HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF.— The Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, situated in the heart of Huntington Beach, Calif., recently opened “The Green Room,” a new concept in environmentally-friendly laundry facilities, available free to all guests of the hotel. This new self-serve facility provides guests the opportunity to pack less and wash their sun and sand-drenched beach wear and other items during their stay. It is one of many initiatives at the resort designed to contribute positively to the global environment. The Green Room is 100 percent environmentally friendly and all construction materials from floor to ceiling are made from post-consumer recycled materials....

CHICAGO—In addition to being the right thing to do for the environment, going green can also have financial benefits—something the nation’s nearly one million restaurant and foodservice outlets are increasingly exploring. The 2009 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (May 16 to 19 at McCormick Place in Chicago) will provide attendees with both inspiration and concrete tools to increase sustainability efforts, which in turn can save on operating costs, increase productivity, motivate staff and attract eco-conscious diners. “Saving money and cutting costs are crucial aspects of running a business in this current economic environment, and going green can accomplish both,...

NATIONAL REPORT—Believe it or not, guestroom energy management systems have been around for almost 30 years now. According to Lodging Technology, it originated infrared occupancy sensor-based hotel energy conservation in 1980. It is only in the past few years, however, that wireless versions of the many hard-wired systems on the market have become available. Some vendors are just rolling out their wireless offerings. No two wireless systems are exactly the same but they all rely on thermostats, motion and/or passive infrared (PIR) occupancy sensors, along with door switches and transceivers/controllers to power down heating and cooling when guests have...

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.—During the month of April, children across the United States, Canada, Europe and Latin America are encouraging their communities and each other to collect as many recyclable bottles and cans as possible to raise money for essential school and youth community programs. This school recycling fundraiser—appropriately named “Cans and Bottles for a Cause” is part of the award-winning Doubletree Hotels Teaching Kids to CARE community outreach program, which aims to raise awareness about the rewards of environmental consciousness in everyday life by fostering a sense of activism, empowerment and reward. The five schools or youth organizations that...

OTTAWA, ONTARIO—The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) announced that it has been confirmed as a network member of the United Nations-backed Partnership for the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC Partnership). The GSTC are a set of 37 criteria organized around the four pillars of sustainable tourism: effective sustainability planning; maximizing social and economic benefits to the local community; reduction of negative impacts to cultural heritage; and reduction of negative impacts to environmental heritage. The HAC, whose Green Key Eco-Rating Program embraces these criteria, will take an active role in the GSTC partnership by participating in various working committees designed...

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS—The Caribbean tourism sector has taken a major step towards energy efficiency within the hotel industry. The region’s public and private sector tourism groupings, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA)—through its environmental arm, the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST)—have launched a 24-month project to help the Caribbean hotel sector move towards energy efficiency. The $2 million Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency Action Program (CHENACT) is meant to drive the Caribbean hotels to implement energy efficient practices and to generate their own renewable energy. This, in turn, is expected to improve their competitiveness...

SAN FRANCISCO—Joie de Vivre’s Hotel Carlton in San Francisco won the 2009 Innovation award for its environmental efforts at the Sixth Annual Hotel Hero Awards in San Francisco. The award is given to the hotel or hotel company that uses the most innovative approaches to improve the customer experience in a San Francisco-based hotel. Located in the urban heart of San Francisco, the 161-room Hotel Carlton is the first solar powered hotel in the city. In addition to installing solar panels last year, the property introduced new green practices and policies to further reduce its carbon footprint. The Green...

MEMPHIS, TENN.—Home2 Suites by Hilton, a new mid-tier, extended-stay hotel concept targeting the savvy, value-wise, extended-stay guest, has a new website with features including a sustainability page and e-tour of the future space. These expanded features were added to help consumers and developers understand the brand identity of Home2 Suites and its “Hip and Humble” approach to hospitality. “The new website features will increase the momentum for our already successful launch of Home2 Suites,” said Bill Duncan, global head, brand management. “Since launching the brand with 10 franchise applications, we have received an additional 20, with the first hotel to...

LOS ANGELES—On the heels of a successful Earth Hour event on Saturday, March 28, Sofitel Los Angeles has announced plans to extend the practice of turning the lights off each night for the rest of the year. This “lights out” ritual will be done as a continuation of the effort to raise awareness of the importance of energy conservation and environmental protection. Each night at dusk, guests at Sofitel Los Angeles will have the opportunity to experience the “lights out” ritual as hotel staff illuminate candles in public areas for the duration of one hour. Guests are encouraged to...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) and the GUESTROOM 20X Task Force, a group of hospitality technology leaders and experts, have announced a schedule change for the GUESTROOM 20X project. The special exhibit, which displays the hospitality industry’s most innovative technologies for the guestroom, is transforming from an annual project to releasing a new version of the model guestroom on alternating years. The next version of GUESTROOM 20X will be unveiled at the 2010 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The change in the schedule allows the GUESTROOM...