WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented its 12th annual Green Power Leadership Awards to 24 Green Power Partners and three suppliers for their achievements in advancing the nation’s renewable electricity market. For most municipalities, electricity usage is the single-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. By using green power, communities and businesses can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create local jobs, and improve public health.In the Green Power Partner of the Year category, Hilton Worldwide was chosen along with the City of Austin, Texas, Microsoft Corp., and the University of Oklahoma.“Our 2012 Green Power Leadership Award winners have...

LOS ANGELES—MindClick SGM announced that Marriott International will spend 75 percent of its 2013 furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) budget with suppliers that are part of the MindClick Hospitality Sustainability Performance Index (HSP Index). The HSP Index measures suppliers’ corporate social responsibility, environmental operations, and product sustainability efforts.Marriott is incorporating MindClick’s supplier scorecard as an integral solution in greening its global supply chain, following a year as a member of the Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium. Led by MindClick, a sustainability consulting firm, Consortium members worked together to establish a supplier sustainability rating system for the hotel industry.“Utilizing the MindClick...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) announced the launch of the new e-publication, “The International Voluntourism Guidelines for Commercial Tour Operators,”, which has been developed through a collaborative research project supported by the Planeterra Foundation. The e-publication was launched at TIES’ annual international conference, the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC), held in Monterey, Calif., September 17 to 19, 2012.“We are thrilled to announce the new Voluntourism Guidelines and to share this comprehensive tool with our members around the world,” said Dr. Kelly Bricker, TIES Chair. “Our aim is to positively contribute to the growing field of voluntourism by...

ITHACA, N.Y.—A new report from the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) at the School of Hotel Administration focuses on how hotels report their carbon footprints. Many hotels have developed their own carbon reporting policies, but the global hotel industry has yet to agree on a standard. This new report helps frame the discussion by analyzing materiality, or the importance of specific greenhouse gas sources.In response to stakeholder and customer requests, hotel companies are developing mechanisms to communicate to guests their “carbon footprint,” or the quantifiable environmental impact of their operations. The industry is seeking common guidance on how...

DENVER—Xanterra Parks & Resorts’ operations in Yellowstone and Petrified Forest National Parks have received Environmental Achievement awards from the National Park Service (NPS). Yellowstone’s Mammoth Hotel Dining Room was recognized as a winner, and Petrified Forest’s free e-waste recycling service received an honorable mention.According to NPS, these awards are presented to “teams (units, groups of NPS employees, or a combination of NPS and non-NPS personnel) and partners (concessioners, contractors and cooperating associations) who demonstrate exceptional accomplishments toward the overall goal of preservation and protection of the resources under our stewardship.”“I salute our Xanterra employees in Yellowstone and Petrified Forest...

NATIONAL REPORT—The hospitality industry is poised for a boom in the use of combined heat and power systems (CHP) due to the low cost of natural gas and the high and ever increasing cost of electricity. Hotels are a natural match for CHP due to their high baseload demand for energy and the ability to efficiently use the heat generated from these systems by offsetting hot water, heating and air-conditioning loads. In addition, CHP technology has become more reliable, remains comparably inexpensive, and creates efficiency. The spark spread is the difference between the cost of burning natural gas for...

LAS VEGAS—Nine U.S. military veterans have completed “Boots to Business,” an inaugural program designed to help veterans in Las Vegas transition from military service into management positions at properties owned and operated by MGM Resorts International. The program was sponsored by MGM Resorts, in partnership with the American Red Cross.“We are proud to partner with the American Red Cross in the development of an innovative program that identified, recruited and trained recent U.S. military veterans for entry-level management positions at MGM Resorts,” said Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International.On September 10, during a ceremony held at...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton Worldwide announced the 2011 results of LightStay, the company’s proprietary sustainability measurement system. Overall, the program has been a success with more than $147 million in cumulative savings from efficiency projected for hotels reporting through LightStay. Additionally, Hilton Worldwide has achieved its five-year goal to reduce total waste output by 20 percent, a full two years ahead of schedule. The company also reports it is on track to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions by 20 percent, and water consumption by 10 percent. Since the introduction of LightStay, the company has reduced its carbon output by 10.9...

FRANKFURT, GERMANY—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has signed an agreement with Bari Gruppe GmbH & Co. KG to open a new-build Element hotel at Gateway Gardens, Frankfurt`s new city district near the airport. Scheduled to open in 2014, Element Frankfurt Airport marks the European debut of the eco-wise brand. The hotel will be located in a newly developed business district at the doorstep of Europe’s third busiest air travel hub, near the global headquarters of companies such as Lufthansa, Condor and DB Schenker.Launched in 2008, Element has made history as the only major hotel brand to mandate that...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide announced a 5 percent reduction in its carbon footprint over 2010 based on energy per square foot, as it releases its second annual Sustainability Report.“We view sustainability as part of our culture, and a fundamental part of how we responsibly do business in communities around the world,” says Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and CEO, Wyndham Worldwide. “We are proud of our continued success in this area, which is the result of incredible collaboration and innovation by our associates together with our franchisees, suppliers, and business and community partners. Their dedication and combined efforts continue to produce...