TRENTON, N.J.—The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in concert with several other state and federal agencies, is launching a program designed to help New Jersey hotel owners and operators increase energy efficiency and cost savings through the utilization of green practices. Participating hotels in the DEP’s Garden State Green Hotel Project will have the opportunity to learn of profiting through sustainability in several workshops and training sessions scheduled in the coming months. In addition, 120 hotels will receive no-cost and no-obligation environmental and energy reviews that could serve as a first step to green certification from various programs...

CHICAGO—An independent panel of judges has selected the finalists for the National Restaurant Association’s inaugural Operator Innovations Awards. Three finalists in each of five categories—Sustainability, Technology, Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, and Menu Development—will be brought to Chicago for the Association’s 2012 Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show this May. The winners in each category, plus an Innovator of the Year selected from all finalists, will be announced live during Destination: Celebration on Saturday, May 5. “The Operator Innovations Awards is designed to celebrate and encourage continued advancement in the restaurant industry, while shining a spotlight on industry-leading innovators who inspire other...

ORLANDO—IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s largest hotel groups, announced a partnership with Clean the World to recycle partially-used soaps and bottled amenities from hotel guestrooms and distribute them in communities with limited access to hygiene products. Through this partnership, IHG has the potential to add 3,274 properties in the United States and Canada—representing 407,840 rooms—to Clean the World’s growing list of more than 1,400 hospitality partners throughout North America. IHG brands that can participate in the program include: InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn...

NEWTON, MASS.—TripAdvisor announced the results of its eco-friendly travel survey of more than 700 U.S. travelers. The green travel trend is gaining momentum among TripAdvisor members, as 71 percent said they plan to make more eco-friendly choices in the next 12 months compared to 65 percent that did so in the past 12 months.Fifty-seven percent of travelers said they “often” make eco-friendly travel decisions, such as their choice of hotel, transportation, or food source. Forty-four percent of travelers said they are more environmentally conscious at home than while traveling. Forty-seven percent of travelers said they are equally eco-friendly at...

MINNEAPOLIS—Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, which is currently undergoing a $25 million renovation of the hotel’s guestrooms, suites, public areas, and restaurants, announced that the renovation will include a variety of environmentally sustainable initiatives to reduce its ecological footprint. The Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Green Team has also introduced a number of eco-friendly protocols and service projects including extensive energy and recycling conservation programs.Energy-saving initiatives from the renovation include converting all of the back of house lighting to LED, adding low flow plumbing fixtures for enhanced water savings (1.6 gal/flush), insulated drapery, closet light sensors, vending misers in all vending machines, new...

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA—Trinidad and Tobago will host the next Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in 2013, the CTO has announced. In a symbolic passing of the “baton,” Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Tourism, Raye Sandy, received the CTO Sustainable Tourism Mahogany Scroll from Guyana’s Tourism Minister, the Honorable Irfaan Ali at the closing of STC-13 on April 18, confirming Trinidad and Tobago as host of the 14th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development (STC-14). “We are truly honored to host STC-14 in Trinidad and Tobago,” said Raye Sandy. “We look forward...

NEW YORK—As Hilton New York plays host during Earth Week to sustainability experts and advocates from across the corporate world for the Sustainable Operations Summit being held from April 17 to 19, Manhattan’s largest hotel announces the completion of a new green roof system and the installation of a cogeneration (combined heat and power) system, both designed to reduce the hotel’s overall carbon footprint. To help promote awareness of the hotel’s sustainability efforts, all guests staying at Hilton New York will be provided with room keycards that depict an image of the new green roof.“Hilton New York is dedicated...

SEATTLE—The menu at the remodeled Aquaterra restaurant at the Seattle Airport Marriott reflects more sustainable seafood and local Pacific Northwest ingredients, according to chef James Neighbor. He said fine dining in Seattle has been taken up a notch with the introduction of Marriott’s “Future Fish” program which works with local produce vendors to help reduce the restaurant’s carbon footprint.“‘Freshness embraced’ is the philosophy of our kitchen,” Neighbor, who has been with Marriott for 18 years, said. “Our focus is on fresh local items prepared simply, seasoned correctly and not over-sauced.”Signature items now include Cascioppo Bros. chorizo and clams and...

NEW YORK—Less than one year after becoming corporate partners, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has reached a significant sustainability milestone with Clean the World Foundation Inc. Starwood has surpassed 50,000 hotel rooms participating in the Clean the World amenities recycling program. The hotel rooms represent nearly 30 percent of the total Starwood properties in North America.Clean the World and Starwood announced a corporate partnership on Earth Day, 2011. Since joining Clean the World’s hospitality partnership program, Starwood properties have contributed more than 278,000 pounds of hygiene products—soaps, shampoos, conditioners, body washes, and lotions—which would have been discarded as...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The 2012 International Green Construction Code (IGCC), released in late March, will increase the energy-efficiency of structures, while providing governments direction and oversight of green design and construction, according to the International Code Council (ICC)—the code’s author—and one of several U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) partners in the effort. USGBC, makers of the LEED green building certification system and co-authors of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES/USGBC Standard 189.1, applauds this new model code that serves as an important new policy option for state and local governments looking to codify green building practice.“The IGCC and Standard 189.1 draw from more than a decade...