BUFFALO, N.Y.—Gideon Putnam Resort, a historic upstate New York property managed by Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, has registered its GreenPath environmental management system to the guidelines put forth by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The announcement came after an independent, third-party auditor evaluated the strength and validity of Delaware North’s environmental management system and its progress toward meeting the objectives outlined in the plan. GreenPath, the name given to Delaware North’s companywide environmental initiative, was implemented at Gideon Putnam last year when the company began operating the property for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation...

SAN DIEGO—The Eighth Annual Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) got off to a fast start here in San Diego with two quick 35-minute sessions on green hotels—one focused on standards and guidelines, and another focused on what hotels can do today to become more green. The first day of ALIS also included a series of speakers who provided a somewhat grim look at the state of the overall industry, and a Hilton announcement about a new extended-stay brand called Home2 Suites that promises to feature carpet with 70 percent recycled content, water-conserving bathroom fixtures such as dual-flush toilets, and...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) will host a webinar, “Leveraging Green to Become Stronger and More Cost-Efficient,” Wednesday, February 18, guiding hoteliers on how to effectively integrate sustainability initiatives into economically-efficient business decisions. The webinar will provide tangible strategies to reduce operating costs and devise long-term management plans based on AH&LA’s new 11 minimum environmental guidelines, and offer attendees personalized advice to their unique questions. Moderator Pat Maher, formerly with Marriott International and currently AH&LA’s green consultant, will lead the group of expert panelists and members of AH&LA’s Green Task Force, including Carmen Baker, vice...

CONCORD, N.H.—The New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association (NHLRA) will host the first New England-wide Eco-Hospitality Expo in Nashua, New Hampshire on April 14, 2009. The event will be the first of its kind in New Hampshire and for New England, and comes at a time when the hospitality industry recognizes their environmental responsibilities and realizes the cost-saving benefits of implementing a sustainability program. The New England Eco-Hospitality Expo will focus on advancing green initiatives and sustainability practices, raising environmental consciousness and promoting eco-tourism throughout the hospitality industry in New England. Through NHLRA’s Sustainable Lodging & Restaurant Program, NHLRA has...

MCLEAN, VA.—The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and Tourism Cares have partnered to recognize sustainability initiatives in the travel industry with a new award. The first-ever Tourism Cares Sustainability Award will be presented at the HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala, January 26, 2009, at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. The Tourism Cares award is a new addition to HSMAI’s annual Adrian Awards, a competition that honors the “best of the best” in travel and hospitality marketing in the categories of advertising, public relations and web marketing. “Tourism Cares is pleased and proud to honor those who epitomize...

CHICAGO—The 2009 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show will deliver a year’s worth of business solutions in one place, including professional development opportunities focused on helping restaurant and foodservice operators increase profitability and productivity. Held May 16 to 19 at McCormick Place in Chicago, NRA Show 2009 will feature more than 65 free education sessions led by recognized industry experts on a range of topics including menu trends, environmental sustainability, workforce development and profit building. “In today’s challenging economic climate, businesses are looking to maximize value for expenses and return on investment for everything they do,” said Lorna Donatone, Convention...

ATLANTA—To help drive the building industry toward market-viable net-zero-energy buildings, ASHRAE is hosting a specialty conference on the topic in March in San Francisco. “We have a reached a time when the building industry is being called to shift to a new level of performance that will reduce our energy and carbon footprint,” Bill Harrison, ASHRAE president, said. “It is time to advance net-zero-energy building knowledge.” ASHRAE’s Countdown to a Sustainable Energy Future...Net-Zero and Beyond conference will take place March 29 to 31 at Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. The conference will provide a forum to discuss the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Even as the dire financial news continues to dominate headlines, a cascade of newly released studies and reports points to green building as one of the growing bright spots for the U.S. economy. In fact, as economic experts call for a recovery plan focused on green jobs and infrastructure, as consumers look to live in more economically sustainable homes, as businesses strive to cut operating costs, and as the United States’ national security needs depend on an end to reliance on foreign energy sources, green buildings’ ability to deliver solutions to these pressing challenges promises to change the...

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN—Stockholm is a world-leading city when it comes to environmental thinking. This is particularly noticeable among the city’s hotels, which are now focusing on their green credentials more than ever. Scandic Hotels started its environmental thinking back in the early 1990s. In 2004, it became the first hotel chain to receive an eco-label, the prestigious Nordic ‘Swan’ eco-labeling, for all its 74 Swedish hotels. Scandic Hotels’ environmental program is now fully implemented across both operations and hotel construction. The newly opened Scandic Anglais in Stockholm features a number of innovative environmental solutions. All organic waste from the hotel’s restaurants...

NATIONAL REPORT—They are certainly not all uniform and some are managed better than others but the number of state level green lodging programs is growing. Participation in the programs is also increasing. There are now at least 16 states that have some type of green lodging program. The Missouri Hotel and Lodging Assn. just launched a program in that state (see article) and in New York more than 10 state organizations are currently working together as part of the New York State Governor’s Initiative: Green Hospitality Partnership to put together a program (see article). Through online research and interviews with...