BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. has become an official hotel partner of Clean the World, a nonprofit that collects, recycles and distributes discarded soaps and other hygiene amenities to communities in need. With nearly 47,000 rooms (more than 200 hotels) already participating, Marriott is the number one hotel chain in the Clean the World portfolio, having collected nearly 1 million soap bars and amenity bottles and diverting more than 120 tons of waste from landfills since 2009. “We are guests on this planet, and conservation ensures our resources are sustained for generations to come,” said Denise Naguib, Marriott International’s vice...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The seventh annual Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC), organized by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), co-hosted by Kenya Tourist Board and Ecotourism Kenya and in cooperation with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from September 24 to 27, 2013. A leading platform for industry stakeholders engaged in ecotourism and sustainable tourism, the ESTC aims to strengthen commitment to the recent UN resolution, “Promotion of ecotourism for poverty eradication and environment protection,” which recognizes tourism’s role in sustainable community development efforts. “In a significant acknowledgment of tourism as a tool for promoting sustainable...

SILVER SPRING, MD.—Econo Lodge hotels, franchised by Choice Hotels International, one of the world’s largest hotel companies, announced it will be the first national economy hotel chain to promote green practices across an entire lodging portfolio. All Econo Lodge hotels in the United States will implement the Choice Hotels Room to be Green (RTBG) program in 2013. The program is designed to reduce environmental impact and waste, meet the changing expectations of today’s environmentally conscious guests and potentially lower operational expenses, (including energy and water costs) at the property level.Econo Lodge, which currently has almost 900 domestic hotel properties...

BANFF, ALBERTA—Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects and opened in July 2010, the Kinnear Centre was built to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System certification, an international benchmark for design, construction, and operation of high environmental performance buildings. The Centre has now reached its LEED goal.“We are extremely proud to attain LEED Gold Certification for the Kinnear Centre for Creativity & Innovation,” said Jeff Melanson, president of The Banff Centre. “This certification reflects our strong commitment to environmental leadership, and recognition of The Banff Centre’s location within the pristine mountain environment of Banff National...

LAS VEGAS—To promote healthy living among its employees and the communities in which it operates and beyond, MGM Resorts International has introduced a healthy eating mobile application that is free of cost and available to the public. The app, “Healthy Eating. Healthy You,” has already reached a major milestone of 7,500 downloads since being launched in September 2012 and is consistently growing at an average rate of 50 downloads per day.“The healthy eating initiative and app is part of our commitment to being a leading corporate responsible organization and to expand our healthy living initiative beyond MGM Resorts to...

NEW YORK—The Conrad New York and surrounding restaurants and retail in Battery Park City were recently recognized by the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) with the 2012 Development of the Year Award. ALIS each year honors excellence and outstanding performance in hotel development and bestowed the prestigious award on Goldman Sachs as the developer of the project.With its strong commitment to sustainability, the Conrad New York is pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for New Construction from the U.S. Green Building Council. The sustainable principles incorporated into the Conrad New York were also incorporated in...

NATIONAL REPORT—Wyndham Worldwide’s headquarters has one. So does the Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, Ill., the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway, the Hampton Inn Elmira/ Horseheads (Horseheads, N.Y.) and numerous other hotel properties. What they all have is a white roof—a solar-reflective white coating to help reduce temperatures inside and out during those times when the building is most vulnerable to the sun’s impact. Having a white coating on a rooftop instead of a black coating can have a significant positive environmental and cost impact, especially in warmer climates. A roof covered with solar-reflective white paint reflects up to 90...

CARMEL, IND.—RCI, a leader in vacation exchange and part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands, announced that Gold Coast (Australia) visitors can simultaneously help the environment and support local charities through a new creative green initiative introduced by RCI.The RCI program, branded Green Fingers, encourages visiting guests to deposit unwanted, non-perishable food upon departure for donation to local charities. RCI has teamed up with Gold Coast’s Mariner Shores Resort and Nepean Country Club and Day Spa to pilot this food recycling program.The two-pronged project aims at encouraging guests to have minimal impact on the local environment while directly...

MAUI, HAWAII—This summer will signify a new phase for Hyatt’s Andaz brand as it unveils Andaz Maui at Wailea, a resort reflective of and inspired by the destination of Maui, located on 15 pristine acres of southwestern coastline. The first resort for the Andaz brand, Andaz Maui at Wailea will remain true to the signature brand elements that define Andaz hotels around the globe, including offering inspiring experiences that celebrate Maui’s rich, local culture. From the design features and superior service, to the ocean views and relationships in the community, the Hawaiian spirit will be infused throughout the resort,...

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS—How to develop partnerships that result in an innovative, profitable and sustainable product will be the main topic for discussion when tourism planners, policymakers and stakeholders in the tourism sector meet in Trinidad & Tobago in April for the Caribbean’s premier sustainable tourism gathering.The 14th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development, otherwise known as the Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC-14)—to be held from April 15 to 18—will explore ways the Caribbean can enhance destination sustainability and competitiveness in the current global environment by examining a number of critical issues. These include enriching visitor experiences beyond stereotypical urban and...