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...

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...