LONDON—Travel and tourism can be (and in an increasing number of destinations already is) a catalyst for economic prosperity, nurturing the natural and cultural environment. The World Travel & Tourism Council is delighted to invite those who adopt in these principles to participate in the 2008 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards—the highest accolade in sustainable tourism. There are four categories for entry, allowing for applications from tourism destinations, businesses and organizations. The categories include: • Destination Award: for destinations of any size that show a commitment to responsible tourism development;• Conservation Award: for any tourism organization committed to the protection of natural...

BOSTON—Three additional hotels in the Boston area have earned an Energy Star label by documenting superior energy performance and efficiency. With the new designations, there are now eight hotels in the Hub metropolitan area that have made sufficient energy improvements to achieve an Energy Star label. At an event on Thursday, October 4, EPA honored Boston area hoteliers, recognizing each for their facilities’ superior energy performance. Together with Boston Green Tourism, the agency lauded local hoteliers for improving energy efficiency and implementing high quality measures that ultimately improve the guest experience. “We’re excited to see Boston’s hospitality industry take a...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—More than half of all U.S. adults say they would be more likely to select an airline, rental car or hotel that uses more environmentally friendly products and processes, according to the results of the latest travelhorizons survey by the Travel Industry Association (TIA) and Ypartnership. But while more than half of U.S. adults may be advocates of environmental responsibility, only 14 percent of respondents said their actual selection of a travel service supplier would be influenced by that supplier’s efforts to preserve and protect the environment. Just 13 percent would be willing to pay higher rates or fares...

NEW YORK—Green Shield Certified, a new seal of approval for eco-friendly pest control providers, has been introduced. Green Shield certification offers pest control companies and their customers a new standard for smarter, more effective pest control without unnecessary pesticides. The program is endorsed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), and Physicians for Social Responsibility of Greater Los Angeles. “Green Shield Certified is the next generation of pest control service,” says Jonathan Kaplan, a senior policy specialist at NRDC. “These certified companies are proving that knowledge and prevention can provide more effective,...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Willard InterContinental, Washington DC’s premiere historic luxury hotel, is now powered by 100 percent wind energy. Pepco Energy Services, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. and a leader in renewable electricity, supplies the 332-room landmark hotel with 100 percent wind renewable energy credits, making the Willard the first urban luxury hotel in the United States to be fully supported in this sustainable manner. Pepco Energy Services provides the Willard InterContinental Washington with nearly 7.1 million kilowatt hours of 100 percent wind renewable energy certificates. The Loyalton Group, an energy risk management firm in Washington, D.C., facilitated the contracts,...

BUFFALO, N.Y.—The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel, a property managed by Delaware North Companies and located in Dixville Notch, N.H., passed its ISO 14001 Registration Audit earlier this month. This is the 19th ISO Registration that Delaware North has successfully navigated. “This is a great honor for The Balsams and our company as a whole,” says John Huey, director of stewardship, Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts. “We’re fully committed to doing what’s best for our environment and building upon such successes by further developing GreenPath and our positive impacts on the environment.” The ISO 14001 audit, which is markedly stringent, assesses...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—Ray Burger, president of Pineapple Hospitality, a company that markets and sells numerous green products and programs, has launched EcoRooms & EcoSuites. The online directory is a one part certification/one part marketing initiative for green hotels, resorts, inns, motels and B&Bs. The website is up and running with five properties: the Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa, American Canyon, Calif.; Orchard Garden Hotel, San Francisco; The Ambrose Hotel, Santa Monica, Calif.; the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, Lake Placid, N.Y.; and the Habitat Suites Hotel, Austin, Texas. Burger and his board of advisors have set the bar high to...

BOSTON—The Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston has just received official Energy Star status in recognition of its energy conservation and efficiency efforts. The hotel, built in 1963, has just completed a year-long effort to achieve this status. To that end, building automation systems were used to efficiently control the building’s energy consumption, coordinating HVAC, boilers, chillers and common area lighting. The guestroom energy management system manages heating and cooling when guests are not in their rooms and guestrooms are now lit by compact fluorescent lighting. “The overall guiding principle in decision making for all projects over the last year has...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Starwood Capital Group and Perseus Realty, L.L.C. (Perseus Realty) announced that they have signed an agreement to build an eco-friendly luxury hotel at 22nd and M Streets, N.W. in the heart of the Washington, D.C.’s West End neighborhood. The hotel will be one of the world’s first 1 Hotels, Starwood Capital’s recently launched five-star, eco-friendly international hotel brand that will combine the best of environmentally sustainable architecture and design properties with first-class service and luxurious comfort. The 180-key hotel, which will be developed by Starwood Development and Perseus Realty, is expected to break ground in mid-2008 and deliver...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—The East Avenue Investment Group LP and Global Hyatt Corp. announced plans to develop a hotel under Hyatt’s new luxury brand, Andaz, as part of a mixed-use development in Austin’s central core. The 210-room hotel will open in 2010. The announcement comes on the heels of Hyatt’s unveiling of its new brand in April 2007, and announcements for Andaz hotels in London and Manhattan. The landmark Great Eastern Hotel in the City of London will convert to Andaz in mid-October, followed by properties at 75 Wall Street and 485 Fifth Avenue, New York, in 2009. In addition to operating...