WESTERVILLE, OHIO—IEHA and Phoenix-based Best Western International (BWI) are partnering to produce the first Healthy Hotel Housekeeper (HHH) Certification, with the goal to make hotel environments cleaner and healthier by empowering housekeeping professionals with knowledge and training, supported by an ongoing certification program administered by IEHA.BWI, representing more than 4000 hotels globally, and some 2,200 domestic properties, is the largest midscale hotel chain in the world, and the IEHA Healthy Hotel Housekeeper Certification Level One (HHH L1) will be offered first to BWI’s U.S. directors of housekeeping (DOHs) in tandem with BWI’s membership commitment to IEHA, and IEHA’s commitment...

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—On Thursday, September 12, 2013, the California State Senate voted to approve SB 254 authored by Senator Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) and Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) by a 31-8 bipartisan vote. SB 254 now moves to the Governor’s desk for review and signature.SB 254 (Hancock/Correa), which has enjoyed bipartisan support throughout the legislative process, creates a used mattress recycling program that will have a dedicated funding mechanism, reduce the impact of illegally dumped mattresses, harness existing infrastructure for transporting used mattresses to recyclers, create jobs, and minimize costs to both government and consumers.“We are very pleased SB 254...

AVALON, N.J.—Concord Suites is officially a TripAdvisor GreenLeader after demonstrating ongoing green initiatives. The TripAdvisor GreenLeaders Program recognizes hotels that are committed to green practices such as alternative energy, water efficiency and recycling.  GreenLeaders make a large, positive impact on the environment around them through their efforts to go green.Concord Suites has not stopped looking for ways to reduce its environmental footprint. Last year, the hotel installed a 434-panel solar array on its rooftop which now harnesses the sun’s energy and provides the Concord with 60 percent of its overall energy usage.The Concord Suites has added energy-efficient light fixtures...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The green team at Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Washington, D.C. has had a lot to smile about lately. The hotel was presented with the Technology Innovation, Medium Property award earlier this summer by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. That honor followed last year’s Mayor’s Sustainability Award. More importantly, in the last two years the hotel has completed a long list of projects—$2.4 million worth—that have resulted in a drop of 48 percent in utility costs, 24 percent reduction in energy use, 31 percent reduction in energy rates, and 32 percent drop in water consumption.Getting to its current operating...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Electric utilities continue upgrading their customers’ analog electric meters with digital “smart” meters, according to a new IEE report, Utility-Scale Smart Meter Deployments. “Smart meters enable two-way power and information flows between the utility and the customer,” said IEE executive director Lisa Wood. “Electric utilities are using the real-time information provided by smart meters and other investments in the digital grid to improve the efficiency and reliability of the electric system.”IEE, an Institute of The Edison Foundation focused on innovation and efficiency in electricity, found that smart meters were installed in more than 45 million (or nearly 40...

STAMFORD, CONN.—The New York City borough of Queens will soon be home to a dual-hotel development featuring two Starwood brands. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced plans to open Four Points by Sheraton Flushing and Element Flushing in September 2015. Owned by Century Construction Group, the hotels will boast a convenient location, just ten minutes from LaGuardia Airport.“This exciting, new project will combine our affordable and stylish Four Points brand with our eco-wise Element brand in one location within the vibrant borough of Queens,” said Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “Travelers will...

MAUI, HAWAII—Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea has launched a new “going green” limousine service using Motor Trend’s 2013 Car of the Year, the all-electric Tesla S 85 luxury sedan, to transport guests from the Kahului airport to the resort. “From the moment guests step off the plane, they can begin embracing Maui’s lush tropical setting—bedecked with dazzling flowers and fauna—without leaving a carbon footprint,” says Mark Simon, marketing director, Four Seasons Resort Maui. The Tesla S 85 four-door sedan can accommodate three passengers plus the driver and is available for round trip airport service as well as for escorted trips...

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN—During the first half of 2013, Scandic’s energy consumption fell by 0.42 percent, water consumption was down 3.26 percent and unsorted waste was 10.17 percent less, compared with the same period last year. Emissions of carbon dioxide have, however, risen by 4.71 percent, largely due to a third party change in energy purchasing by the external district heating supplier.Scandic has been working on environmental issues since the mid-1990s. Water, energy, waste and carbon emissions are some of the areas that the Group measures each month in order to continuously improve its sustainability work. This work has paid dividends...

TUCSON, ARIZ.—Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa is the first Southern Arizona resort to receive a GreenLeaders designation by TripAdvisor. The new GreenLeaders program provides travelers the ability to plan greener trips by identifying environmentally-friendly accommodations across the United States. The Westin La Paloma debuted as a Silver Level GreenLeader in the program.TripAdvisor GreenLeaders have met a set of environmental standards developed for TripAdvisor by a leading environmental consulting firm, with input from expert partners. The more green practices a hotel has in place, the higher its GreenLeader level, which is shown on the property’s listing on the TripAdvisor...

PHILADELPHIA—Home2 Suites by Hilton, the mid-tier, all-suite hotel brand designed for modern business travelers and extended-stay guests, announced the opening of its 20th U.S. hotel in Philadelphia. Co-developed by Philadelphia-based Wurzak Hotel Group and Parkway Corp., and owned by a joint venture that includes DoveHill Partners, Parkway Corp. and New York-based investment fund Glenmont Capital Management, LLC, the property represents the largest Home2 Suites to open since the inception of the brand in 2011.The nine-story, 248-suite hotel, located across from the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 1200 Arch Street in Center City, will be operated by Wurzak Hotel Group and...