UKIAH, CALIF.—In the midst of the recent recession, hotel owner Raakesh Patel was struggling to keep his hotel open. With fewer travelers visiting his part of California—wine country in Mendocino County—and competition from numerous chain branded hotels, he said he had to do something, and fast. What he did was begin to convert his family’s 54-room Super 8 Ukiah to a green lodging establishment, a long path that has resulted in numerous accolades, lots of free publicity, a much stronger bottom line, and an incredible number of more than 41,000 Facebook “likes”—far more than any LEED Platinum hotel in...

NORTHBROOK, ILL.—UL, Underwriters Laboratories, announced the 2012 findings of its annual global study, The Product Mindset, which examines manufacturer and consumer perceptions about how products are made, sold, bought and consumed. This year’s findings, culled from interviews with manufacturers and consumers in the United States, China, Germany and India, show a steep decline in optimism and increased expectations about quality, safety and the environment. These expectations are driving more complex supply chain dynamics, where traceability and sourcing are the tools manufacturers are leveraging to help deliver reliable, cost-effective products that consumers are demanding.“The volatility in today’s world is causing...

SANTA FE, N.M.—The Santa Fe Watershed Association (SFWA) has launched a public-private sector collaboration called the Santa Fe Green Lodging Initiative. The initiative is being funded by a $49,700 grant awarded to the Watershed Association by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. SFWA supports Santa Fe’s hospitality industry to save money, conserve water, and decrease chemical pollution going into their watershed. “This is a certification program that helps hotels set achievable goals commensurate with their capabilities,” Watershed Association executive director, Felicity Broennan said. “More than one million tourists visit Santa Fe each year. While they are welcomed and are an...

LOS ANGELES—With the launch of Rooomr, travelers can now book eclectic and boutique properties around the world, all set against a backdrop of arts and culture events. What’s more, with the motto “Book a Room Change a Life,” Rooomr donates 5 percent of their gross revenues to at-risk youth each time a room is booked. Rooomr guarantees price parity with other sites, and passes none of the donation costs on to the consumer.In beta launch now, Rooomr’s focus is squarely on individualistic millennials, a diverse group historically ignored by the one-size-fits-all travel establishment. Rooomr pairs curated hotels around the...

STAMFORD, CONN.—Talk about a power-building workout: Guests of Element Hotels now can pedal their way to a fully charged tablet or smart phone. First announced at the spring 2012 launch of its Miami hotel, the eco-wise, trailblazing brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has installed a stationary bike with a pedal-powered generator in each of its fitness centers. The initiative marries two Element brand principles: providing health and fitness options for travelers and a commitment to green design.  The pilot to Element’s Pedal for Power program, unveiled at Element Miami International Airport’s opening event, saw bicycling enthusiast...

PHILADELPHIA—Hersha Hospitality Trust, a self-advised Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), announced that the company was selected to receive NAREIT’s 2012 Lodging & Resorts Leader in the Light Award; the highest achievement for lodging and resort REITs in the 2012 award competition. This national award, presented annually by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), recognizes Hersha and its EarthView program for superior and sustained portfolio-wide energy use practices and sustainability initiatives.Steve Wechsler, NAREIT’s CEO, recognized Hersha’s industry leadership in sustainability and presented Jay H. Shah, CEO of Hersha Hospitality Trust, with the Leader in the Light award...

DURHAM, N.H.—The message coming from top name brands is clear: climate change poses a threat to business in the form of increased costs and risks associated with extreme weather. As a result, companies are prioritizing the need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and lower their carbon footprint. The findings are gleaned from nonprofit Climate Counts’ sixth annual scoring release which rates major consumer brands on their approach to climate change. The latest scoring results show that 66 percent of companies rated have publicly available climate and energy strategies, compared to just 25 percent in 2007, the year the...

LAS VEGAS—Caesars Entertainment Corp. was awarded its sixth consecutive perfect rating from the Human Rights Campaign’s annual Corporate Equality Index. The Corporate Equality Index scores businesses based on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workplace policies.“To have received a perfect rating from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation on its Corporate Equality Index for the sixth consecutive year is a great honor,” said Fred Keeton, vice president of external affairs and chief diversity officer for Caesars Entertainment. “Our unwavering commitment to diversity initiatives and our industry leading approach to LGBT workplace equality will continue to be a mainstay and guiding principle...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—With its history going back more than 100 years, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has long been the voice and gathering place for those in the U.S. lodging industry. Recognizing the explosion in interest in sustainability over the past several years, AH&LA, under the guidance of Patrick Maher, partner, The Maher Group, has beefed up the Green Resource Center on its website and increased its participation in and leadership around industry-wide green initiatives.“In 2011 and 2012, AH&LA saw a major increase in sustainability programs being used by members,” Maher says.It was a little more than four...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International recently completed the largest employee-donated canned food drive received by Three Square Food Bank, with the delivery of the last of a donation of more than 189 tons of canned food. This is the third consecutive year MGM Resorts employees have set a new canned food drive record with Three Square, nearly doubling last year’s giving.In a special ceremony held at the food bank, MGM Resorts and Three Square celebrated the milestone donation made by MGM Resorts and its employees. The event was held at the “MGM Resorts Volunteer Room”, a room vital to the...