NEW YORK—There are just two weeks until the many green activities begin at this year’s Hospitality Leadership Forum, International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) and Boutique Design New York (BDNY). Events will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center November 8 to 11 in New York City. Recently, three NEWH Green Voice Conversations were added to the extensive schedule of sustainability-focused sessions. The Green Voice Conversations will take place as part of BDNY.The first Green Voice Conversation will take place Sunday, November 9 from 10:30 to 11 a.m. The topic will be, “Where Does Your Wood...

MIAMI—On Tuesday, October 14, the Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association (GMBHA) honored hotels and allied businesses that are leading the adoption of sustainable hospitality practices at its 2nd Annual Sustainable Hospitality Awards. Award winners were selected from nominated local hotels and businesses that are advancing sustainability practices through implementation, promotion and education of guests and employees.The GMBHA’s Sustainable Hospitality Council celebrated 21 outstanding hotel properties and businesses that are advancing the principles and practices of sustainable hospitality, resource conservation and preservation of South Florida’s unique environment.Keynote speaker, Diana C. Beltran Gonzalez, Learning & Delivery Manager, Global Learning...

DALLAS—NYLO Hotels, LLC announced they are providing Tesla Motors charging stations at NYLO Dallas South Side, NYLO Irving/Las Colinas and NYLO Plano at Legacy. The service began on October 10. Each DFW-area NYLO Hotel will have three charging stations for electric car owners to use for free on a first come, first serve basis.“We are thrilled to offer NYLO guests a chance to charge up their Tesla vehicle,” said Mike Mueller, CEO of NYLO Hotels. “We believe in the Tesla brand and installed stations because they are reinventing the way people buy cars. This relationship will enhance NYLO’s commitment...

NEW ORLEANS—The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) launched the WELL Building Standard Version 1.0 at the inaugural WELL Building Symposium in New Orleans. The WELL Building Standard is the world’s first building standard to focus on enhancing people’s health and wellbeing through the built environment. Following a two-year pilot program and a formal Peer Review process, the WELL Building Standard is now publicly available at www.WELLcertified.com.“The public release of the WELL Building Standard v1.0 marks a momentous step forward in our efforts to bring health and wellness into the indoor environments where we spend more than 90 percent of...

LAS VEGAS—Just one week remains until the second annual Lodging Green & Sustainability Conference & Expo. The event will be held Tuesday, October 28 through Thursday, October 30 at the LEED Gold and Green Key certified ARIA Resort & Casino. The event, with about 50 speakers and 40 exhibitors, will feature many educational and networking opportunities. If you register on-site, the rate for all 3 days is $595 to participate. However, if you register on-line here by October 27 you will save $100. For Tuesday, October 28 only ($145): Master Class on Waste Management Innovations in the morning (10...

In today’s cost conscience business environment, the owners and developers of hotels and motels (“hotels”) are always looking for ways to gain a competitive advantage. Those in the hospitality industry may not be aware that they may have significant savings available. Sadly, most are not taking advantage and that money could be lost. The following programs are just an example of some of the savings programs available to the industry: engineering-based property cost allocation; Energy EPAct/179d; property tax reduction; and energy auctions. Our experience has shown that hotels can see a savings on average of $240,000. Engineering-based Cost Allocation Engineering-based cost...

CALIFORNIA—Over 700 California Fairmont Hotels & Resorts colleagues accompanied by friends, family members and recruits scoured the state’s inland waterways and beaches for litter late last month as part of the 30th annual California Coastal Cleanup Day. Working with the Coastal Commission Fairmont led five drop-in cleanup sites (Newport Beach, Santa Monica, San Jose, San Francisco and Sonoma) across the state where volunteers hauled off everything from plastic backyard pools to artificial Christmas trees.Hardworking Fairmont volunteers picked up 6,487 pounds of trash and recyclables; lending strength and stability to the Coastal Cleanup Day Program. Committed sustainability stewards from hotels...

STAMFORD, CONN.—Officials of the Sheraton Stamford Hotel recently announced the completion of the hotel’s next step to achieving its sustainable goals to improve environmental efficiencies that help the hotel as well as its community. The Sheraton Stamford Hotel just completed a $200,000 project, in which they upgraded their lighting to LED throughout the hotel. According to a study from the Connecticut Energy Efficient Fund, over the life of the fixtures, the hotel’s increase in LED usage will have saved an estimated 7,412,770.00 kWh. This is equivalent to 3,755,988 pounds of coal not burned, 308,755 gallons of oil not burned,...

LAS VEGAS—As the boutique and lifestyle hospitality sector experiences unprecedented growth, industry trends continue to expand. Led by innovations from hoteliers, designers, architects, builders, chefs, and of course the unique tastes and expanding needs of travelers, today’s boutique or lifestyle property must continually evolve in order to stay ahead of its competition. Leading the conversation with the hospitality industry’s top boutique, lifestyle, and luxury brand executives and independent property owners, the BLLA (Boutique Lodging & Lifestyle Association) held its third annual symposium in Las Vegas last month to discuss hospitality’s evolving trends and movements. With a focus on advances that include...

ATLANTA—Georgia Aquarium announced that hospitality guru Mike Leven will return to Atlanta January 1, 2015, to become the chairman and CEO of Georgia Aquarium. David Kimmel, who has served as president since 2010, and led all major construction of the facility for the past 12 years, has stepped down. The Aquarium also announced that Bernie Marcus, founder and chairman, will become chairman emeritus in 2015. “Mike Leven was CEO of the Aquarium in 2008 to 2009 and proved to be a great leader with full and complete confidence of the staff and the Board,” said Marcus. “He left for...