WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Expanding on its company-wide commitment to conservation and sustainable operations, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc. plans to significantly reduce energy and water consumption at every one of its 1,000 hotels within the decade. Starwood is targeting a 30 percent reduction in energy use per available room by 2020; the company will also work toward a 20 percent decrease in water consumption per available room by 2020. The initiative will apply to all of Starwood’s owned, managed, and franchised hotels around the world. “We don’t see these goals as an obligation, but an opportunity,” said Frits van Paasschen,...

GLENVIEW, ILL.—The Metal Initiative has produced a white paper focusing on using metal in retrofit applications. With retrofit being one of the hottest topics in the commercial building industry today, the white paper addresses the reasons why building owners, developers and architects are and should be choosing metal. Metal’s benefits are more than economical and environmentally friendly; they’re also visually appealing and long lasting. The Metal Initiative’s white paper outlines the financial and environmental advantages of retrofitting with metal roof and wall systems. For architects, contractors, and business owners the paper explains how to increase business, improve building appearance,...

NORMAN, OKLA.—Oklahoma’s largest hotel and conference center has become the first property to earn the highest sustainable travel certification offered by ECO—Encouraging Conservation in Oklahoma—the state’s premiere sustainable travel program. The National Center for Employee Development (NCED), located off State Highway 9 in Norman, earned the Platinum Travel Standard certification by meeting set criteria and implementing sustainability programs. Hardy Watkins, Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department executive director, said the NCED is a good sustainability practices model for all conference centers. “Since NCED is the largest conference facility in the state, its environmental impact is significant,” Watkins said. “By implementing sustainability programs...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—The International Hotel, Motel & Restaurant Show (IHM&RS) invites hospitality designers from across the globe to submit entries for the 30th annual Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design, the premier interior design competition for the industry. The coveted awards are presented in eight categories: Best Hotel Design, Guest Room, Lobby/Reception Area, Lounge/Bar, Restaurants/Casual Dining, Restaurants/Fine Dining, Spa and Suite. Entries must be submitted by July 1, 2010. Designers of hotels, motels, timeshares, restaurants, clubs, cruise ships, casinos, conference centers, spas and other hospitality facilities are encouraged to enter the competition, which last year considered more than...

NASHVILLE, TENN.—The Tennessee Hospitality Association announced the statewide availability of “The Tennessee Green Hospitality” certification program. The program has been adopted from “Chattanooga Green Lodging,” already recognized as a national model for sustainable tourism planning, and just announced as a winner of The Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award. “We already knew that this program was perfect for us to adopt statewide,” said Bill Mish, president of the Tennessee Hospitality Association. “The announcement of this prestigious award confirms that decision.” The program encourages hotels, bed and breakfasts and other lodging facilities and restaurants to be aware of their impact on the environment...

NATIONAL REPORT—Fuel cell power systems, installed at properties such as the Hilton New York, Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, and Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino, have worked reliably for years now but have failed to catch on in a big way throughout the lodging industry. Cost and availability of funding have certainly been reasons and the recent recession certainly has not helped. A lack of a serious marketing push by suppliers has contributed to the technology’s slow acceptance and systems have also not been available for smaller hotels. Some recent developments, however, could make fuel cells a more...

HOUSTON—A new global organization dedicated to expanding Latino ownership, leadership and commerce in the hotel industry was launched recently. Called the Latino Hotel Association (LHA), the group will focus on supporting Latinos through education about ownership/development, management and leadership; hosting international and regional conferences; and networking with hotel corporations and suppliers. Founding sponsors include Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corp., InterContinental Hotel Group and Wyndham Hotel Group. Founding supporters include Carlson Hotels Worldwide, Choice Hotels International, Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. “The Latino community has established a foothold in the hotel industry, but the full potential remains largely...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Arizona’s Aloft Tempe is now officially Tempe’s greenest. Aloft Tempe has been awarded the coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Aloft Tempe becomes the seventh LEED certified property for Aloft brand parent Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Environmentally-conscious development has never been more important than in today’s business environment,” said Michael Mahoney, CEO of Triyar Hospitality, the hotel developer. “Our mantra has always been to build into the future and with the Aloft brand and LEED certification, we believe we have achieved that goal.” With more...

LAS VEGAS—Best-selling author Steven Solomon and “natural capitalism” advocate Hunter Lovins will be keynote speakers at the third WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition, slated for October 6 to 8, 2010 at the South Point Hotel and Conference Center in Las Vegas. Registration for the urban water efficiency conference is now underway. Lovins, president and founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions and co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute and California Conservation Society, will keynote the conference’s opening session Wednesday, October 6. Through NCS, Lovins educates senior public- and private-sector decision-makers about strategies to enable companies, communities, and countries to become more sustainable....

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Building on a commitment to sustainability and conservation initiatives, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced it has introduced sustainable meeting guidelines at every North American property. Starwood’s Sustainable Meeting Practices (SMP) will also roll out globally in 2011. The program revolves around five core components: paperless Meeting Planning, Sustainable Meeting Services, Sustainable Food & Beverage Practices, Impact Assessment Tools, and Socially Conscious Activities. Starwood operates 1,000 properties worldwide, and expects to open another 80 hotels over the next year. “Rolling this program out across North America formalizes environmental practices our hotels have been implementing and we are...