ITHACA, N.Y.—The international hotel and restaurant industry has been working toward sustainability in operations, and industry executives are making every effort to report their sustainability results. At the 2012 Cornell Hospitality Research Summit (CHRS), several presenters offered their analysis of both sustainability strategies and related reporting approaches. The sustainability presentations are summarized in a new conference proceedings, “Toward Sustainable Hotel and Restaurant Operations,” by Glenn Withiam. The proceedings document is available at no charge from the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research, where Withiam is director of publications.Much of the research presented at the CHRS addressed the conflicting messages that...

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte has unveiled plans for its first-ever Summer Honey Festival—three months of special events and dining festivities celebrating the 100,000 honeybees which live on the hotel’s green, vegetated roof. The Summer Honey Festival began this June 1, as the hotel’s Bar Cocoa all-dessert dining experience and The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Charlotte introduced a roster of seasonal honey-based offerings available until September.On June 20, the first honey harvest of the summer will take place, reaping more than 30 pounds of natural honey to be used in Bar Cocoa’s breakfasts, all-day desserts and freshly-made gelato. The honey may also...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In an effort to accelerate sustainable development around the world, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), creators of the LEED green building program, announced a new campaign offering free LEED certification to the first projects to certify in the 112 countries where LEED has yet to take root.Coined “LEED Earth,” this campaign aims to bring LEED certification and thereby better-performing buildings into new markets. LEED is a global approach to more efficient, environmentally-sound buildings and is universally adaptable to address issues such as energy and potable water use, environmental toxins and human health concerns related to indoor environments....

BANGKOK—Six Senses Laamu has become the first resort in the Maldives to establish and implement a Code of Conduct for dolphin watching in order to protect the local spinner and bottlenose dolphins, and to ensure the future sustainability of their populations.Fully committed to developing a sustainable business and eco-tourism, the resort has developed policies and procedures in line with the Green Globe 21 standards: Energy Conservation, Waste Reduction, Nature, Island & Reef Protection, and Social Responsibility. These policies and procedures are renewed at least annually.Now, expanding on this commitment, the Code of Conduct for dolphin watching rounds out the...

DEARBORN, MICH.—Adoba Hotel Dearborn/Detroit announced it has been accepted as a Gold Level GreenLeader in the new TripAdvisor GreenLeaders program, which helps travelers plan greener trips by identifying environmentally-friendly accommodations across the United States. The Adoba Hotel has also earned the Green Key Eco-Ratings certification.“Being recognized as a Green Key member and Trip Advisors new GreenLeader accurately mirrors our goals and ambitions,” says Adrienne Pumphrey, Global Head of the Adoba Brand. “Working toward the certifications has been a team effort and the greatest realization has been to see the passion from each of the departments as they identify their...

NATIONAL REPORT—This year could be a landmark year for mattress recycling. Time will tell if other states will follow their leads but three states—California, Connecticut and Rhode Island—are getting closer to creating the infrastructure for statewide mattress recycling. Late last month, California’s State Senate approved SB 254 which creates a used mattress recycling program. Assembly hearings on that legislation, according to Ryan Trainer, president, International Sleep Products Assn. (ISPA), are expected to begin early next month. Earlier this year, with Public Act 13-42, Connecticut became the first state to pass comprehensive mattress recycling legislation. In Rhode Island, Trainer says,...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Clean the World, the largest global recycler of hotel amenities, has expanded to Asia. The organization’s new soap recycling facility in Hong Kong provides an essential service to a region quickly running out of landfill space. It is projected to divert 110 tons of soap from landfills in the first year.This is the first operations center outside North America for Clean the World, a social enterprise committed to saving lives around the world by collecting and recycling soap and shampoo products discarded by the hospitality industry. Nearly 2,000 hotels across North America currently participate in the program. Since...

NORWALK, CONN.—The Department of Energy recognized HEI Hotels & Resorts late last month for its continued success and leadership as a participant in the Better Buildings Challenge, announcing the company is on track to meet goals of reducing energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency. Since baseline year 2008, HEI Hotels & Resorts has reduced energy usage by 9 percent across more than 10 million square feet.The company’s participation in the Better Buildings Challenge underscores the company’s commitment to energy conservation and its leadership in environmental stewardship. “We continue to be proud of our environmental and energy conservation record,” said...

NEWPORT NEWS, VA.—The Magnuson Hotel & Convention Center at Oyster Point, a JSK Motel Management property, celebrated the grand opening of its new restaurant and bar, Green House. It features modern American cuisine with an emphasis on the finest, seasonal ingredients from local farmers. The restaurant supports several local food sources, including Rain or Shine Greenhouse Gardens, Oliver Farms Produce, Whitener Farms, Dave and Dee’s Mushrooms, and Sam Rust Seafood, Inc.“Green House is a great addition to our current hotel model and will fit well with the development initiatives planned for the near future,” said Ray Patel, president, JSK...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed two rules to help protect Americans from exposure to the harmful chemical formaldehyde, consistent with a Federal law unanimously passed by Congress in 2010. These rules ensure that composite wood products produced domestically or imported into the United States meet the formaldehyde emission standards established by Congress. Formaldehyde is used in adhesives to make a wide range of building materials and products. Exposure to formaldehyde can cause adverse public health effects including eye, nose and throat irritation, other respiratory symptoms and, in certain cases, cancer.“The proposed regulations announced today reflect...