PHILIPSBURG, ST MAARTEN—The Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa, St. Maarten made its mark as a game-changer in the hospitality industry by completing a landmark solar installation earlier this year that allows the resort to produce six to eight hours of its own power during peak times. The resort has harnessed the power of the Caribbean sun for more than a year and reached an environmental milestone by generating one gigawatt hour of solar power, or one billion watt-hours. The resort also just installed a completely oil-free Smardt Chiller to further conserve energy; the Chiller is used in the...

TORONTO—The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) announced it has received two coveted distinctions for its sustainability commitment, showing green leadership at both national and provincial levels. MTCC earned the LEED Gold certification by the Canada Green Building Council, the certifying body in Canada for the international rating system, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. This certification, achieved by the MTCC’s south building in the Existing Building: Operations & Maintenance version of the rating system, makes MTCC one of the first Canadian convention centers to earn a gold rating.In the same week, the Tourism Industry Association of...

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, CALIF.—Nestled amongst picturesque forests and meadows and steps from the famed General Grant Tree, John Muir Lodge in Kings Canyon’s Grant Grove Village has been lending itself to unforgettable national park trips for close to two decades. A fixture of countless family getaways and outdoor adventures, the rustic stone-and-timber lodge offers intimate and inviting quarters for guests in all seasons. Now, its welcoming atmosphere is further enhanced and equipped to deliver an authentic national parks experience after a full remodel of the lodge’s 36 rooms. Partnering with local Darden Architects, concessionaire Delaware North Companies...

DALLAS—The Renaissance Dallas Hotel last week unveiled new multi-million dollar innovative, modern event and meeting spaces. The Renaissance Dallas’ new 50,000 square feet of meeting and event space includes a 16,000 square foot technologically advanced Grand Ballroom accommodating up to 1,500 guests. The Grand Ballroom space includes modern décor, 24-foot vaulted ceilings, skylight crystal chandeliers, a state-of-the art lighting and sound system with remote controlled screens, and window shades allowing natural light during the day. The event space also features linen-less rectangular tables seating eight to 10, easily accessible direct load in capabilities and a separate valet entrance for...

NATIONAL REPORT—Most chafing dish fuel gels found today are made from corn-based ethanol, methanol and other additives to help the product burn hotter. Methanol is added to make it too toxic for consumption. Fuel gel using methanol and other additives is considered hazardous waste and should be treated as such, several industry experts told Green Lodging News for this article. Methanol gel, according to Don Haldenby, CEO of Ecoflame International Inc., is poisonous and contains dioxin and emits nitrous oxide, arsenic, carbon monoxide and excessive carbon dioxide when burned. It is dangerous to touch and dangerous to the environment...

CLINTON, MD.—The TownePlace Suites is located across Old Alexander Ferry Road from Joint Base Andrews. A large segment of the hotel’s guest base is military personnel on temporary duty at Joint Base Andrews. The hotel prides itself on providing a “home away from home” and an inviting atmosphere to support troops. Both as part of participating in the military’s mission expanding the use of renewable energy, and as a way to cut costs and maintain affordable rates, the hotel started looking into a solar photovoltaic energy system last year.“We thought that solar would enhance our ability to offer a...

CHEVY CHASE, MD.—The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. has become the first Founding Partner of IMPACT 2030: The Global Initiative for the Advancement of Corporate Volunteering. IMPACT 2030 was introduced at the United Nations on Friday, December 5, 2014 on “International Volunteer Day” where The Ritz-Carlton and the fellow Founding Partner companies showcased the meaningful difference their employees are making locally, nationally and internationally through corporate volunteering.IMPACT 2030 is a global private sector led collaboration created to mobilize corporate volunteers to contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Initiative’s partner companies recognize that a commitment to corporate volunteering—when...

LIMA, PERU—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that it has joined the Global Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform, along with the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE). The Global Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform is a program of U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s Sustainable Energy for All (#SE4ALL) initiative. The USGBC and BCSE constituents represent thousands of businesses and organizations that are driving energy efficiency solutions all around the world.“We are extremely pleased that USGBC and BCSE are joining this global effort to support and catalyze energy efficiency around the world,” said Kandeh Yumkella, special representative of the UN...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and its Foundation today released the definitive industry survey examining the top trends in the hotel industry, which this year is marked by personal service, healthy lifestyles and convenience. The survey, “The 2014 Lodging Study Hotel Trends: An Inside Look at Popular Amenities and Guest Services” conducted by industry data provider STR, illustrates how hotels are adapting to consumer demands by adjusting their services and amenities to take into account guests’ needs.This survey, funded by the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF), shows that in addition to advancing consumer service,...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company with approximately 7,590 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corp., announced its continued commitment to preventing human trafficking by partnering with Polaris, a leader in the global fight to eradicate modern slavery and restore freedom to survivors.As part of the joint effort, Wyndham Hotel Group and Polaris are developing comprehensive training and educational tools for hotel owners and franchisees, property-level staff and employees at its corporate offices and call centers to educate them about all aspects of human trafficking.Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery whereby criminals profit by...