DESTIN, FLA.—Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa has received the 2013-14 Green Meetings Approved by ConventionSouth certification from ConventionSouth magazine, a leading national resource for meeting planners holding events in the South.The annual certification program evaluates and recognizes properties for their green meeting initiatives and the ability to help meeting planners meet their own green meeting objectives.“We’ve worked long and hard on our sustainable practices and green initiatives, and are excited to have our efforts recognized with this certification,” said Gary Brielmayer, general manager of Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. “From water reduction and energy conservation,...

DEATH VALLEY, CALIF.—Approaching its five-year anniversary, the solar photovoltaic system national park and resort concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts installed in Death Valley has produced more than 10 million kW and met the company’s goal of reducing purchased electricity by 30 percent.The one megawatt (MW) system was completed in June 2008 and covers five acres within Furnace Creek Resort which includes the historic Inn at Furnace Creek, Ranch at Furnace Creek and Furnace Creek Golf Course as well as employee offices and housing.“Our solar PV system has been a true workhorse as it harnesses the sun’s energy practically every...

LONDON—A growing body of evidence suggests tackling food waste could help resolve many of the sustainability challenges faced by the food industry. A number of studies are linking food losses and waste to food inflation, food security, resource inputs and climate change.The global food industry is currently experiencing its third bout of food inflation in five years because of poor agricultural harvests in the United States, Russia and South America. Analysts predict the average basket of food prices will rise by 15 percent by June 2013. The hike in food prices is raising concerns about food security and its...

LAS VEGAS—Las Vegas Sands Corp., a developer and operator of integrated resort destinations, has expanded its Sands ECO360 Meetings program. New offerings include “Green Meeting Concierges” to guide the entire sustainable meeting planning process, “Sands ECO360 Event Impact Statement”—a report to track a meeting’s sustainability performance—and the option to add community engagement events to the meeting experience.The Sands ECO360 Meetings program was created specifically to help Las Vegas Sands’ meeting and convention customers fully leverage the company’s award-winning investment in sustainable building and business practices. Meeting organizers interested in hosting a green event now have the option of working...

CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels Corp. announced the start of the Hyatt Thrive Global Month of Community Service where associates at Hyatt hotels and resorts around the world will volunteer to give back to the communities they call home. Hyatt also unveils a Commit To Thrive social pledge campaign, which asks associates, guests, and neighbors to take an online pledge to commit to making a positive difference in their communities. For each pledge taken up to 35,000, Hyatt will donate a book to a child in need through Room to Read and We Give Books.In its third year, the Hyatt Thrive Global...

SINGAPORE—Asian hospitality chain Meritus Hotels & Resorts (MHR) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Funtasy Island Development (FID) Pte Ltd for the management of a deluxe resort development comprising a 200-room condotel, a 230-suite hotel, and an aggregate of 413-unit villas on Funtasy Island—envisioned to be the largest eco theme park and the first gated island community in the world.Located on Riau Islands, Indonesia and slated to open in 2014, Funtasy Island will house hotel suites and villas complementing retail, convention, dining and recreational facilities—all spread over 810 acres of pristine tropical islands situated between Batam and Singapore.Sixteen...

OCEAN CITY, MD.—Jami Day, Director of Corporate Responsibility for Real Hospitality Group (RHG), recently spoke on a panel in support of the company’s ongoing initiatives as an active partner for ECPAT-USA. The panel discussion was hosted as part of the 2013 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. RHG became the first hotel management company in the United States to sign the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct with ECPAT, USA, a nonprofit organization that advocates for policies to protect sexually exploited children. Day has completed the training initiatives throughout the portfolio of hotels as part of the commitment...

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS—Award winning hotelier Ewald Biemans, whose properties enjoy average occupancies of more than 90 percent, will share his innovative and profitable environmental approaches with delegates attending the region’s premier sustainable tourism conference in Trinidad & Tobago next month.Biemans, the owner and managing director of Bucuti and Tara Resorts in Aruba, is an innovator in environmental practices and his success in achieving profitability through sustainable means has earned both him and his properties global recognition. In his presentation at the 14th Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC-14), the successful hotelier will outline a complete environmental roadmap for hotels and destination organizations to...

BOSTON—The Lenox Hotel in Boston will embrace the upcoming Earth Day by offering a month-long program of green amenities, services and an overnight package designed to keep Boston green.Starting April 1 and continuing through April 30, The Lenox Hotel will offer guests a “Green Dreams” package that includes an overnight stay in one of the hotel’s Heaven on Eleven Pure rooms, a sustainable breakfast in City Table restaurant, an eco-tour of the hotel with the property’s Director of Green, access to the hotel’s book lending eco-library and a guaranteed carbon neutral stay. As part of “Give 5% Keep Boston...

NORWALK, CONN.—For the fourth year in a row, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized HEI Hotels & Resorts with the Energy Star Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence Award for HEI’s continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. HEI Hotel & Resorts’ accomplishments were recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 26, 2013.HEI has again sustained its position among a select group to earn this award, and will be honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency, particularly as HEI continues its major program to renovate properties within its portfolio of 43...