LAS VEGAS—Last July, when Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. announced its approximately $1 billion expansion of Caesars Palace—an addition that includes a new 665-room hotel tower and 263,000-square-foot meeting and convention center—it did not talk about one important element of the project: its pursuit of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. According to Eric Dominguez, Director of Energy and Environmental Services for Harrah’s, the LEED initiative is just one of many of the company’s efforts to build and operate in an environmentally responsible fashion. The new Caesars Palace hotel addition—named Octavius Tower for the...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. ranked among the top 10 on Computerworld magazine’s first-ever “Top 12 Green IT Companies” list. Marriott, the only hospitality company named, was recognized for IT energy conservation, IT recycling and reduction of carbon emissions. Marriott’s IT environmental achievements include: • Establishing Energy Star compliance standards for all IT assets; • Eliminating 25.6 tons of CO2 output annually by replacing printers; • Reducing IT energy consumption by utilizing server virtualization, resulting in the elimination of 300 servers; • Replacing 5,000 desktop PCs with thin client computers, reducing energy consumption by 50 percent per device; and • Archiving data, resulting in 65 percent reduction in power usage. “We...

OTTAWA, ONT.—The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) has announced a new strategic partnership with The Innovolve Group Inc. and the new Green Meeting Guide. This partnership will enable meeting planners to work closely with the HAC Green Key Eco-Rating Program to ensure the Canadian Lodging industry continues to evolve as a leader in environmental stewardship. The HAC Green Key Eco-Rating Program is a graduated rating system designed to recognize hotels, motels and resorts that are committed to improving their environmental performance. Based on the results of a comprehensive environmental audit, hoteliers are awarded a one to five Green Key rating....

MARIETTA, GA.—In a recently completed study funded by Greenguard Environmental Institute (GEI), there was preliminary evidence that “green” low-emitting products may still cause increased chemicals in indoor environments. The study, conducted by Chi Phuong Hoang, a doctoral candidate at the University of Texas at Austin’s Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering program, revealed that even “green” wall, flooring, ceiling and cabinetry materials can cause “secondary” emission of chemicals when exposed to naturally occurring ozone in the indoor air. Many green materials are bio-based and, as a consequence, may react even with low levels of ozone that naturally occur...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) is now accepting seminar proposals for the 93rd annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS), taking place November 8-11, 2008, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Hospitality industry experts are encouraged to share their research and insight at the industry’s premier event, which attracts more than 35,000 trade professionals and 1,250 exhibitors annually. The deadline for submitting proposals is February 28, 2008. Proposals focused on timely and trend-driven information for the hospitality industry, within the areas of lodging, food and beverage, tourism/travel, consumer trends, greening of the industry,...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Grande Lakes Orlando has been recognized for its commitment to the environment and is pleased to announce that The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Grande Lakes is now a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Endorsed by the United States Golf Assn., the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses provides information and excellence to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat, and protect national resources. “The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Grande Lakes has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program,” said Jim Sluiter, staff ecologist for the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programs. “They are to be commended for...

NATIONAL REPORT—Years ago, before there were standards limiting water flow, hotel showers were kind of like Niagara Falls—fast and mighty. Today, for the most part, showerheads allow 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm) to funnel through to guests. Increasingly, because of environmental concerns such as drought, as well as a desire to trim recurring water and energy costs, hoteliers in every lodging segment are opting for low-flow showerheads that give up a miserly 2.0, 1,85, 1.75, 1.6 or 1.5 gpm. Every hotelier knows that one of the best ways to rankle a guest is to provide an inferior shower...

DALLAS—Lodging Hospitality and Pineapple Hospitality’s second annual Green Hospitality Conference is set to take place March 12 to 14 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas. The green event will run concurrent with Lodging Hospitality’s eighth annual Hospitality Operation & Technology Conference. The Green Hospitality Conference will get started on Wednesday, March 12 with a welcome reception. Thursday, March 13 will be packed with a series of educational opportunities. In the opening general session, a panel of top lodging company executives will debate the important operational and technology issues facing the lodging industry in 2008. Additional sessions will focus on...

GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—The sand is golden, the water is blue, and the rest of the destination is going green. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, along with the Board of Broward County Commissioners, and in conjunction with private and public sector partners in the hospitality industry, is transforming Greater Fort Lauderdale into “Greener” Fort Lauderdale. The CVB is contributing by creating an environmentally-friendly in-room card for hotel guests and working with the hotels to become Florida Green Lodging certified. “Greater Fort Lauderdale is actively making a commitment to preserving our water resources and sensitive ecosystems...

ATLANTA—The industry’s most comprehensive mandatory certification program of green practices by limited service hotels has been launched by America’s Best Franchising Inc. on behalf of its two brands—America’s Best Inns & Suites and Country Hearth Inns & Suites. “Improved environmental performance makes both dollars and sense,” explained Doug Collins, chairman and CEO of Atlanta-based America’s Best Franchising Inc., which is paying for the entire certification program on behalf of its 98 America’s Best properties and 90 Country Hearth properties. “We’re requiring all our franchisees to implement simple practices which will generate savings of between $1 and $3 per night in...