WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—The International Hotel, Motel & Restaurant Show (IHM&RS) invites hospitality designers from across the globe to submit entries for the 30th annual Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design, the premier interior design competition for the industry. The coveted awards are presented in eight categories: Best Hotel Design, Guest Room, Lobby/Reception Area, Lounge/Bar, Restaurants/Casual Dining, Restaurants/Fine Dining, Spa and Suite. Entries must be submitted by July 1, 2010. Designers of hotels, motels, timeshares, restaurants, clubs, cruise ships, casinos, conference centers, spas and other hospitality facilities are encouraged to enter the competition, which last year considered more than...

NASHVILLE, TENN.—The Tennessee Hospitality Association announced the statewide availability of “The Tennessee Green Hospitality” certification program. The program has been adopted from “Chattanooga Green Lodging,” already recognized as a national model for sustainable tourism planning, and just announced as a winner of The Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award. “We already knew that this program was perfect for us to adopt statewide,” said Bill Mish, president of the Tennessee Hospitality Association. “The announcement of this prestigious award confirms that decision.” The program encourages hotels, bed and breakfasts and other lodging facilities and restaurants to be aware of their impact on the environment...

NATIONAL REPORT—Fuel cell power systems, installed at properties such as the Hilton New York, Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, and Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino, have worked reliably for years now but have failed to catch on in a big way throughout the lodging industry. Cost and availability of funding have certainly been reasons and the recent recession certainly has not helped. A lack of a serious marketing push by suppliers has contributed to the technology’s slow acceptance and systems have also not been available for smaller hotels. Some recent developments, however, could make fuel cells a more...

HOUSTON—A new global organization dedicated to expanding Latino ownership, leadership and commerce in the hotel industry was launched recently. Called the Latino Hotel Association (LHA), the group will focus on supporting Latinos through education about ownership/development, management and leadership; hosting international and regional conferences; and networking with hotel corporations and suppliers. Founding sponsors include Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corp., InterContinental Hotel Group and Wyndham Hotel Group. Founding supporters include Carlson Hotels Worldwide, Choice Hotels International, Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. “The Latino community has established a foothold in the hotel industry, but the full potential remains largely...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Arizona’s Aloft Tempe is now officially Tempe’s greenest. Aloft Tempe has been awarded the coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Aloft Tempe becomes the seventh LEED certified property for Aloft brand parent Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Environmentally-conscious development has never been more important than in today’s business environment,” said Michael Mahoney, CEO of Triyar Hospitality, the hotel developer. “Our mantra has always been to build into the future and with the Aloft brand and LEED certification, we believe we have achieved that goal.” With more...

LAS VEGAS—Best-selling author Steven Solomon and “natural capitalism” advocate Hunter Lovins will be keynote speakers at the third WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition, slated for October 6 to 8, 2010 at the South Point Hotel and Conference Center in Las Vegas. Registration for the urban water efficiency conference is now underway. Lovins, president and founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions and co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute and California Conservation Society, will keynote the conference’s opening session Wednesday, October 6. Through NCS, Lovins educates senior public- and private-sector decision-makers about strategies to enable companies, communities, and countries to become more sustainable....

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Building on a commitment to sustainability and conservation initiatives, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced it has introduced sustainable meeting guidelines at every North American property. Starwood’s Sustainable Meeting Practices (SMP) will also roll out globally in 2011. The program revolves around five core components: paperless Meeting Planning, Sustainable Meeting Services, Sustainable Food & Beverage Practices, Impact Assessment Tools, and Socially Conscious Activities. Starwood operates 1,000 properties worldwide, and expects to open another 80 hotels over the next year. “Rolling this program out across North America formalizes environmental practices our hotels have been implementing and we are...

DENTON, TEXAS—Travel and tourism is the second-largest services export industry in the United States, with the industry being one of the nation’s largest employers. Sustainable tourism—tourism development that strives to meet the needs of the present tourism market without compromising the resources of future generations—is a tourism specialty that balances environmental, economic and socio-cultural benefits and concerns. A new master’s degree in the University of North Texas School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management (UNT) will educate students for management and leadership positions in this specialty as UNT’s first joint international graduate degree. The degree is the first of its kind...

SANTA FE—New Mexico Tourism Department’s Ecotourism Program, in partnership with EcoNewMexico, announces the launching of the first-ever “fast track” pilot projects, targeting the Gila Wilderness and surrounding areas; and the wilderness areas and native lands surrounding Taos. “The pilot-project designation means these two areas will become the focus of our ecotourism initiative,” said Jennifer Hobson, deputy director of the Tourism Department and director of the program. “All our efforts will be dedicated to transforming these two destinations into truly unique and innovative ecotourism destinations. That is not to say that the other communities and areas are any less important, but...

BEIJING—The four winners of the World Travel & Tourism Council’s 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards were announced during the 10th Global Travel & Tourism Summit at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. Of the 12 finalists, Emirates Hotels & Resorts, Whale Watch Kaikoura, Accor, and Botswana Tourism Board were crowned the winners for their successful work in advancing sustainable tourism best practices in different parts of the world. “We are seeing a new horizon in the global travel and tourism industry where more and more companies and destinations, both large and small, are leading the way forward...