ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA—Five years after being shut down by powerful Hurricane Ivan, the Spice Island Beach Resort, located in the Caribbean on the island of Grenada, is doing its part to reduce its impact on the local environment while still giving its guests a luxury experience. The fully-inclusive, 64-suite property was the first hotel on the island to install a reverse osmosis desalinization system; it heats all of its water with a solar thermal heating system, cleans its pool without chemicals, and takes numerous other steps to reduce energy and water consumption and waste. The resort, which is expected...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—The International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS) has announced a seminar lineup that will offer solutions and tactics to drive business in 2010 and beyond, including such topics as recovering from a down economy and capitalizing on the social media boom. Taking place November 7 to 10, 2009, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the 94th annual IH/M&RS will present some 35,000 industry professionals with a comprehensive professional development opportunity. “Education continues to play a key role in the IH/M&RS experience, offering attendees valuable insight about emerging trends and hot topics from notable industry leaders,”...

OKLAHOMA CITY—The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department has unveiled a new travel initiative called ECO—Encouraging Conservation in Oklahoma—which promotes, educates and encourages sustainable travel in the state. The ECO program approaches sustainable travel from both industry and consumer perspectives. It includes education, green certification and marketing support for tourism industry partners and helps them embrace sustainable travel practices for minimal economic impact with maximum return. ECO will also identify sustainable travel options such as lodging, restaurants and attractions so that tourists seeking green travel will have easy access to this information. “Oklahoma has a legacy of conservation, preservation and innovation—qualities that...

BETHESDA, MD.—Two Courtyard by Marriott hotels on opposite coasts—Chevy Chase, Md., and Portland, Ore.—made eco-history last week as they were recognized simultaneously via webcast by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). This milestone puts Courtyard—with more than 830 hotels worldwide—on track to deliver a LEED hotel prototype that will be cost-effective for hotel owners and franchisees to develop. “I applaud these two hotels and their owners for making the choice to build the most environmentally-sound properties possible and paving the way for more Courtyard hotels to be LEED certified,” said Arne...

MINNEAPOLIS—For the seventh time in recent history, Carlson has been recognized as one of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers by Working Mother magazine. Cited for its family friendly benefits and strong values-based culture, Carlson once again received the honor for continuing its commitment to flexible work schedules, parental leave, adoption assistance, on-campus child care, and its focus on the advancement of women. Winners were selected for the recognition based on a 500-question application that measured companies across the board on work and family benefit issues. For this year’s “100 Best,” particular weight was given to benefits, flexibility and...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced the opening of Element Dallas Fort Worth Airport North—its sixth hotel globally, and the second to open this week, following the opening of the Element Denver Park Meadows. Owned by Sava Holdings, Ltd. and managed by Aquila Lodging, L.L.C., Element Dallas Fort Worth Airport North Hotel is also the second Element hotel to open in Texas and is among the first in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for high-performance buildings. “The opening of two...

OTTAWA, ON.—The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) is now accepting entries for the 2009 Hall of Fame Awards of Excellence. Now in its sixth year, the Hall of Fame Awards program continues the association’s tradition of acknowledging the strong standards and values of those involved in and with the lodging industry. Each year the Hall of Fame Awards attracts more and more entries from HAC members across the country. The awards program proudly recognizes those individuals, companies or properties that have demonstrated significant accomplishments, exemplary leadership and tireless commitment to the lodging industry in the following divisions:...

ALBANY, N.Y.—New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced the launch of a new initiative to certify lodging establishments as “green” for employing environmentally friendly and sustainable practices. Forty-three hotels and inns—spread across every region of New York—are the first to sign on for the certification process. “Green tourism is good for our economy and good for our environment,” Governor David A. Paterson said. “The new Green Lodging Certification program will certify and assist New York’s hoteliers in the transition to environmental sustainability, helping them remain competitive and protect our environment at the same time....

BELGRADE, SERBIA—The International Hotel & Restaurant Association announced that its 47th Annual Congress will be held January 18 to 20, 2010, at the Continental Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia. With the start of the new decade, IH&RA will host an event that highlights the future of the hospitality industry. Belgrade, Serbia embodies this year’s theme of looking towards the future for opportunities of growth and development. Leaders from all parts of the world representing some 200,000 hotels and six million restaurants will convene to exchange ideas about the major issues of this year: Climate Change and Hospitality, Natural Disaster and Hospitality,...

VALLEY CENTER, CALIF.—Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort has diverted more than 400 tons of recyclables, reduced Styrofoam use by 25 percent and cleaned up more than eight miles of San Diego County beaches. These conservation efforts are the result of the employee driven “Green Committee,” which meets bi-weekly in support of the company’s CODEGreen Commitment. “CODEGreen is our commitment to conservation and sustainability,” says senior vice president and general manager Janet Beronio. The Green Committee is comprised of Harrah’s employees who want to make a difference. “There were so many ideas at the first meeting,” exclaims Brendan O’Kane, facilities manager...