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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

YOUNTVILLE, CALIF.—Bardessono has just received the highest level of official recognition possible for its sustainable and environmentally friendly design. The hotel has been awarded LEED Platinum certification, an achievement reached by only two other hotels in the world, on the first anniversary of its opening. Phil Sherburne built Bardessono with the intention of creating a hotel that provides guests with a luxurious experience while simultaneously protecting the environment. “I believe it is critical for the development community to be a leader in the effort to preserve a healthy planet,” Sherburne says. “We can’t just continue to talk about environmental...

LAS VEGAS—Organizers of the WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition (WSI), the world’s largest conference dedicated to urban water efficiency, recently announced that the show will remain in Las Vegas at least through 2012. Officials with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, which presents WSI in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection agency’s WaterSense Program and other public- and private-sector organizations, gave the conference the green light to continue for at least three more years. “WaterSmart Innovations provides a platform for professionals from a broad spectrum of disciplines to come together to share their knowledge,” said WSI program chairman Doug Bennett. “There...