DULLES, VA.—In the spirit of inspiring and promoting environmental responsibility, the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott’s all-green meetings initiative has taken root now that the Virginia Department of Environmental Equality has awarded the hotel its Certificate of Environmental Commitment.The Washington Dulles Airport Marriot demonstrates its Earth-friendly attitude while providing meeting attendees with 100 percent recycled note pads, pens made from recycled materials, eco-friendly water service, organic flowers, linen-free tables, paperless billing, online event menus and a recyclable box lunch program. All office paper, plastic and glass from events are recycled as well as grease and cooking oil from the hotel’s...

NATIONAL REPORT—Invisible coatings available through several vendors and applied by trained technicians are making it easier for hoteliers to clean and maintain guestrooms and other areas while also creating more healthy spaces. These coatings, some of which are created using nanotechnology, can eliminate odors, viruses, bacteria and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while preventing the formation of mold and mildew. The coatings can also help extend the life of hotel assets. Each company’s product and application process is somewhat different and so are the benefits but the end result, vendors say, is something that can be marketed by a hotel...

DALLAS—The Hotel Association of North Texas announced the winners of its Stars of the Industry awards given out each year at its association gala, the HOSPY’s Awards Dinner. A “HOSPY” is awarded by the association by an individual, hotel or organization in recognition of a contribution they made to the hotel industry over the past year.The awards were presented at the gala on Friday night December 7, 2012. This year’s event was held at the Sheraton Dallas hotel located in downtown Dallas. More than 600 hoteliers and their guests saw HOSPY awards given in 13 categories. Presenting sponsor for...

PORTLAND, ORE.—The 8th Annual Sustainable Meetings Conference 2013, organized by the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC), convenes in Chicago April 7 to 10, 2013 at McCormick Place West Hall. The West Building is the largest new-construction facility in the country to be LEED certified and McCormick Place is committed to initiatives designed to conserve energy, protect vital resources and promote ecologically-efficient policies and procedures.The annual GMIC conference is the pivot point for the thought leaders, decision-makers, and hands-on practitioners who are working to transform the global meetings industry through sustainable meeting practices. The entire event, from education sessions to...

CHICAGO—Hyatt recently celebrated Human Rights Day by highlighting its commitment to respecting fundamental human rights, as embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Hyatt is advancing its campaign against human trafficking by launching a global training program for company associates developed in conjunction with the Polaris Project, an organization dedicated to combating human trafficking.The program is designed to provide managers and line staff at Hyatt hotels around the world with an understanding of human trafficking, its intersection with the hotel industry and the tools to recognize and report potential situations or victims.“At Hyatt, we want to ensure our...

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND—As part of its commitment to sustainable development, Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts has released its first public sustainability report. This report has been produced to inform the global hotel group’s guests and stakeholders about the long-term strategy, goals, initiatives and performance relating to sustainability activities across the group.Over the past three years Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts has established a robust and strategic sustainability framework, culminating in the implementation of a global sustainability strategy and infrastructure. To deliver a systematic implementation of this strategy, a web-based integrated sustainability management system has been deployed in all hotels. To ensure consistent...

ACME, MICH.—Grand Traverse Resort and Spa near Traverse City, Mich., has installed an electric vehicle charging station at the parking lot in front of the resort’s 17-story tower. The charging station can charge up to four vehicles at a time with 120 and 240-volt capacity that conforms to all industry standards.This is just one of many “green” initiatives at the resort which in 2011 earned the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council’s “Business of the Year Award.” In addition, the resort is designated a “Leader” by the state’s Green Lodging Michigan program and recently achieved “Legacy Certification” from the Michigan...

NATIONAL REPORT—Ten years ago, an infrared camera cost $50,000. Today, according to John Keane, director, Infrared Training Center, Nashua, N.H., one can purchase this type of camera for as little as $2,000. That price drop has made infrared imaging, also known as infrared thermography, more practical in a hotel environment. “The most common application is electrical inspections—looking for hot spots caused by bad connections, current overload, or other problems,” Keane says. “It would be common for a hotel to want to have all of its electrical infrastructure inspected, from the substation outside all the way to the electrical panels...

STAMFORD, CONN.—In a move that reinforces its “green from the ground up” branding, Element Hotels reports that its entire portfolio of hotels now meets the brand’s 100 percent renewable energy commitment. The initiative was launched earlier this year and gained momentum as each Element hotel individually renewed its annual energy contract. It culminated this month with the signing of the final contract.A brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., Element Hotels pursues the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for high-performance buildings brand-wide. In 2010, Element’s Global Citizenship team challenged hotel...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Assn. (AH&LA), the national trade association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, is seeking nominations for the 2013 Stars of the Industry Awards competition. The competition recognizes employee and lodging property achievement in 11 categories, including Good Earthkeeping, Community Service, Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year, Outstanding General Manager of the Year, and Technology Innovation of the Year.More than half of AH&LA’s partner state associations (PSAs) host competitions, and these state winners are forwarded to AH&LA for consideration for the national awards. In some cases, the PSAs do not offer...