LAS VEGAS—It could be a record for educating the largest number of associates about sustainability, diversity and inclusion, community engagement, and giving in one—well, nine—fell swoops. On December 16 to 18 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, MGM Resorts International will host more than 45,000 MGM associates who will each witness one of nine scheduled 90-minute performances of “Inspiring Our World.” Inspiring Our World is a musical performance focusing on MGM Resorts International’s values that will be put on by employees.In all, 70 performers were selected to bring the show’s message to their colleagues. About 130...

SAN FRANCISCO—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced a $3 million grant from Google that will catalyze the transformation of the building materials industry and accelerate the creation of healthier indoor environments.“Healthy, non-toxic building materials are a critical component in green building,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO & founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “Fostering awareness of the materials we put into our buildings is of paramount importance, since many materials can link to a host of environmental and health issues. Working with Google enables us to broaden our efforts in the materials industry as we prepare for the...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—For the second consecutive year, Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, is ranked No. 1 among hotels and restaurants by Newsweek magazine in their annual Greenest Companies survey. The rankings evaluate the environmental performance of the largest publicly traded companies in the United States and around the world.Ranked among the top 100 greenest companies in the United States, Wyndham Worldwide was evaluated on a number of criteria including its environmental footprint and management, environmental policies, programs and initiatives. The survey also considered the company’s reporting and disclosure practices, including the Carbon Disclosure Project and its...

BOSTON—When it comes to corporate social responsibility, consumers want more than an aspirational mission statement, according to research by Cone Communications. According to 2012 Cone Communications Corporate Social Return Trend Tracker, 84 percent of Americans hold companies accountable for producing and communicating the results of CSR commitments by going beyond the mission to robustly communicate progress against well-defined purpose. Some 40 percent go as far as to say that they will not purchase a company’s products or services if CSR results are not communicated.Companies that proactively share the details and results of their CSR efforts, rather than just their...

WASHINGTON—The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Greenprint Center for Building Performance, a worldwide alliance of leading real estate owners, investors and financial institutions committed to reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions across the global property industry, has announced the addition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. as a new member.“At Starwood, we believe that economic growth and the well-being of society are inextricably tied to the health of the environment,” said Frits van Paasschen, CEO for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “As one of the leading hospitality companies in the world, we have an obligation to be good stewards to...

MINNEAPOLIS—During the month of September, Carlson Rezidor hotels across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas and Asia Pacific were invited to take action in their hotels and communities by organizing social and environmental activities and raising funds to support World Childhood Foundation, an organization under the patronage of Queen Silvia of Sweden focused on aiding children at risk for abuse and exploitation.“Our annual Responsible Business Action Month is a call to action for our 35,000+ employees in the 70 countries in which we are present to place a special emphasis on doing sustainable business, giving back, and making...

CALGARY, ALBERTA—With the former president of BuiltGreen Canada as its director of procurement, and a team of other executives committed to eco-friendly building and operations, MasterBUILT Hotels is beginning to establish its reputation as a leading developer and manager of green hotels in the Western provinces of Canada. MasterBUILT currently manages a portfolio of one Microtel by Wyndham and three Super 8 hotels. The company owns the Microtel property in Saskatchewan. The Super 8 properties are located in Fort McMurray, Alberta; Cranbrook, B.C.; and in Calgary.“An advocate of green design and energy efficient construction and operating practices, we actively...

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA.—Approximately 3.3 million tons of food waste from hotels, restaurants and bars goes into landfill sites every year. Yet, 4 percent of U.S. households experience chronic hunger. This month, The Founders Inn and Spa, in partnership with Operation Blessing, will follow the Capella Hotel Group Fragments program standards, to make soup for New Life Christian Center, East Ocean View to distribute. Capella Hotel Group manages The Founders Inn and Spa.Each week kitchen staff saves all unused food from the restaurant and catered events that would normally be discarded. Generally this consists of soup, proteins, starches, and vegetables....

SEATTLE—Hyatt at Olive 8, Seattle’s first and only Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified hotel, continues to lead the local hospitality industry in green initiatives with the announcement of its Green Seal Gold Certification—the much sought after achievement that can only be accomplished if the property complies with the Green Seal Standard for Hotels & Lodging Properties (GS-33, 2011) at the highest level. Only three hotels in the United States have obtained a gold certification, and only a handful of properties have the unique combination of all three environmentally friendly distinctions.“Since opening our doors in February 2009,...

ASHEVILLE, N.C.—For the first time, one of America’s cities, Asheville, N.C., has earned the official designation of being a Green Dining Destination. This achievement means that locals, tourists, and businesspeople can dine at a plethora of Certified Green Restaurants throughout Asheville. This accomplishment was driven by the Green Restaurant Association (GRA), Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR), and the Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute (BRSI), who formed a local coalition to encourage more environmentally sustainable practices within the city’s restaurants.This month, Asheville has met and exceeded its goal of having 15 Certified Green Restaurants throughout the city, all of which have...