BERLIN, GERMANY—At the Berlin International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF), Marriott International has debuted MOXY HOTELS, its first entry into the economy tier, three-star hospitality segment in Europe. Designed to capture the rapidly emerging millennial traveler, the new brand combines contemporary stylish design, approachable service and an affordable price. The brand will debut in Italy, with the first MOXY HOTEL expected to open in Milan in early 2014.The contemporary and stylish 150- to 300-room MOXY HOTELS, which are being designed with the goal of attaining LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council,...

OTTAWA, ONT.—The latest results from the 2013 HAC Canadian Travel Intentions Survey show that 44 percent of business travelers (up 8 percent from 2009) said environmental initiatives such as water recycling and energy efficiency are important to them. Thirty-six percent of leisure and business travelers said it is important for hotels to have green products. Twenty-six percent of leisure travelers and business travelers said a hotel with an environmental certification program is important to them. Twenty percent of business travelers and leisure travelers said the ability to purchase carbon credits is very important to them. Forty-nine percent of travelers...

MAUI, HAWAII—Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, situated oceanfront on Kaanapali Beach, has become the first commercial business partner in the state of Hawaii to begin testing for Maui Electric’s (MECO) semi-automated Fast DR (Demand Response) Pilot Program. In partnership with Hawaiian Electric, MECO launched Fast DR last year to help business customers control the cost of their electric bills while helping the utility maintain reliability and add more renewable energy to the grid. Fast DR rewards commercial and industrial customers for designating parts of their electricity use that can be turned off during critical energy situations with...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In honor of National Women’s Month, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has launched a Women in Lodging (WIL) Connect national competition that serves the dual purpose of highlighting women in the industry and urging industry professionals to join the WIL initiative. Beginning in March and continuing each month through the end of the year, three to five women in a variety of operational areas, including general managers, human resources, sales/marketing, and sustainability, will be highlighted. As an added incentive to increase membership, two new WIL members will have the opportunity to have lunch or dinner with...

MONROE, WIS.—Arthur Bartsch, owner of Wisconsin’s Super 8 of Monroe, has spent the last 15 years trying to figure out how to remove inefficiencies from his 54-room property in Monroe, Wis. He is way past the “low hanging fruit” and well on his way to running one of the greenest lodging establishments in Wisconsin and possibly even the entire United States. The Energy Star rating for the Super 8 of Monroe in 2012, the first year he ran his numbers in the Energy Star Portfolio manager? A 95. That means the hotel, from an energy efficiency standpoint, has been...

FORT COLLINS, COLO.— Based on the premise that spas should be green as a part of the culture of the spa industry, The Spa Association (SPAA) has launched a Green Certification Program to define the parameters of “green” within the industry both for spa facilities and product lines.SPAA utilizes the Ecological Footprint model largely set forth by William Rees in 1992 in the effort to compare human demands on nature with the biosphere’s ability to regenerate resources and provide services. The LEED green ideals and principles are also enacted in the SPAA materials and precepts particularly for building and...

NEWTON, MASS.—TripAdvisor announced that it is accepting applications from U.S. accommodations to be considered for its soon-to-be launched TripAdvisor GreenLeaders program. Created in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program, the United Nations Environment Programme and the U.S. Green Building Council, the program will recognize eco-friendly properties and help travelers plan greener trips. Large hospitality companies including Best Western, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Select Registry, as well as independent hotels, are participating in the program.Applications will be reviewed against a set of environmental criteria developed for TripAdvisor by a leading environmental...

CHICAGO—Anthony Bourdain, best known for his Emmy Award-winning series “No Reservations” and new programs “The Taste” (ABC) and “Parts Unknown” (CNN), will play a prominent role at the 2013 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB). He will deliver a special feature presentation, sign his latest books, and host the third annual Restaurants Rock industry celebration, the official after-party of the NRA Show and IWSB. NRA Show 2013 will be held May 18 to 21 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.As the celebrity host of Restaurants Rock, Bourdain will judge the action-packed IWSB Star...

MIAMI—The InterContinental Miami announced that it has once again renewed its commitment to sustainability efforts by partnering with renewable energy company, Greenlight Energy, and purchasing 16,064,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of wind power for 2013. This kilowatt-hour purchase equals 100 percent of the hotel’s estimated energy usage in 2013. The hotel ranks as the largest green power purchaser in the state of Florida and maintains its place on the 100 percent Purchaser’s List maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership for a second year in a row. The EPA estimates that the InterContinental Miami’s 2013 purchase avoids an estimated...

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS—The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has added a new category to its sustainable tourism awards program which it organizes in collaboration with TravelMole, the online community for the travel and tourism industry.This year, CTO member destinations can submit their projects and programs for consideration for the Destination Stewardship Award. It is one of six to be presented at the 14th annual CTO Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC-14) being held in Trinidad and Tobago from April 15 to 18.The Destination Stewardship Award is presented to a member destination that is making solid strides towards sustainable tourism management at the destination...