PORTLAND, ORE.—The Courtyard by Marriott—Portland City Center opened for guests on May 27 in Portland’s downtown urban core. Developed by Sage Hospitality and designed by Portland-based SERA, the hotel draws inspiration from both Oregon’s natural surroundings and the vibrant artistic community with subtle design details of oceans, mountains, rivers and deserts incorporated into the original artwork, custom designed carpeting and fabric and wall coverings. As part of the ongoing revitalization of downtown, the Courtyard by Marriott—Portland City Center, located in the former Toronto National Building, went through a complete exterior and interior renovation of the derelict space. This major renovation...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing new requirements for commercial griddles and ovens to earn the Energy Star label that will help protect the environment and reduce energy costs for businesses. Energy Star labeled griddles and ovens are approximately 10 to 20 percent more energy efficient than standard models. If all commercial griddles and ovens sold in the United States meet the new specifications, the energy cost savings would grow to more than $700 million per year and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from more than 660,000 vehicles. The addition of the two new specifications...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Tough times may be turning road warriors into eco-warriors. The faltering economy—not the fragile environment—is the biggest motivator for frequent travelers who have become “more conscious of waste” according to a survey commissioned by Element Hotels, which is launching The Element Eco-Travel Index, an annual index of green travel habits among frequent travelers. Element is Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.’s newest lifestyle hotel brand and innovation lab for environmentally sustainable construction, building and operational practices. Element is the first major hotel brand to mandate that all its properties pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in...

HONOLULU, OAHU, HAWAII—You’ve spent several glorious days playing in Hawaii and as you pack up to go home, you’re wondering: What to do with the beach floaties and body boards you’ve amassed during the trip? Well, if you’re into being green, and if you’re staying at the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, you should just “dump” them…in your hotel room, not the garbage bin. The oceanfront hotel’s housekeeping staff will gladly collect them as part of its eco-friendly efforts. The hotel donates plastic beverage bottles collected from guest rooms to PACT (Parents and Children Together), a private, nonprofit...

TORONTO—Launching across Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ 56 properties, meeting planners can now easily identify on-site environmental initiatives through Green Sheets. These pages provide quick and easy access to green information for every hotel and resort in the collection, made available at the Fairmont Meetings website or through Fairmont sales colleagues. Fairmont’s new Green Sheets are a resource for planners looking for green information, and are an asset to showcase Fairmont’s Eco-Meet program, which provides a meetings structure that is both environmentally responsible and informative for delegates. The sheets outline how each individual Fairmont hotel or resort is working within the...

COLUMBIA, S.C.—The South Carolina Hospitality Association, in partnership with the Division of Waste Management of that state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control, is hammering out the final details of its green hotel and restaurant program. The self-certification program is expected to launch in July, according to Douglas OFlaherty, director of operations for the Association. It will be managed by the Division of Waste Management of the Department of Health and Environmental Control. The program will be open only to those establishments that are members of the Association. There is no cost to participate. OFlaherty says his Association and the...

BONITA SPRINGS, FLA.—Nearly 40 bedding industry leaders from companies like Sealy, Simmons, Serta, Tempurpedic, Foamex, Hickory Springs, Cargill, Natura World, OMI and Anatomic Global agreed during a recent meeting in Bonita Springs, Fla., that the industry needs a common set of definitions to reduce consumer confusion about the environmental benefits of bedding products. The meeting took place under the leadership of the Specialty Sleep Assn. (SSA), a national nonprofit association focused on the sale and promotion of premium sleep products. The conference was the first time industry leaders gathered under one roof for an open dialogue about the need...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In response to the nation’s honey bee shortage and as part of the hotel’s environmental stewardship program, The Fairmont Washington, D.C. recently welcomed 105,000 Italian honey bees to their new home. The rooftop of The Fairmont Washington, D.C. is now abuzz with three honey beehives and their residents. The bees will enhance the hotel’s culinary program along with its interior courtyard garden that already provides fresh herbs and flowers such as edible pansies, and the plants, trees and flowers in the surrounding West End neighborhood. Executive sous chef Ian Bens and executive pastry chef Aron Weber will share the...

ST. LOUIS, MO.—The board of directors of the International Association of Conference Centers introduced a rigorous Code of Sustainability at the 28th annual conference in March to encourage member properties around the globe to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable practices in nine areas: education and awareness, waste management, recycling, reuse, water conservation, purchasing, energy management, air quality, and food & beverage. According to Lois Berg, chair of IACC’s Sustainability Committee (director of administrative services at The Johnson Foundation, Inc. – at Wingspread Conference Center), the Code will “allow member properties to commit to sustain and support IACC’s Environmental Policy, adhere...

NEW YORK—With Memorial Day as the kickoff to the summer season, more Americans are taking some time to relax and refresh with the economy only slightly impacting their summer travel plans, according to a new study released today by Deloitte. Nearly one-third (29 percent) of respondents are taking vacations this Memorial Day weekend. This is up slightly from the 24 percent who said they took a Memorial Day vacation last year. In addition, nearly two-thirds (64 percent) said they are taking a summer vacation this year, although half of them said they will likely change some aspect of the trip...