “With the Trump Wellness program, we are effectively eliminating the challenges that can interrupt a healthy lifestyle when you’re away from home. Working with our food and beverage departments and fitness leaders like Technogym and Under Armour, Trump Hotel Collection is...

BOSTON—Owners of several Boston hotels are wisely investing in heat recovery systems to eliminate the inefficiencies inherent in the steam systems they use to heat their buildings. The result of their investments is annual savings of tens of thousands of dollars in energy, water and sewer costs, and a reduced carbon footprint. According to Alex Alexandrovich, president of Baker Engineering & Controls, Inc., Needham, Mass., commercial buildings—including hotels—in at least 17 U.S. cities and one in Canada receive steam from an outside provider to heat buildings. Condensate generated from the steam that is 212 degrees (F) must first be...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, has achieved an 8 percent reduction in energy use in the first full year of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Buildings Challenge. The government program, launched in 2011 by President Obama, calls on commercial businesses and industrial facilities to reduce their energy intensity by 20 percent by 2020. This program aligns with the company’s goals to reduce carbon emissions by 16 percent by 2017 and by 20 percent by 2020. Additionally as of 2012, Wyndham Worldwide has reduced its global footprint in over 40 countries of its...

NEW YORK—The second annual Futuregreen Hospitality Forum brought together hotel brands, hospitality designers and furnishings suppliers for a one-day brainstorming session to tackle the possibility of hotel design as a catalyst for positive change for the future, and to discuss how technology can affect the future of hospitality. Sixty-five high-level delegates gathered in New York’s Crosby Street Hotel on May 31.“Our goal was to elevate social and environmental sustainability to the top of the hotel industry’s agenda,” said Michael Suomi, principal and vice president of interior design at hospitality design firm Stonehill & Taylor and founder of Futuregreen. “Through...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Portfolio Manager, used by more than 9,000 hotels across the United States to benchmark their energy and water performance, is about to undergo some significant changes. On July 10, the EPA will release a complete upgrade of the online tool. According to EPA, users of the new Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool will enjoy an easier-to-use interface, more streamlined sharing tools, and enhanced reporting features. For example, data entry will be easier with enhanced graphics, wizards and prompts. Collaboration will be improved with advanced sharing and reporting functions.In preparation for the new release,...