WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Restaurant Assn. has relaunched its Conserve website designed to educate restaurateurs about sustainability and showcase how applying greener business practices will save money and help protect the environment. The rebooted website offers numerous videos, case studies, best practices and personal accounts of becoming more sustainable, reducing energy and water consumption, decreasing food waste, recycling, composting and operating business in environmentally and economically responsible ways. “Practicing sustainability is no longer a trend, but an important aspect of the restaurant industry’s daily operations,” said Scott DeFife, Executive Vice President, Policy and Government Affairs, National Restaurant Assn. “With this new and...

LAS VEGAS—Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS) and Clean the World, a not-for-profit global hygiene organization, unveiled new manufacturing equipment at Clean the World’s Las Vegas facility that will help the organization double its production of recycled soap, helping people in need both domestically and around the globe.At an event launching the new equipment, the two organizations also announced LVS’ underwriting of 100,000 Clean the World hygiene kits for distribution through the American Red Cross to local and national disaster victims and a mass community effort to build the kits at LVS’ Venetian and Palazzo properties in the coming months....

NEW YORK—Trump Hotel Collection launched a new digital newspaper service for guests on June 2. The company is providing complimentary, unlimited access to top newspapers and magazines through digital access to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and PressReader, which features over 2,500 domestic and international titles. The number of paper newspapers distributed to guests dropped by 80 percent in the first week after the service was launched. Guests can still opt for printed newspapers.  “Our research shows that guests are seeking a wider selection of reading options and we are excited to provide fast and easy...

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J.—More than two years after going “live” with their 756-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system—a structure based on 10 carports in the hotel’s parking area—the owners of the Wyndham Philadelphia-Mount Laurel are investing in additional systems to further reduce energy and water consumption and costs significantly. Investments involve a switch from heating oil to natural gas for air and water heating, an LED retrofit project, and an upgrade to ultra high efficiency toilets.Rishi Shah, Asset Manager of the hotel, says the current transition to natural gas for heating involves a significant mechanical system upgrade. “We are upgrading boilers...

PORTLAND, ORE.—The Green Building Initiative (GBI) announced the launch of a new certification program specific to design of interiors of commercial and institutional buildings, according to GBI President Jerry Yudelson.The new program, Green Globes for Sustainable Interiors, focuses exclusively on the sustainable design and construction of interior spaces in non-residential buildings and can be pursued by both building owners and individual lessees of commercial spaces. When pursuing Green Globes for Sustainable Interiors certification, tenants can focus on both designing new and/or improving their existing interior space to Green Globes standards without the need to certify an entire building.“One of...

ATLANTA—EVEN Hotels, InterContinental Hotels Group’s (IHG) newest brand, created to meet the needs of wellness-minded travelers, has introduced the Cork & Kale food and beverage platform focused on simple, natural and good ingredients. The F&B platform is based on the EVEN brand’s commitment to offering guests a variety of healthy and great tasting menu options that elevate their hotel experience while helping them maintain their routine on the road. The Cork & Kale platform is a consistent F&B offering, which will be available at all EVEN Hotels properties, the first of which are set to open before the end...

ST. PETE BEACH—Loews Don CeSar Hotel, the iconic seaside property in famed St. Pete Beach, Fla., has partnered with Tampa Bay Watch, the Pinellas Education Foundation, and students from St. Petersburg’s Campbell Park Elementary School, to create a series of permanent education stations, and sea life mural, designed to inform visitors about the area’s natural environment, its array of sea life and Tampa Bay’s feathered, finned and leafy neighbors.The self-guided experience was created as a result of the many inquiries the hotel’s staff was receiving from guests about everything from sea turtle nesting and the importance of sea oats...

STAMFORD, CONN.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced growth momentum for Element Hotels, fueled by strong demand for the stylish, eco-wise brand, with its portfolio set to double in the next two years. On track to open its 15th hotel later this year, Element has another 15 hotels slated to open by the end of 2017. With four new hotels opening in 2014, Element will expand outside of North America for the first time ever with the opening of Element Frankfurt Airport in September. In 2015, the launch of Element Suzhou Science and Technology Town will mark another milestone for...

NATIONAL REPORT—Las Vegas Sands, Wyndham Worldwide and MGM Resorts International have been listed among Newsweek Magazine’s 100 most environmentally responsible companies in the United States. Las Vegas Sands landed at No. 18 this year, Wyndham at No. 31, and MGM Resorts at 82.The Newsweek Green Rankings evaluate the world’s largest publicly-traded companies using eight metrics that provide a transparent measurement of overall corporate environmental performance. The eight main factors considered included carbon, energy, water, waste, and the extent to which internal governance is geared towards sustainability.“What we’re seeing more and more is a direct link between corporate sustainability, reputation,...

NATIONAL REPORT—Earlier this year Green Lodging News updated its readers on the many state level green lodging certification and recognition programs. That article followed a series of articles in 2013 on national certification programs. This article focuses on local or regional green certification programs in which lodging establishments can participate. By our count there are six—in Annapolis, Md.; Los Angeles; McAllen, Texas; New York’s Catskill region; Ohio’s Hocking Hills region; and San Francisco.In Annapolis, properties can participate in the Annapolis Environmental Stewardship Certification Program. The Annapolis Environmental Stewardship Certification Program is a part of the Department of Neighborhood and...