KUNFUNADHOO ISLAND, MALDIVES—It has been announced that the 2014 Slow Life Symposium at Soneva Fushi will focus on the concept of Planetary Boundaries (as pioneered by the Stockholm Resilience Centre), exploring how we can accelerate and scale initiatives like “Natural Capital” and “Social Capital” to shape the ground rules for tomorrow’s capitalism.Now in its fifth year, the conference brings together a group of 30 eminent representatives from the global world of business, science, travel and education for a four day symposium (November 13 to 16) and promises to, once again, provide an inspiring environment for collaboration with some of...

STOCKBRIDGE, MASS.—On Sunday, August 31, the Outstanding in the Field bus arrived in the Berkshires for a third year on the hills of Lila’s Farm in Great Barrington, Mass. Executive Chef Brian Alberg and his crew from The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge manned the field kitchen and the celebrated long table presenting a five-course meal to 175 guests, one of the biggest dinners of Outstanding in the Field’s (OITF) season. This is the third year Brian Alberg was the selected chef for the Berkshire OITF dinner.Ingredients for each OITF meal are almost all local, sometimes sourced within inches...

CHICAGO—Leading online travel company Orbitz Worldwide announced its commitment to fight commercial sexual exploitation of children by partnering with ECPAT-USA in support of the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct—otherwise known as “The Code.” ECPAT is the leading global network of organizations that is dedicated to ending child prostitution and recently received the 2013 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, given annually to an organization that is significantly alleviating human suffering.  The Code is an industry-driven, multi-stakeholder initiative with the mission to provide awareness, tools and support to the tourism industry in order to combat the sexual exploitation of children in...

NEW YORK—From its inaugural Women’s Ownership Works or WOW Summit at the Courtyard/Residence Inn Manhattan Central Park, Marriott International will announce plans to have 1,000 or 25 percent of its existing global hotel portfolio owned by diverse owners, including women, by 2020. The WOW Summit brings together a small group of current women hotel owners with women exploring hotel development as part of their investment approach.“We have always had a culture of inclusiveness and want everyone to be aware of the opportunity to own hotels as an investment strategy that also has community benefit,” said Julius W. Robinson, Marriott...

STAMFORD, CONN.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced that its Element brand plans to open a third hotel in Florida, less than a mile from Universal Studios Orlando. Element Orlando is slated to debut in July 2016, following next year’s opening of both Element Orlando North and Element Miami Doral. Owned by Barakat Orlando Resort, LLC, developed by GCD Associates, and managed by New Jersey based Paramount Hotel Group, Element Orlando will offer 151 sustainable rooms and a light-filled atmosphere.“Element Orlando will offer travelers a smart, sustainable extended stay option in an unbeatable location near Orlando’s world-renowned theme parks,”...

NEW YORK—Three NEWH Green Voice Conversations have been added to the extensive schedule of sustainability-focused sessions at the Hospitality Leadership Forum, International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS), and Boutique Design New York (BDNY) events to be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center November 8 to 11 in New York City. The Green Voice Conversations will take place as part of BDNY.The first Green Voice Conversation will take place Sunday, November 9 from 10:30 to 11 a.m. The topic will be, “Where Does Your Wood Come from and Why it Matters: Understanding Responsible Sourcing of Wood and...

HAMILTON, OHIO—Many cleaning professionals are unaware of studies that indicate how the very tools we use to clean surfaces—specifically, cleaning cloths and mops—are sometimes the very ones that cause cross-contamination. This point was illustrated rather dramatically in a study published in 2004. That study found that, in situations where the cleaning procedure fails to thoroughly eliminate contamination from one surface and then the same cloth is used to wipe another surface, “the contamination is transferred to that surface.” Another study investigated microbial contamination of cleaning cloths and their potential to spread contamination. Once again, this study reported that wiping surfaces...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Those looking for assurance that ozone laundry technology does indeed reduce energy, water and related costs can find proof in study results recently released by the U.S. Department of Energy (D.O.E.) Building Technologies Office. The D.O.E., with the assistance of outside consultants, conducted a demonstration project to evaluate ozone laundry technologies for reducing the energy and water use of multi-load washers in healthcare and hospitality facilities.The D.O.E. report, entitled, “Demonstration of Advanced Technologies for Multi-Load Washers in Hospitality and Healthcare—Ozone Based Laundry Systems,” documents the demonstration of two ozone laundry system installations. The first installation took place at...

EAGLE BEACH, ARUBA—Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorts has taken the pledge to be a part of the Water Sense H2Otel Challenge. Water Sense is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partnership program designed to help save water for future generations. Bucuti is the only resort outside of the United States and North America that has taken this initiative at this time.The initial step of the program is “ACT”: assess water use and savings opportunities; change products or processes to incorporate best management practices; and track results. Upon assessment, Bucuti will begin replacing existing products with Water Sense-labeled models. Simply...

OAHU, HAWAII—Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu, Hawaii, has completed the installation of an innovative green roof that covers a total of approximately 60,000 square feet as part of its commitment to environmental sustainability.“We are dedicated to preserving Hawaii’s delicate and natural resources as stewards of the land,” said Scott McCormack, Vice President of Real Estate for Turtle Bay Resort. “We have received positive feedback from our resort guests who appreciate the project’s eco-friendly benefits and are enjoying enhanced guestroom views of the ocean and landscape art atop the newly designed roofs.”The lower flat roofs of Turtle Bay Hotel were completely...