CURACAO, NETHERLANDS, ANTILLES—Whether serving indigenous fare such as grilled ostrich or presenting dishes on hand-carved tableware created by locals, the Hyatt Regency Curaçao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina is making sure to provide guests with an unforgettable dining experience. The resort’s award-winning culinary team has rolled out three unique restaurant concepts, partnered with local farmers and reached out to community organizations to make this 350-room resort a unique Caribbean foodie destination. In order to boost Curaçao’s agriculture industry, the resort is leveraging relationships with local farmers and, on some level, introducing indigenous ingredients that guests may not have the chance...

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA—Crowne Plaza Canberra celebrated the arrival of its first guest with an electric car and the inaugural use of its newly-installed electric car recharge station recently. Among the first hotels in the world to offer an electric car charging facility, Crowne Plaza Canberra was the final destination on a historic non-stop drive of the new electric Tesla Roadster sports car. Taken by Tesla Motors’ general manager Australia, Rudi Tuisk, the 290-kilometer Sydney-to-Canberra journey marked the first time an electric car had been driven between two Australian capital cities without recharging en route. Tuisk was greeted on arrival at the...

DURANGO, COLO.—The Strater Hotel, established in 1887, announced that it will begin adding the Energy Star rating—the most recognized national metric for evaluating building energy efficiency—to its Durango, Colorado property. “We believe that with the help of Energy Star our commercial building will continue to achieve a higher level of energy efficiency, which also leads to an increase in the financial value of the property,” said Michelle Thom, general manager for the New Strater Corp.  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Energy Star-labeled hotels are independently verified to meet strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the agency. Hotels...

CHICAGO—The annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo is less than two months away. The event will be held November 17 to 19 in Chicago at McCormick Place West—the site of Greenbuild 2007 but with twice as much space this year. Every year, Greenbuild is packed with timely, innovative education from throughout the industry, the world’s largest green building expo floor, inspirational speakers, networking opportunities, special events, tours and recreational opportunities. This year is no different. More than 800 exhibiting companies will be on hand, including companies from American Dryer Inc. to Zurn Industries, LLC. Notable speakers will include Paul Hawken,...

SAN FRANCISCO—The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) joined California business leaders earlier this month to launch a 2010-2012 Zero Net Energy Action Plan designed to help California commercial building owners take advantage of the latest technologies and financial incentives to help reduce building energy use to “net-zero” through greater efficiency and on-site clean energy production.“This is an innovative action plan to transform the state’s commercial buildings into clean energy powered, energy-efficient structures by 2030,” said CPUC commissioner Dian M. Grueneich. “Zero net energy isn’t just a big, bold goal—it’s a reality today. By tapping into the innovation and entrepreneurialism...

RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO—Sandos Caracol Eco Resort & Spa and the Pelopidas Foundation, in association with The Climate Institute, has become the first resort in the world to offer guests the Magic Planet, an exclusive educational tool developed by the National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to teach guests the impact that our daily activities have on the land, ocean and atmosphere. The Magic Planet device provides an interactive multimedia platform that can run simulations, display live streaming media from any region of the world and offer real-time games which engage participants in a friendly environment. Using a touch screen module, guests...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—From mid-term elections to mobile applications, seminar topics at the 2010 International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) will address key influences in today’s hospitality industry. Featured topics among the nearly 25 programs will include marketing, recruiting, sustainability, business forecasting and boutique hotels. The IHMRS will run Saturday, November 13 through Tuesday, November 16, 2010, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. “Education plays a pivotal role at the IHMRS,” said Lynn White, show manager. “This year, the program lineup will help attendees prepare for the future with trend reports, state-of-the-industry presentations and timely discussions on...

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS—Home2 Suites by Hilton, the newest and fastest growing brand in the history of the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of brands, announced it will build its third U.S. property in San Antonio. The new Home2 Suites, a mid-tier, extended-stay hotel targeting budget-conscious business and leisure travelers, will be built inside the South Texas Building, also known historically as the Central Trust Company Building. Construction has already begun on the four-story, 120-suite hotel, which is the brand’s first retrofit project. The majority of Home2 Suites will be new builds. Home2 Suites executives joined with community leaders to celebrate the...

HOUSTON—The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) announced the recipients of the “Disney Conservation Heroes” award for 2010 during the recent annual meeting of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The award recognizes citizens around the world for their tireless efforts at the local level to save wildlife, protect habitats and educate the communities around them. “Conservation efforts around the globe and in our own backyard rely on the local community and direct involvement of dedicated people like our Disney Conservation Heroes,” said Dr. Jackie Ogden, vice president, Animal Programs and Environmental Initiatives, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “These are...

HOWARD, PA.—For Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the 16-room, 18,500-square foot Nature Inn at Bald Eagle is just the first of many more green buildings to come. DCNR has committed to pursue the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for the inn and at least LEED certification for all of its future buildings. The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle is green from ground to rooftop and a great start for DCNR. The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle had its grand opening on September 2 earlier this month and innkeeper...