MIAMI—Mexico’s El Dorado Royale, A Spa Resort by Karisma has introduced the philosophy of using fresh, local and sustainable produce to the Riviera Maya. The resort’s 70,000-square-foot greenhouse facility now provides produce not only for El Dorado Royale, but also for its sister El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels throughout the region. The expansive greenhouse—the first resort greenhouse in the region—celebrated its first harvest in August 2009. Now in its fourth harvest, the greenhouse produces a variety of organic vegetables and herbs, including cucumbers, bell peppers, chilies, basil, cilantro, and mint, supplying produce for El Dorado Royale,...

DELAVAN, WIS.—The EcoVision Sustainable Learning Center has received a $39,549 Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism to promote EcoFair360, a three-day exposition for green energy, sustainable building and the green lifestyle which will be presented at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn, Wis., on July 16 to 18. “This event will have a major economic impact on the Walworth County area,” says event coordinator Catherine McQueen. “We are planning for 15,000 attendees, and anticipate that 24 percent of them, or 3,600 people, will stay overnight. There will be space for 300 exhibitors and vendors, and...

NEW YORK, N.Y.—Desires Hotels announced that its collection of modern boutique hotels will be participating in the Global Soap Project. The project recovers and recycles soap from hotels and distributes it to refugee camps in Africa that are combating high mortality rates due to preventable diseases. The initiative, launched by Desires Hotels on Earth Day, collects soaps at all hotel locations and contributes them to the project—presenting a humanitarian and green solution to help reduce hotel waste. Last year it was estimated that in Uganda 200,000 children died due to preventable afflictions like acute respiratory and diarrhea diseases,...

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA.—The Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) announced that the Virginia Beach Convention Center is the first convention center in the country to achieve LEED Gold certification for Existing Buildings. This achievement also signifies the facility as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s largest building (over 515,000 square feet) to achieve LEED Gold certification for Existing Buildings. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings, which was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). There are several types...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, announced a 277 percent increase in diversity spending in 2009. Wyndham Worldwide’s Supplier Diversity Council executed and maintained a steady procurement with qualified and competitive diverse businesses—companies owned by minorities, women and other diverse groups. The Supplier Diversity Council oversaw an increase from 1.8 percent diverse spending in 2008 to 4.5 percent in 2009, as a result of incremental spending with its diversity suppliers. When adjusted to reflect the competitive set, Wyndham Worldwide’s penetration rate grew to 6.8 percent. “We are very proud of the significant increase in our diverse supplier...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is sponsoring the first national energy efficiency contest of its kind, featuring 14 commercial buildings from across the country. Two hotels are among the 14 contestants. They include the Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown and the Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol in Texas. The building that sheds the most energy waste on a percentage basis will be declared the winner at EPA’s final weigh-in on October 26, 2010. “It’s time for buildings to tighten their belts and we’re happy to help them go on an energy diet,” said Gina McCarthy,...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Ranking Member George LeMieux (R-FL) of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation and Export Promotion, co-chaired a hearing on April 28, 2010, titled “America the Beautiful: Promoting Our National Parks as Travel Destinations.” Klobuchar and LeMieux examined the value of national parks as tourist destinations and sources of job creation and other economic benefits for states and local communities. The hearing featured testimony from award-winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. “Our National Parks are woven into American culture,” Klobuchar said. “They are on ‘must see’ lists for domestic and international travelers and are icons...

NATIONAL REPORT—Hotel companies are extending their environmental commitment to what their employees wear and sacrificing absolutely nothing when it comes to good design and durability. Large companies such as Hilton Worldwide and Wyndham Worldwide have made commitments to eco-friendly uniforms. Other companies and individual properties are also choosing “green” when it comes to apparel. At least two companies—Cintas Corp. and Superior Uniform Group—are offering collections that include recycled polyester made from soda bottles or recycled polyester made from post-industrial textile scraps. In some cases, recycled polyester makes up 100 percent of the material used in a product; more often...

ATLANTA—NSF International and the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) announced the joint development of a health-based standard that addresses chemical emissions from products. This comprehensive standard will streamline the myriad methods currently used for measuring and limiting chemical emissions from products, and will incorporate the most recent science on human health and toxicology to provide acute and chronic chemical exposure limits. The final GEI-NSF standard will serve as a valuable tool for sustainability programs; federal, state, and local governments; code officials; architects and designers; health professionals; specifying professionals; and consumers by helping them choose products that minimize air pollutants in indoor...

DENVER—The launch of the new Adoba Eco Hotel & Suites Brand on the anniversary of Earth Day 2010 underscores this new brand concept’s commitment to environmental awareness and social responsibility. The Adoba Eco Hotel & Suites Brand design has taken a proactive approach to environmentally responsible architecture and intends that each new build will achieve Gold or Platinum LEED certification. The development philosophy is based upon the conviction and reality that sustainable business practices are necessary and provide viable long-term profitability when blended with responsible operational systems, a modern day sales approach, superior guest service and a healthy and...