DANA POINT, CALIF.—The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel has joined with marine life artist Wyland for “Whales, Wonders, and Wyland.” The collaboration includes an overnight experience, a display of more than 25 Wyland original paintings, limited editions, and sculptures throughout the resort, as well as an exclusive reception for guests to meet Wyland and enjoy a special multi-media retrospective of Wyland’s Whaling Wall public mural project. Wyland is also the Grand Marshal for the 2015 Festival of Whales, taking place in Dana Point the first two weekends in March.The Wonders of Wyland Reception will be held Friday, March 6, 2015. The...

NATIONAL REPORT—In the auto industry the “Big Three” most generally has been Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. In the world of mattress manufacturing there has also been a big three of sorts—Serta, Sealy and Simmons Bedding. These three companies have historically been the primary suppliers of mattresses to the U.S. lodging industry. Green Lodging News contacted each of these companies to participate in this article on mattresses but for different reasons they chose not to participate (they never responded or said the timing was bad). These companies, in varying degrees, have sustainability initiatives in place. Their websites provide some...

ROCKVILLE, MD.—Choice Hotels International, Inc., one of the world’s leading hotel companies and franchisor of 11 hotel brands including Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Cambria hotels & suites, Sleep Inn and Quality, has partnered with celebrity entertainer and philanthropist Steve Harvey to help raise funds in support of The Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation and its youth initiatives. The dollars raised will go toward the Foundation’s mission of helping young men and women, largely from inner-cities and single parent families, set and achieve their goals through programs like the Steve Harvey Mentoring Camp for Young Men. Choice Hotels President and...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton Worldwide announced Meet with Purpose, a concept designed to make it easier for meeting professionals to reduce waste and incorporate health and wellness into meetings and events. Meet with Purpose provides meeting professionals with sustainable choices to incorporate into events that not only enhance the experiences of attendees, but also align with many customers’ corporate responsibility goals. Inspired by Hilton’s corporate responsibility strategy, Travel with Purpose, Hilton gathered feedback from customers and sales Team Members to identify the most pressing sustainability issues for meetings and events. To meet these needs, Hilton created Meet with Purpose, supported by...

NEW YORK—The Call for Entries opened for the EBie Awards, a national juried competition created by the Urban Green Council that celebrates significant performance improvements in existing buildings and the people who made them happen. Entries are due by March 30, 2015.The EBies (EE-bees, short for Existing Buildings) seek to recognize improved environmental performance in existing buildings among building operators, facilities managers, owners, engineers, retro-commissioning agents and other professionals who conceived and implemented the work. The awards put a spotlight on the real people who have found replicable solutions that cut energy and water use, measurably reduce waste, make...

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA—The 114-suite TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Anchorage, Alaska is scheduled to open the week of November 17, making it the first in Alaska. It is also Alaska’s first LEED certified hotel. The TownePlace Suites Anchorage Midtown will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Denali Land, LLC and managed by Stonebridge Companies of Denver. Located in Midtown and five miles from Ted Stevens International Airport, the hotel offers guests convenient access to the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, the Alaska Railroad Train to Denali National Park and the Alaska Native Heritage Center.“We are pleased to introduce the TownePlace...

TORRANCE, CALIF.—Courtyard Los Angeles Torrance/Palos Verdes is taking its green efforts to the next level with the completion of a landscaping renovation project that will not only save the hotel money but will help take the edge off of California’s severe drought. The unique project brings a low-maintenance, low-water outdoor environment to the hotel in Torrance, Calif. and demonstrates the Courtyard’s commitment to the surrounding community. Flower beds, hedges and turf have been replaced by drought-resistant plants. After a self-audit, the hotel also replaced areas of its irrigation system while adjusting timing and putting in new sprinkler heads.“Our hotel...

MADRID, SPAIN—A milestone resolution recognizing the contribution of sustainable tourism to poverty eradication, community development and the protection of biodiversity has been adopted by consensus by the United Nations General Assembly.Emphasizing the need to optimize the economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits stemming from sustainable tourism, particularly in developing countries, the resolution entitled “Promotion of sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, for poverty eradication and environment protection” calls upon the UN System to promote sustainable tourism as an instrument that can contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.The resolution, significantly broader in scope than previous ones on the subject, builds on...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In recognition of the importance of sustainable parking facilities and practices to the development of sustainable communities, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), the certification body for the U.S. Green Building Council’s global LEED green building rating system, signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Parking Institute (IPI), the world’s largest parking association, and the Green Parking Council (GPC).“Sustainability in parking is integral to building a greener future, not only structurally, but also by shaping transportation networks that support more livable, walkable communities,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, President, GBCI. “This agreement will also expand the GBCI’s portfolio and...

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., in partnership with NRG Energy, Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiary NRG Renew, unveiled its first project to integrate clean sustainable energy at The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection resort. Featuring approximately 2,000 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, the 568 kilowatt (kWdc) solar installation will offset a portion of The Phoenician resort’s energy demand—an amount equivalent to the energy needs of approximately 90 homes.Core to the project was the design-driven approach—from panel placements, which work with the terrain to create airflow, to the structure’s accent colors that blend into the natural surroundings. In addition to...