SAN FRANCISCO—Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, the collection of nearly 50 boutique hotels and chef-driven restaurants throughout the country, has been honored as a 2009 “World Saver” by Condé Nast Traveler magazine. Announced in the September 2009 issue as part of the third annual “World Saver Awards,” Kimpton garnered the co-winner award of the Preservation category for its pioneering EarthCare commitment, which includes more than 70 brand-wide environmental practices in place at every Kimpton hotel and restaurant from coast to coast. “This international accolade marks a milestone in Kimpton’s history and our 28-year dedication to sustainability,” said Niki Leondakis, chief operating...

RENO, NEV.—The Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, Nev., is tapping into clean, reliable, renewable geothermal energy. A total of $8.1 million was invested in the project. Like the industry they represent, the privately held resort took a gamble—drill a well that taps into the geothermal aquifer, betting on finding water at the correct temperature that could be captured and converted to energy through a closed loop system. It would then be returned to the earth via a reinjection well, which would heat the entire resort’s water and mechanical heat via geothermal energy. Peppermill president, Bill Paganetti, engaged world-renowned geothermal...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) and the Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council (STSC) announced their official merger. The result will be a new initiative that will launch in 2010 called the Tourism Sustainability Council (TSC), a global membership council that will offer a common understanding of sustainable tourism and the adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles and criteria. The TSC will bring together tourism businesses presently operating to various degrees of sustainability performance—governments, United Nations bodies, research and academic institutions, social and environmental NGOs, certification programs, and others from distinct regions of the world. ...

ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA—Five years after being shut down by powerful Hurricane Ivan, the Spice Island Beach Resort, located in the Caribbean on the island of Grenada, is doing its part to reduce its impact on the local environment while still giving its guests a luxury experience. The fully-inclusive, 64-suite property was the first hotel on the island to install a reverse osmosis desalinization system; it heats all of its water with a solar thermal heating system, cleans its pool without chemicals, and takes numerous other steps to reduce energy and water consumption and waste. The resort, which is expected...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—The International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS) has announced a seminar lineup that will offer solutions and tactics to drive business in 2010 and beyond, including such topics as recovering from a down economy and capitalizing on the social media boom. Taking place November 7 to 10, 2009, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the 94th annual IH/M&RS will present some 35,000 industry professionals with a comprehensive professional development opportunity. “Education continues to play a key role in the IH/M&RS experience, offering attendees valuable insight about emerging trends and hot topics from notable industry leaders,”...

OKLAHOMA CITY—The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department has unveiled a new travel initiative called ECO—Encouraging Conservation in Oklahoma—which promotes, educates and encourages sustainable travel in the state. The ECO program approaches sustainable travel from both industry and consumer perspectives. It includes education, green certification and marketing support for tourism industry partners and helps them embrace sustainable travel practices for minimal economic impact with maximum return. ECO will also identify sustainable travel options such as lodging, restaurants and attractions so that tourists seeking green travel will have easy access to this information. “Oklahoma has a legacy of conservation, preservation and innovation—qualities that...

BETHESDA, MD.—Two Courtyard by Marriott hotels on opposite coasts—Chevy Chase, Md., and Portland, Ore.—made eco-history last week as they were recognized simultaneously via webcast by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). This milestone puts Courtyard—with more than 830 hotels worldwide—on track to deliver a LEED hotel prototype that will be cost-effective for hotel owners and franchisees to develop. “I applaud these two hotels and their owners for making the choice to build the most environmentally-sound properties possible and paving the way for more Courtyard hotels to be LEED certified,” said Arne...

MINNEAPOLIS—For the seventh time in recent history, Carlson has been recognized as one of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers by Working Mother magazine. Cited for its family friendly benefits and strong values-based culture, Carlson once again received the honor for continuing its commitment to flexible work schedules, parental leave, adoption assistance, on-campus child care, and its focus on the advancement of women. Winners were selected for the recognition based on a 500-question application that measured companies across the board on work and family benefit issues. For this year’s “100 Best,” particular weight was given to benefits, flexibility and...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced the opening of Element Dallas Fort Worth Airport North—its sixth hotel globally, and the second to open this week, following the opening of the Element Denver Park Meadows. Owned by Sava Holdings, Ltd. and managed by Aquila Lodging, L.L.C., Element Dallas Fort Worth Airport North Hotel is also the second Element hotel to open in Texas and is among the first in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for high-performance buildings. “The opening of two...

OTTAWA, ON.—The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) is now accepting entries for the 2009 Hall of Fame Awards of Excellence. Now in its sixth year, the Hall of Fame Awards program continues the association’s tradition of acknowledging the strong standards and values of those involved in and with the lodging industry. Each year the Hall of Fame Awards attracts more and more entries from HAC members across the country. The awards program proudly recognizes those individuals, companies or properties that have demonstrated significant accomplishments, exemplary leadership and tireless commitment to the lodging industry in the following divisions:...