BOULDER, COLO.—EnvironmentallyFriendlyHotels.com (EFH) has connected eco-conscious travelers with the best green hotels for many years. This Earth Day, EFH announces the release of a significant site upgrade, making both finding and promoting sustainable hotels even easier.“Staying in hotels that follow sustainable, earth-friendly practices is a great way for those who support today’s Earth Day events to help improve the environment year round,” said Patrick McClear, president of HealthyStays.com, LLC, which owns and operates EFH. “It not only reduces their footprint when they travel, but it also sends a message to hotels that their green efforts are important to their...

NEWTON, MASS.—TripAdvisor announced the launch of its new TripAdvisor GreenLeaders program, helping its community of more than 200 million travelers plan greener trips by highlighting U.S. accommodations engaging in environmentally-friendly practices. Developed in partnership with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the United Nations Environment Programme, qualifying hotels and B&Bs will be awarded TripAdvisor GreenLeaders status based on the green practices the property has in place. The TripAdvisor GreenLeaders program considers a property’s holistic approach to green practices and ranks them based on four levels of participation—Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum—which will be...

CONCORD, CALIF.—The newly renovated Hilton Concord has added an expansive electric vehicle charging station to serve hotel guests and the community as part of its ongoing sustainability initiatives. Hilton Concord, located in San Francisco’s East Bay, is owned and operated by Interstate Hotels & Resorts.Hilton Concord has embarked upon a long term and dedicated commitment to becoming an industry leader in sustainability. The addition of an electric vehicle charging station is a milestone along the hotel’s path toward the goal of becoming one of the top sustainable hotels in California.In response to anticipated guest and client demand for car...

OTTAWA, ON.—Green Key Global is celebrating two major milestones for its flagship offering, the Green Key Eco-Rating Program. This spring Green Key Global celebrates the Green Key Program’s 15th anniversary as well as having reached the 3,000-member mark.“This is a significant achievement for the Green Key program but more notably for the entire lodging industry,” said Tony Pollard, managing director of Green Key Global. “This is tangible proof that the lodging industry has successfully assumed a leading role in demonstrating sustainable and environmentally conscious business practices.”Developed by the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC), the initial concept for the Green...

DENVER—According to Milo Cress, an 11-year-old middle school student and enthusiastic environmentalist, an estimated 500 million drinking straws—enough to fill 46,400 school buses annually—are discarded every day. Unfortunately, many don’t even make it to the landfills.That’s why Xanterra, operator of tourism entities worldwide, is launching a ‘Choose to be Straw Free’ program on Earth Day, April 22. This is the latest in a yearlong series of sustainability initiatives that have earned the company worldwide recognition.”The campaign will roll out initially at Zion Lodge in Zion National Park, Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Ariz., Grand...

MIAMI—The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. announced that two new Caribbean destinations are offering the award-winning Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program. Reflecting the popularity of the environmental program’s first collaboration with The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, it’s now available at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, in addition to the newly launched first Reserve in the Americas, Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.The pioneering program, which emphasizes education and respect for environmental sustainability, is exclusively crafted for each diverse landscape and culture, designed for guests to explore the world’s natural wonders and heighten getaways with innovative environmental education and activities. Through eco-adventures,...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has selected the Cusco-Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu corridor in Peru, and the shores of Lake Llanquihue, Puerto Varas, and Frutillar in the Lakes Region of Chile for the second round of its pilot program to test its new Criteria and Indicators for Destinations.These new Early Adopters are the first South American destinations to participate.Overseen by GSTC’s Destination Working Group and managed by NGO partner Sustainable Travel International, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s Criteria for Destinations are designed to orient destination managers, communities, and businesses toward the steps that are needed to sustain their...

BOSTON—Earth Day may be just around the corner, but consumers are buying with an eye toward “green” all year long. A record-high 71 percent of Americans consider the environment when they shop, up from 66 percent in 2008. Additionally, nearly half (45 percent) of consumers actively seek out environmental information about the products they buy, according to the five-year benchmark of the 2013 Cone Communications Green Gap Trend Tracker.Even as “green” becomes increasingly top of mind, Americans still struggle with their role in the life cycle of products with an environmental benefit. Ninety percent said they believe it’s their...

HONOLULU, HAWAII—Aqua Hospitality is donating a portion of room reservations on Earth Day to celebrate a number of green improvements throughout its collection. Aqua Hospitality’s hotels and resorts will be doing their part to care for the oceans via room reservation donations to Hui o Koolaupoko, an organization whose mission is to protect ocean health. One dollar from each reservation booked on Earth Day (Monday, April 22) will go toward helping Hui o Koolaupoko’s programs for monitoring ocean conditions and watershed health by working with various stakeholders on natural resource coordination and community education. Bookings for April 22 can...

NATIONAL REPORT—Air curtains, also known as air doors, can play an important role in a hotel’s energy conservation strategy—especially hotels with foodservice operations. In use for almost a century now, air curtains have become more sophisticated and effective in recent years and the number of applications for them has grown. Air curtains can now be used in entryways—both in the front and back of the house—with walk-in coolers, warewashers, and even in laundry areas. Air curtains help to contain heated or air conditioned air, and are essential in stopping the infiltration of flying insects, dust and dirt.Air curtains employ...