ATLANTA—The world’s biggest HVAC Expo and the largest membership-based HVAC&R engineering society have chosen Las Vegas as the site of the ASHRAE 2011 Winter Conference and AHR Expo. The extravagant setting of Las Vegas serves as a unique contrast to ASHRAE’s Winter Conference theme of A Safe Bet: Zero-Energy Design. It is sure to highlight the importance of finding the balance in design. The 2011 Winter Conference takes place January 29 to February 2 at the Las Vegas Hilton. The International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Expo, held in conjunction with the Winter Conference, will run January 31 to February 2....

CHICAGO—A forest of family fun is “fall-ing” in the Windy City, as the “Exploring Trees Inside and Out” traveling exhibit plants its roots and opens at The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. Presented by Doubletree Hotels and the Arbor Day Foundation, this environmental education outreach project on display through January 30, 2011, offers young children a dynamic and interactive opportunity to explore the beauty of the great outdoors through the incredible wonder of trees. “Doubletree Hotels and the Arbor Day Foundation have worked together to successfully encourage more than one million kids and adults to visit ‘Exploring...

NASHVILLE—As part of Tennessee’s ongoing Sustainable Tourism initiative, a green certification workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. November 30 in Memphis at Marriott Memphis Downtown. Sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, this workshop, the final of five scheduled throughout the state this year, will facilitate discussions and solicit partner input regarding the development of a state green certification program for the tour and travel industry. In addition, the events will provide continued sustainable tourism resources, case studies, best practices and access to leading experts. This initiative will...

CHICAGO—Architects, designers, retailers and consumers now have an American National Standard that helps identify sustainable and environmentally-preferable wallcoverings: NSF/ANSI 342: Sustainability Assessment for Wallcovering Products. NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit organization committed to protecting public health and the environment, announced the adoption of the first American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-approved wallcovering standard at Greenbuild 2010. The NSF/ANSI 342 sustainable wallcovering standard was developed through the National Center for Sustainability Standards, which was founded by NSF to develop national standards and protocols for measuring sustainability attributes and conformity assessment programs to help verify sustainability claims. The Center is helping to eliminate...

ANAHEIM, CALIF.—The Anaheim Convention Center, the largest convention center on the west coast, was recently awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, and is one of only 14 convention centers in the country to earn this distinction. LEED is the lead rating system of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for designing, constructing and operating the world’s greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings.   “The Anaheim Convention Center continues to remain current, and we are very pleased with the LEED certification awarded to the Convention Center,” said City of Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle. “Upgrades to and...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. has reached an important milestone in the creation of a platform for multi-unit hotel growth in Brazil with the announcement of a preferred partnership with PDG Realty for the development of 50 Fairfield by Marriott hotels throughout Brazil. The hotels in this partnership will be constructed with environmentally friendly design for greater energy efficiency. Additionally, Marriott and PDG Realty have agreed to make financial contributions for each hotel constructed to support Amazon rain forest preservation through the Amazonas Sustainable Foundation (FAS). “We are excited to partner with PDG Realty,” said Arne Sorenson, president and chief operating...

CHICAGO—The U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Greenbuild International Conference & Expo officially started on Wednesday, November 17 in Chicago as retired Gen. Colin Powell addressed a crowd of 10,000 in the opening keynote hall with a message of leadership and optimism for the future. Powell presented the Greenbuild 2010 opening keynote address at a plenary session that also included a discussion between political pundits Mary Matalin and James Carville and remarks from USGBC president, CEO and founding chair Rick Fedrizzi. “Leadership has to be passionate,” General Colin Powell said. “Each person involved must believe they have a purpose.”  Powell’s address...

DENVER—Atmosphere Hospitality Management, which introduced its full service, 180-suite Adoba Eco Hotel & Suites prototype earlier this year, has added a 112-room select service option for developers called Adoba Eco Inn. Every Adoba Eco Inn, like each Adoba Eco Hotel & Suites, will be required to achieve Gold or Platinum certification through the U.S. Green Business Council’s LEED certification process for new construction. The Adoba Eco Inn prototype features the brand’s green “DNA”—Distinctively New Attributes—such as Adoba Smart Solar Roofing, A-Gemini Alternative Wind Energy Solution, the A-Gemini Total Technology Property Management System, and the Journey Rewards program. “The development and...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hampton Hotels recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its award-winning employee-volunteer program, Save-A-Landmark. Since the program launched in 2000, more than 1,500 hotel employees have spent more than 8,000 hours aiding in restoration projects for historic and cultural landmarks throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Hampton started the Save-A-Landmark program as a way for hotels to give back to local communities. At each event, the volunteers from nearby Hampton hotels from hotel owners and general managers to housekeepers and front desk agents, take time out of their busy schedules of serving guests to serve their communities and assist...

NEW YORK—Former AH&LA chairman John Russell is partnering with Auromatrix Group from India and a team of lodging veterans to launch Advaya Hospitality. Speaking  before an audience of industry insiders at the International Hotel Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) in New York, Russell said the new global company aims to bring the next generation of lifestyle hotels and related products to major cities worldwide. The hotels will be green properties incorporating technologies ranging from key card based energy management systems to wind and solar power. “Everything we do will be with a focus on sustainability,” Russell told Green Lodging News...