SAN FRANCISCO—Keep the Green or Give the Green gives hotel guests the choice of accepting a $20 gas card from Chevron or a $20 carbon offset credit. With the help of Carbonfund.org, the carbon offset credit represents the reduction of CO2. The more people who opt for the carbon offset, the better chance we have at reducing harmful chemicals that continue to damage our ozone at an alarming pace. By requesting the carbon offset, a $20 dollar credit is donated in support of a number of different carbon-reducing projects that help save the environment. Guests can choose from reforestation, renewable...

CAPE ELIZABETH, MAINE—The transformation of Inn by the Sea into one of Maine’s premier luxury beach destinations is complete after a massive multi-million dollar makeover, announced the inn’s general manager, Sara Masterson. The renovation seamlessly weds contemporary amenities and green design features with traditional coastal charm to create an atmosphere of upscale elegance throughout the property. Guests are given a touch of the red carpet treatment the instant they are ushered into comfortable leather chairs for ‘check-in’ in the renovated lobby, now open to scenic Atlantic views. A nautical compass rose detail on the granite floor is repeated beyond an...

BETHESDA, MD.—With sky-high fuel prices threatening the airline industry and potentially stifling travel throughout the United States, Marriott International, Inc. last week joined other leaders in the travel and tourism industry to call on the U.S. Congress and the Administration to forge a bipartisan response to the new energy crisis. J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr., chairman and CEO of the company, supported an industry letter calling on senators, representatives and the president to stay in Washington through the summer to develop a comprehensive national energy policy. He said that Americans’ family budgets have been squeezed both by higher prices at the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The EPA welcomed 51 new partners as Climate Leaders, breaking the 200 mark. In addition, eight companies took the next step in the partnership by announcing new greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions goals. Together, EPA’s Climate Leaders represent more than 10 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product and have pledged to prevent estimated GHG emissions equivalent to nine million cars annually. “EPA’s Climate Leader partners are proving that businesses don’t need to break the bank to do what’s good for the environment,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “These leading companies are reducing their climate footprints in cost-effective...

BETHESDA, MD.— The average three-day meeting at a Marriott hotel attended by 1,000 people produces more than 12 tons of trash, uses 200,000 kilowatts of power and consumes 100,000 gallons of water. Beginning this summer, Marriott, JW Marriott and Renaissance Hotels & Resorts will introduce a series of meeting products that are eco-friendly and will help guests and meeting planners reduce their environmental impact. Marriott is building on an aggressive environmental strategy by adding new elements to green its meetings. Products and Services include: • 100 percent post-consumer fiber writing pads; • Bic Ecolutions pens made from recycled content and biodegradable (Marriott purchases...

SOUTHAMPTON, BERMUDA—Scout Real Estate Capital CEO Alan Worden announced that work on the company’s new five-star resort hotel on the site of the old Wyndham Beach Resort in Southampton Parish (formerly Sonesta Beach Resort) is progressing on schedule. Scout intends to present its proposed plans for the property to the government’s Special Cabinet Committee for approval in early September 2008. Current estimates place project development costs at $300 million. Scout plans to pursue U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the hotel. Preliminary plans for the hotel include more than 150 luxury hotel rooms,...

VANCOUVER ISLAND, B.C.—Starwood Capital Group LLC and Marine Drive Properties Ltd. CEO, Elke Loof-Koehler, announced the development of a landmark hotel-condominium at Wyndansea Oceanfront Golf Resort, home to the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club of Canada. The property is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, adjacent to the Pacific Rim National Park and will be known as the 1 Hotel Vancouver Island at Wyndansea. 1 Hotel and Residences is the first global hotel brand to combine the best of environmentally sustainable architecture and interior design with first-class service and luxurious comfort. Located on the west coast of...

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.—The 2008 International Restaurant and Hotel Awards (IRHA) will honor Grand Award Recipients and IRHA Award Honorees on November 16 at the home of the Golden Globes, The Beverly Hilton, in Beverly Hills, Calif. The star-studded gala ceremony will be hosted by Mark DeCarlo from Taste of America on the Travel Channel and will include a special spotlight on New Orleans along with the presentation of the 2008 IRHA Award Honorees, Recipients and Grand Award restaurants and hotels. A Green Award will be presented in the hotel category. Honorees were nominated by the distinguished IRHA advisory board. Less...

SANTA MONICA, CALIF.—The Ambrose Collection, having pioneered environmentally responsible practices years before “green” buildings were touted by the media, has made history with the recognition of its flagship property, The Ambrose, as the first-ever U.S. hotel to earn LEED-EB certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Under the vision of its founder and president, Deirdre Wallace, The Ambrose has earned a Silver LEED-EB (existing building) award, based on measurements set forth by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System™, USGBC’s system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy-efficient, and high-performing buildings. ...

TORONTO—Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced a new partnership with the National Geographic Society, one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations with a long history of supporting the achievements of renowned explorers and groundbreaking researchers. As a new Mission Partner, Fairmont will support the National Geographic’s work to inspire people to care about the planet, which is a natural fit as the two organizations share a commitment to responsible tourism and the environment. Through the partnership, Fairmont will offer its guests access to a number of exclusive events and enriching experiences with the Global Explorer Series. The series...