COZUMEL, MEXICO—Cozumel has taken a giant leap forward in its quest to become one of the world’s leading sustainable destinations, through the development of an action plan focused on three priority destination stewardship initiatives.An island of turquoise waters, dazzling coral reefs, white beaches, and rich cultural heritage, Cozumel faces the common challenge of maintaining a sustainable growth trajectory while at the same time, protecting its natural and cultural heritage. The popular Riviera Maya destination attracts approximately 240,000 overnight tourists and 3 million cruise visitors to its shores each year, making it the world’s second most-visited cruise port of call.More...

CHICAGO—The National Restaurant Association will showcase its first-ever Hydroponic Garden at NRA Show 2013. Attendees will explore a fully functioning hydroponic garden that will grow local, all-natural, pesticide-free produce right on the show floor. The NRA Show’s new Hydroponic Garden uses a combination of artificial light and nutrient-enriched water to give plants everything they need to thrive.Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in a water and mineral nutrient solution without soil. Compared to traditional soil gardening, hydroponics provides year-round cultivation; produces a higher yield per square foot; requires no weed pulling; uses about two-thirds less water; eliminates pesticide...

SILVER SPRING, MD.—Choice Hotels International, Inc., one of the world’s largest hotel companies, and Concord Hospitality announced that construction of the 182-room Cambria Suites hotel in Washington, D.C. has begun “skyward.” As opposed to a traditional groundbreaking event, the “skybreak” marks the start of hotel construction skyward above newly constructed retail at CityMarket at O, a mixed-use development one block from the Washington Convention Center. The all-suite hotel features spacious, larger than standard hotel rooms, a rooftop pool, fitness center and outdoor urban oasis terrace with open green space featuring sweeping views of the U.S. Capitol and the national...

DOVER, DEL.—Ed Sutor, president and CEO of Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, announces that the hotel is in the process of implementing an in-room recycling program, allowing guests to participate in separating recyclables from regular landfill waste.“Our goal is to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill,” Sutor said. “We are in the process of converting receptacles in the bedrooms/suites area to a container for recyclables only, and keeping the waste receptacle in the bathroom for trash only. With the help of our green-conscious guests, we hope to see a significant increase in our overall recycling efforts.”“We...

HONOLULU, HAWAII—Last year, eight Outrigger Hotels and Resorts properties in Waikiki waged war on waste by encouraging hotel guests to go green. More than 883,000 recyclable plastic bottles and aluminum cans were collected from guestrooms for a total weight of more than 20 tons, up from 17.5 tons in 2011. This record company performance, if stacked end to end, would equal the height of a whopping 30 Mauna Kea mountains or a tower 540 times taller than Diamond Head. Outrigger launched the in-room recycling program in 2006 at its two Waikiki beachfront hotels, encouraging visitors to leave plastic bottles...

PITTSBURGH—Fairmont Pittsburgh announced that it has been named Fairmont Hotels & Resorts 2012 Environmental Hotel of the Year. The award recognizes Fairmont properties around the world for outstanding commitment to the Green Partnership Program, a company-wide environmental stewardship program. The announcement was made by Jennifer Fox, president of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.“The colleagues of Fairmont Pittsburgh have an obvious enthusiasm for environmental stewardship, and we are proud to honor them with this award,” said Sarah Dayboll, director of environmental affairs, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “Their outstanding efforts regarding energy and carbon reduction, water conservation, waste minimization and fostering environmentally...

HERNDON, VA.—Staff members at the Washington Dulles Marriott Suites can’t help getting all bubbly when they talk about the Herndon hotel’s latest charitable effort. The hotel is one of just a few hotels near Dulles airport to team up with Clean the World, a nonprofit that collects soaps, shampoos, conditioners and lotions discarded by the hospitality industry every day. The organization, which operates in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and 10 Canadian provinces, then uses a patent-pending process to clean the products so volunteers can redistribute them for humanitarian purposes around the globe.Hand washing with soap significantly...

NATIONAL REPORT—On a winter’s day when the temperature in the Washington, D.C. area soared into the 70s, the ASAE Convene Green Alliance (CGA) took an adventurous group of 20 meeting professionals and industry partners on a behind-the-scenes “Green Safari” tour of the sustainability program at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View, one of only three LEED Gold certified hotels in Virginia. Participants received bandanas to wear and were greeted by Renaissance associates dressed in pith helmets and safari gear to set the theme for this unique learning format. The Green Safari demonstrated how the property earned LEED Gold status and how it...

DUBAI, U.A.E.—Women business leaders from the Middle East and Gulf States gathered in late February at the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai to discuss “Women as Dynamic Forces of Change,” as part of a three-day celebration honoring the iconic new hotel. Created as a forum to empower women, the luncheon and panel discussion sparked the beginning of a longer-term strategic brand partnership between JW Marriott and Vital Voices, a global nonprofit that trains and mentors women to enhance their leadership and economic opportunity. The Dubai Business Women Council, the leading organization of women entrepreneurs in Dubai, also partnered on this...

MILL VALLEY, CALIF.—Auberge Resorts has announced environmentally focused offerings at each of its luxury resorts across North America that will encourage guests to share in the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. Each property is introducing a new collection of Earth Month guest experiences kicking off during Earth Hour on March 23 and available throughout the month of April.“Environmental preservation is intrinsic to the Auberge Resorts brand; our mission is to preserve the essence of place in each resort location and allow our guests to experience that cultural and environmental connection at each destination,” said Mark Harmon, CEO, Auberge Resorts....