PITTSBURGH—Fairmont Pittsburgh announced that it has received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification at the Gold level from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The announcement was made by Leonard S. Czarnecki, general manager of the luxury hotel. “We are proud to continue Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ tradition of operational sustainability and responsible tourism here at the Pittsburgh location,” Czarnecki said. “In fact, Fairmont Pittsburgh is the first LEED certified project for Fairmont, and we are looking forward to growing our reputation as a responsible member of this community.” Fairmont Pittsburgh, which opened on March 29, 2010,...

CHICAGO—Hotel Felix Chicago has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for commercial interiors from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making it the first hotel in Chicago to earn this environmental status. The LEED rating system is the preeminent internationally recognized building certification system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy-efficient and high performance buildings. Designed by Chicago-based Gettys, whose design and procurement team is largely staffed by LEED Accredited Professionals, Hotel Felix meets LEED standards for its adaptive reuse of an existing urban structure, convenient access to public transportation, and the use of...

LAKE TAHOE, CALIF.—Approximately 80 people, including exhibitors and speakers, attended the first day of the West Coast Green Lodging Conference at the Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe—Hotel & Ski Resort. Conference activities included a keynote presentation by Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor of Green Lodging News, as well as presentations by the following: Randy Gaines, vice president of engineering for Hilton Worldwide; David Hansen, chief engineer, Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe—Hotel & Ski Resort; and Gary Golla, LEED AP, Sera Architects, Inc. In his presentation, “The ‘Green’ State of the Lodging Industry,” Hasek elaborated on the 10 trends he sees driving the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) announced that it has awarded the LEED Green Associate credential to more than 10,000 individuals. The credential, which was introduced to the market just last year, has secured its status as the preeminent designation for professionals who support the green building industry. The LEED Green Associate exam tests for fundamental understanding of sustainable building practices and principles.  It is specifically designed for those individuals who work in industries that support sustainable building, such as manufacturing, sales, policy, real estate, property management, law, marketing, and many others. It is also a starting point for...

VINEYARD HAVEN, MASS.—Until this summer, the 16,000 gallons of groundwater that runs below the Mansion House Inn, Health Club & Spa was a nuisance. Because the inn’s subbasement sits in the middle of the groundwater, the water constantly had to be pumped away to protect the structure. Now, the water is an asset. How so? It stores energy not only from the sun above the inn but also energy pumped into it via a sophisticated geothermal heat pump system. For Sherman and Susan Goldstein, the inn’s owners, realizing the water’s potential was like striking gold. The history of the inn’s...

HOUSTON—Houston is the home of Texas’ first LEED certified hotel. Element Houston Vintage Park has earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Element is the eco-chic boutique brand from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. that made history by becoming the first major hotel brand to mandate that all its properties pursue LEED certification for high-performance buildings. “Our LEED Silver certification is gratifying because it recognizes our team’s efforts to conserve resources and reduce waste. But earning Silver is even more valuable because guests keep telling us how much...

NASHVILLE—As part of Tennessee’s ongoing Sustainable Tourism initiative, five green certification workshops will be held in 2010 across the state. Sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), the workshops 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. “From the beginning, partner input has been essential in shaping Tennessee’s Sustainable Tourism program,” said commissioner Susan Whitaker, Tennessee Department...

CHICAGO—Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago announced a new, in-room dining menu at the Chicago hotel that has been certified organic by Oregon Tilth, an international nonprofit research and organic certification organization. A first in the North American hotel industry, the downtown Chicago luxury hotel now provides discerning guests with innovative meal options that utilize the freshest ingredients available, sourced daily from local and sustainable farmers. Divided into five different menu categories for breakfast, lunch, dinner, late-night snacks and spa dining, the in-room dining menu at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago features cuisine by executive chef Frank Brunacci. The...

HIGHLANDS RANCH, COLO.—Atmosphere Hospitality Management Services, LLC was recently selected to appear on “Moving America Forward,” a new national television show hosted by William Shatner. Atmosphere presented their recently launched green hotel brand, Adoba Eco Hotel & Suites. The program will be aired over the American Life Television Network and other media. The story will be told of how Adoba will make history as the first independent LEED certified brand design “green from the get go” in its entirety. Adoba Eco Hotel & Suites incorporates sustainability and socially responsible practices into every aspect of the design, while mutually aligning itself...

MCALLEN, TEXAS—The McAllen Chamber of Commerce is stepping up its efforts to green hotels in its southern Texas location by adding a second tier to its Green Hotel Program. Participants in the first tier of the voluntary program are required to implement a minimum of eight practices from a long list provided by the Chamber. After a year of participating in the program, hotels are visited as part of a verification step to ensure they are indeed doing what they said they are doing. The second tier will be for those hotels that have completed one year in the...