SAN FRANCISCO—The biennial NEWH Leadership Conference will be held in San Francisco, January 25 to 26 at the Grand Hyatt Union Square. “We chose San Francisco partly because that is where NEWH’s most-recently chartered chapter is located, and we wanted to show off the chapter and allow them an opportunity to show off for the rest of the organization,” explains Mark Huntsinger, NEWH, Inc.’s director of leadership conferences. “They have done a phenomenal job in building a very vibrant and relevant chapter, and that is exciting to experience.” The tagline of the conference is Bridge to Success, linking the location...

TORONTO—Delta Hotels and Resorts will once again shut off lights in support of Earth Hour for the third consecutive year at its 43 properties across the country on Saturday, March 31, at 8:30 p.m. (local time). In addition to going dark, the chain will further demonstrate its commitment to the environment by providing guests with a host of energy-saving service offerings, as part of Delta’s national sustainability program, Delta Greens.“Earth Hour is a great example of how small, simple steps like turning off lights can engage a global community and help create a sustainable future,” said David Bird, senior...

LONDON—Virgin Limited Edition, Sir Richard Branson’s luxury collection of retreats, announced that it will be introducing a new property to its already eclectic portfolio—Mahali Mzuri in Kenya. Mahali Mzuri, meaning “beautiful place” in Swahili, will be a luxury Kenyan Safari Camp due to open in 2013. The camp will consist of 12 sleeper tents and cater to a maximum of 24 guests at any one time. Rates will be fully inclusive of all meals, drinks and daily game drives as well as unlimited access to the Olare Orok and Motorogi Conservancies.Mahali Mzuri will be situated within the Motorogi Conservancy...

CANCUN—Sunset World Resorts & Vacation Experiences announced the official launch of Ethos during a breakfast at the Tourism Tianguis 2012. Ethos, an innovative $3 million agricultural project, is a farm in the Mayan jungle where produce, plants and honey will be organically grown and produced. These items will be used to supply their six hotels, which include nearly 1,000 hotel rooms in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. “Ethos is an example of our values and great commitment to the community, environment and tourism, making us the first hotel chain in southeastern Mexico to produce organic materials and become more...

NATIONAL REPORT—In a 2010 bed bug study, 95 percent of U.S. pest control companies surveyed reported finding at least one bed bug infestation in the past year. Rollins performed more than 8,000 bed bug treatments in the first quarter alone. Bed bugs continue to sweep the news and are on the rise in almost every environment, from the bedroom to the board room. A quick Google search on bed bugs reveals nearly 4,000 news results in 2010, and their search volume is up 450 percent in the past six years. Thought to be introduced with the early colonists, reports of...

WICHITA, KAN.—Nancy J. Larson, director, Pollution Prevention Institute, Kansas State University, is spearheading an effort to develop a green lodging certification program for lodging establishments in Kansas. In the effort she has worked closely with Joe Andrick, general manager of the Overland Park Residence Inn by Marriott, Overland Park, Kan. Larson is pursuing an Environmental Protection Agency grant to fund the program that initially would be focused on properties in Kansas City and Wichita. If the effort to obtain an EPA grant is successful—Larson expects to have an answer by September—Kansas could have its own green lodging certification program...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International marked World Water Day (March 22) with a pledge of $1 million to support the mission of ONE DROP, a global non-governmental organization that promotes global awareness of the central role of water. ONE DROP was initiated by Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil, and is dedicated to fighting poverty through projects aimed at supporting access to water, and raising awareness of water-related issues.“At MGM Resorts, environmental sustainability is a key pillar of our vision for social responsibility,” said Jim Murren, the company’s chairman & CEO. “We are proud to be a leader in...

KAPAAU, HAWAII—Guests staying at the boutique-style Hawaii Island Retreat on Hawaii Island’s North Kohala coast can choose to stay in one of the Retreat’s nine lavishly appointed guestrooms or “rough” it a little bit and stay in one of the property’s seven well-appointed yurts. No matter what accommodations are chosen, guests have the satisfaction of knowing they are staying in a place that is off the grid—powered by the sun and wind.The Hawaii Island Retreat is nearing its third anniversary. It opened on April 1, 2009. Jacque Waters, associate director at the property, said the owners—Jeanne Sunderland and Robert...

NEW YORK—There’s a lot of talk about the other green of sustainability—financial savings. However, a recent survey from Ernst & Young LLP found that many companies might be missing opportunities, as tax departments and sustainability programs lack integration. Only 16 percent of companies that either have or are developing an environmental sustainability strategy said their tax or finance departments are actively involved in it, according to the survey entitled, “Working Together: Linking sustainability and tax to reduce the cost of implementing sustainability initiatives.” The survey included responses from 223 senior executives at companies predominantly in the United States. Of...

ATLANTA—NEWH The Hospitality Industry Network, the not-for-profit business networking and education organization in hospitality, will bring the NEWH Regional Tradeshow back to the city where it all began a decade ago; Atlanta, on Thursday, April 12, 2012, at the Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart.Each NEWH Regional Tradeshow provides a unique opportunity for clients in key major metropolitan areas to meet with existing and new suppliers showcasing their newest products and services in an intimate business casual tabletop format.On the day of the tradeshow, join NEWH for a CEU at 11 a.m. on “Wallcoverings 101: ‘The Well-Covered Wall,’” followed by...