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...

NASHVILLE—Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, a nonprofit industry association dedicated to the development of the green roof and wall industry, announces the launch of the two day intensive Net Zero Water Boot Camp professional training at CitiesAlive in Nashville on November 11 to 12 at the Civic Design Center. The Net Zero Water Boot Camp is the curriculum associated with designing integrated water systems that work towards the goal of freeing a facility from the need to connect to the municipal water and wastewater system. Very few buildings around the world have accomplished this feat, yet it remains a...

WICHITA, KAN.—This week Value Place announced the opening of a newly constructed hotel in Columbus, Ohio. The company, with nearly 190 hotels in 32 states, has been on a roll lately. Almost every month this year the company has either opened a property or announced the construction of one. Value Place, a leader in the extended-stay segment, is known for offering an affordable, clean, safe and simple place to stay. What it is not known for is the steps it has taken to be as environmentally efficient as possible—a result of the company’s fanatical attention to keeping costs down.“From...

BEIJING—Fairmont Beijing is partnering with BMW in a showcase of the luxury carmaker’s new electric, environment-friendly i Series. Guests booking airport transfers and the Fairmont Beijing’s “Passion Package” are being transported around the city for the next two months, to experience first-hand the unique sustainable features of the ground-breaking, emission-free concept.“This marketing alliance between two distinguished brands with parallel values showcases our joint commitment to sustainability,” said Fairmont Beijing’s General Manager Michael Ganster.Fairmont Beijing is partnering with BMW as part of a ‘Wise City Action’ initiative encouraging major property companies in Beijing and Shanghai to install recharging facilities for...

BETHESDA, MD.—Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc., the largest lodging real estate investment trust in the United States, has been recognized by environmental nonprofit CDP as a leader among S&P 500 companies for corporate action on climate change and for climate change transparency. Additionally, Host was recognized by the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) as the Global Sector Leader for Hotels and achieved Green Star status.This is the second year that Host has attained a position on CDP’s S&P 500 Climate Performance Leadership Index (CPLI). This year, Host received the highest performance band of “A” for climate performance assessment...

DENVER—Xanterra Parks & Resorts, the country’s largest and oldest national park concessioner, has been forced to take legal action against the National Park Service (NPS) in protest against arbitrary and capricious actions by the agency in connection with the concession contracts to operate lodging, restaurants and other services at Grand Canyon National Park.Xanterra, the primary national park concessioner at the Grand Canyon South Rim, was founded as the Fred Harvey Company in 1876 and first brought visitors to the Grand Canyon by railroad starting in 1905 (the Grand Canyon was designated as a national park 12 years later in...