SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLA.—Put a Trump International Beach Resort hat on a walking planet and what have you got? Globie, the resort’s new mascot who is helping to lead the property’s Planet Kids and Planet Little Kids programs. Unlike some mascots who do not talk, Globie is a speaking mascot and helps educate the resort’s young visitors about environment-related issues ranging from recycling to pollution to non-native plants. Along with Planet Kids counselors, Globie participates in skits and there are plans to send the mascot to area schools, events and camps. Tom Card, director of recreation at the resort in...

TORONTO—Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has confirmed its participation in Earth Hour 2009, a global environmental awareness event organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). On Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:30 p.m., all 56 of Fairmont’s world-class hotels and resorts from Dallas to Dubai will go dark by turning off their lights for one hour—Earth Hour—and in doing so will reinforce the company’s pioneering commitment to operational sustainability and help draw further attention to one of the world’s single largest environmental issues: climate change. In addition to switching off principal lighting, a number of Fairmont’s properties will also mark this...

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF.—The 2009 Green Travel Summit, “The Business of Responsible Travel,” will be held March 23 to 24 at the Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach, Calif. The summit will focus on exploring green travel strategies and the impact on business travel and meetings. Experts on green travel will share information, best practices and case studies in an interactive conference format. Keynote speakers will include David Refkin, former director of sustainable development, Time, Inc.; Olivia Zaleski, host, “Business of Green,” CNN; and Auden Schendler, executive director, sustainability, Aspen Skiing Company. Also speaking will be Harry Lewis, attorney advisor, U.S....

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Clinton Climate Initiative and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) expanded their partnership to radically reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment on a global scale, with an initial focus on accelerating efforts to drive efficiency in existing buildings. Homes, schools, offices and other buildings account for 38 percent of CO2 emissions globally, according to the U.N. Environment Program. In the United States alone, the “low hanging fruit” in building efficiency could save the economy more than $160 billion by 2030, according to McKinsey & Company. Looking ahead, new program development is underway...

PORTLAND, ORE.—The Heathman Hotel, Portland’s independent luxury arts hotel, will complete a 99 percent landfill-free remodel in late April. The renovation, involving the historic hotel’s 155 guest bathrooms, was planned in accordance with the property’s commitment to sustainability which includes ensuring energy efficiency, utilizing local resources, and re-using existing materials whenever possible. The renovation is projected to reduce gas usage by 20 percent and water consumption by 50 percent. “We are proud to lead the hospitality industry in our commitment to sustainability,” said Chris Erickson, general manager of the Heathman Hotel. “We find that our guests appreciate our effort to...

NATIONAL REPORT—If you have a top 10 list of “to do” items to green your property, there is a good chance key cards are not on that list. Traditional plastic (PVC) cards carry a high environmental price tag. PVC, of course, is an oil-based product and when incinerated releases harmful dioxins. In the environment, dioxins tend to accumulate in the food chain. The higher in the animal food chain one goes, the higher the concentration of dioxins. Left to rot in a landfill, PVC cards can take centuries to biodegrade. Fortunately, a number of suppliers have emerged in the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has released its official set of 10 Recommended Steps Hoteliers should take in today’s economy to protect their bottom line and run their properties more cost-efficiently. From leveraging trends and innovations, having a viable press strategy, and more, the AH&LA website expands these guidelines to provide actionable strategies for hoteliers to achieve immediate results. AH&LA’s online tactics will be further supplemented with two upcoming webinars. The first webinar, Using AH&LA to Protect Your Bottom Line , scheduled March 4 from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (EST), is free for members and...

ATLANTA—ASHRAE proposed a building energy labeling program and high-performance building standard at its 2009 Winter Conference. More than 2,800 people attended the conference, held in late January in Chicago. Also taking place in conjunction with the meeting was the Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition, which attracted 54,000 registered visitors and exhibitor personnel. The show ranks as the second largest AHR Expo, just behind the 2006 Show in Chicago, in terms of number of exhibiting companies (1,911). Centered on the theme “Sustainable Urban Design: Engineering Tomorrow…Today,” the ASHRAE conference offered a technical program with more than 100 sessions, 15 educational courses and...

TORONTO—Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced an extension of its brandwide Green Cuisine program to include sustainable seafood choices in support of a global effort to conserve precious marine species. As the latest environmental initiative undertaken by the brand, Fairmont’s hotels and resorts worldwide will remove threatened fish species like Chilean Sea Bass and Bluefin Tuna from their restaurant menus and will also align themselves locally with reputable seafood watch organizations, ensuring guests continue to be provided with a comprehensive selection of sustainable seafood choices. By spring 2009, Fairmont’s seafood purchases will be made with the guidance and consultation...

MILL VALLEY, CALIF.—Auberge Resorts announced its company-wide membership in the Green Spa Network, the premiere spa industry association dedicated to bringing greening and sustainability to the health, wellness and beauty community. All of the spas at Auberge Resorts properties in Napa Valley, Southern California, Mexico and South Carolina, along with the first property under its new Solage brand, have joined the network. With this move, Auberge Resorts becomes the first company in the hotel industry to make a corporate-level commitment to sustainable spa operations. Auberge Resorts has been a supporter of the green spas movement since Tracy Lee, vice president...