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Whether an industry announcement, or a hotel accomplishment, Green Lodging News reports on the most up-to-date news and offers a unique perspective on trends—all with the purpose of making your company more profitable. Got news or a story idea to share? We frequently post contributed articles here. Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

News & Features

Home News & Features
Whether an industry announcement, or a hotel accomplishment, Green Lodging News reports on the most up-to-date news and offers a unique perspective on trends—all with the purpose of making your company more profitable. Got news or a story idea to share? We frequently post contributed articles here. Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Community Marketing Releases Green Traveler Survey Report

SAN FRANCISCO—Community Marketing, Inc. (CMI), the market research, strategic consulting, and communications specialists, announced the release of its CMIGreen 1st Annual Green Traveler Survey Report. The Annual Green Traveler Survey Report is the result of a unique, pan-industry cooperative initiative between tourism businesses and nonprofit, environmental and sustainable business organizations, from the development of the survey to the interpretation of its findings. The report is being offered free to the tourism and hospitality industries, in order to advance efforts toward greener travel. The CMIGreen study surveyed the purchasing habits, travel behavior, environmental commitment, expectations and motivations of 1,736 self-defined,...

Report from ASHRAE’s 2010 Winter Conference

ATLANTA—A standard set to be a game changer in the industry was introduced at ASHRAE’s 2010 Winter Conference, while work continued on other programs and standards that will help the organization build a more sustainable future. Some 2,500 people attended the conference, held late last month in Orlando, Fla. Also taking place in conjunction with the meeting was the Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition, which attracted nearly 45,000 registered visitors and exhibitor personnel. The expo featured an 8 percent registered visitor increase from the last show in Orlando in 2005 and a new record for the Southeast. Other highlights included...

Honua Kai Resort & Spa Gets Serious about Sustainability

KAANAPALI NORTH BEACH, MAUI—The newest full service hotel development on Kaanapali Beach, the Honua Kai Resort & Spa, has unveiled details of its comprehensive sustainability program—in line with the traditional Hawaiian concept of “malama aina,” (caring for the land). Honua Kai’ practices begin with the ocean, protect the surrounding beach, and extend to every room at the property. Honua Kai, which opened in January 2009, has its own director of sustainability, Lance Gilliland. “We call it ‘Eco-nomics,’—practices that are ecologically sound and economically feasible,” Gilliland says. “It just makes sense to conserve energy, re-use, recycle and protect the beautiful natural...

Two Hotels Take Home Energy & Environment Award at HAC Event

OTTAWA, ONT.—On Thursday, February 4, the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) celebrated its sixth year of industry achievements at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Toronto, with its annual Hall of Fame Awards of Excellence Program. The Hall of Fame Awards Program was developed by HAC to recognize those of its members (individuals, companies or properties) that have demonstrated significant accomplishments, exemplary leadership and tireless commitment to Canada’s lodging industry. “The goal of HAC’s awards program is to reward strong standards in the industry that will enable this country to remain competitive,” said Will Schmidt, chair of the Hotel Association of...

GMIC Membership Boost Helps Attendance at Annual Conference

DENVER—When compared to last year’s Sustainable Meetings Conference in Pittsburgh, attendance was up significantly at this year’s event held in Denver from February 9 to 11. This year’s conference was held at the Colorado Convention Center. The facility, which has a 300-kilowatt solar system on its roof, is in pursuit of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. A total of approximately 250 people attended this year’s event, reflecting the growing interest in the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC), the organizer of the conference. Two years ago, membership in GMIC stood at 185 members. Today, there are 577...

Cavallo Point Lodge Honored With LEED Gold Certification

SAN FRANCISCO—Cavallo Point-the Lodge at the Golden Gate announced it has been certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for achieving a LEED Gold standard for environmentally sustainable design and construction. It is the first national park lodge to receive LEED Certification. In addition, the project, developed and opened in 2008 on the site of Fort Baker—a turn-of-the century military outpost now part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area—is the first hotel on the National Register of Historic Places to be certified and the first new hotel in the San Francisco-Marin area and second in Northern California to...

HITEC 2010 Online Registration & Housing Bureau Open

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Attendee registration and the Housing Bureau for the 2010 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) is now available online. HITEC 2010, a service of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), is the world’s largest hospitality technology exposition and conference. This year’s conference is June 21 to 24 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. “HITEC is an ideal environment for professionals to learn about and discuss current industry issues,” said Frank Wolfe, CAE, CEO of HFTP. “In one location attendees can find essential education, access to experts and hospitality technology vendors, opportunities to network with top...

WSH&LA, Cascadia Partner to Launch Green Lodging Program

SEATTLE—The Washington State Hotel & Lodging Association (WSH&LA) recently selected a consulting team led by Cascadia Consulting Group, Inc. of Seattle as its professional partner to launch its Greening Washington’s Lodging Industry Program. This project is funded by a $53,000 Public Participation Grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology. WSH&LA’s grant application was one of only 13 grants funded by Ecology in 2009. Of 100 grants submitted, WSH&LA’s earned the fourth highest overall score. Ecology noted this was a “very impressive feat given incredibly fierce competition.” Grant funds will be used to launch pilot projects with select hotels and...

EPA, DOE Join States to Speed U.S. Energy Efficiency Progress

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to increasing energy efficiency and reducing costs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the creation of the State Energy Efficiency (SEE) Action Network. This network is meant to help states achieve maximum cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in homes, offices, buildings and industry by 2020. Strengthening energy efficiency initiatives across the country helps to save money and protect the environment at the same time. “In the clean energy future, energy efficiency is action number one,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We can cut...

Doubletree Donates $50,000 to Haiti Recovery Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In response to the tragic earthquakes in Haiti, Doubletree Hotels announced a $50,000 donation on behalf of its Teaching Kids to CARE community outreach program to Friends of the World Food Program (Friends of WFP). The donation will help support the United Nations World Food Program’s (WFP) School Meals initiative in Haiti in an effort to further assist the recovery efforts currently underway. “Millions of earthquake survivors in Haiti are struggling every day to survive, and WFP has been working day and night to reach them with food and other humanitarian assistance,” said Friends of WFP president and CEO,...