BETHESDA, MD.—Courtyard by Marriott is rolling out its new lobby and room design in Kansas City, Mo. This is the latest Courtyard in the area featuring the “refreshing business” makeover. The 123-room Courtyard by Marriott Kansas City at Briarcliff is scheduled to open in early September as a LEED certified property. The hotel will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Capital Management of Overland Park, Kan.Located 10 minutes from downtown, four miles from the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport and15 miles from the Kansas City International Airport, the Courtyard by Marriott Kansas City at Briarcliff offers...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Advance registration is now open for the 97th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) and 3rd annual Boutique Design New York (BDNY). Taking place this November at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, IHMRS and BDNY will collectively present nearly 1,000 hospitality industry suppliers and attract some 30,000 trade attendees. A discounted registration fee of $30 is available through October 5, 2012. After this date and on-site, the rate increases to $50. Registration for either show offers admission to both markets.The $30 early registration rate is applicable for events taking place November 11...

NEW YORK—Corporate taxpayers that have invested in renewable energy or “green” equipment or systems may be overlooking an opportunity to receive significant government reimbursements in lieu of certain investment tax credits under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, according to Paul Lo, director with WTP Advisors’ Global Business Incentives practice. “Companies that have placed renewable energy systems in service or have begun construction on such systems in between 2009 to 2011 may qualify for a substantial rebate, but they need to begin the reimbursement process now,” says Lo. Lo was recently the guest speaker at a U.S....

FREEPORT, MAINE—The ninth annual Hospitality for Habitat fundraiser sponsored by the Maine Innkeepers Assn. (MEIA) for Habitat for Humanity was the most successful to date, announced Greg Dugal, MEIA executive director. Dugal presented Nicole Bosarge of Greater Portland Habitat for Humanity with a $17,000 check, representing the proceeds from this year’s fundraiser to be divided among the Maine chapters of the organization, to help build homes for deserving Maine families.Hospitality for Habitat is a spring program which allows guests to stay at participating Maine Innkeepers’ properties for 50 percent off the regular room rate in exchange for a $35...

THE PUEBLO OF SANTA ANA, N.M.—The Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa, located on the Pueblo of Santa Ana between Santa Fe and Albuquerque in New Mexico, has been named the Organics Recycler of the Year by the New Mexico Recycling Coalition. The award recognizes individuals, business, and communities that work to reduce waste and support recycling and composting in New Mexico. The resort was named the Organics Recycler of the Year for its green and eco-friendly initiatives including its green team, a group of associates dedicated to making environmentally conscious decisions for the resort. The green team works to...

OCEAN CITY, MD.—Executives at Real Hospitality Group (RHG), one of the nation’s largest third party hotel management firms, announced the launch of their Corporate Responsibility platform. Recently, RHG become 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.“As a leader in the hospitality industry, Real Hospitality Group is proud to use our sphere of influence to do whatever we can to protect the most vulnerable,” says Rick Day, COO at Real Hospitality Group. “Responsibility to our...

NATIONAL REPORT—At the Bardessono in Yountville, Calif., wood from reclaimed Claro walnut and Bay laurel trees form desks and doors. At the new Jekyll Island Convention Center in Jekyll Island, Ga., reclaimed pine from South Georgia was used to create the flooring in the Ben Porter Salon event room. When the Hotel Vermont opens next April in Burlington, Vt., the hotel lobby will feature reclaimed antique red oak flooring. Using reclaimed wood in flooring, furniture and for other uses is becoming increasingly common in projects as more suppliers collect and revitalize this wood from sources ranging from deconstructed barns...

SAN FRANCISCO—Registration is now open for the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. Taking place this year in San Francisco at the Moscone Center, Greenbuild is the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building. Record attendance of 35,000 is anticipated from across the green building sector, spanning commercial and residential professionals, architects, building owners and operators, students, advocates and educators.“We are thrilled to bring the energy of Greenbuild to San Francisco, home to some of the world’s leading minds in both sustainability and technology,” said Kimberly Lewis, senior vice president, Community Advancement,...

CHICAGO—Hyatt Corp. announces the launch of a new menu, “For Kids By Kids,” which provides more nutritious, fresh and interactive offerings for the three million children served annually in all full-service Hyatt hotels and resorts throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. The menu is grounded in Hyatt’s philosophy of Food. Thoughtfully Sourced. Carefully Served.—promoting healthy people, a healthy planet and healthy communities—and has been developed in association with the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA). As part of the rollout, separate from its PHA commitment, Hyatt hotels will offer a three-course organic meal for children developed exclusively...

NORWALK, CONN.—HEI Hotels & Resorts announced a 9 percent reduction in lost-time accidents, with corresponding improvements in claim costs and total claims, through 2011 compared to 2010, underscoring the company’s commitment to employee safety and well-being. “There’s nothing more important than the safety and well-being of our associates,” said HEI Hotels & Resorts chairman Gary Mendell. “The new tools and increased training are sound investments in the future for our associates, their families and our communities.”In addition to safety programs, HEI launched a nation-wide wellness initiative in February in which almost 2,000 associates pledged personal commitments toward improving their...