With all the “green” talk going around about reducing electrical consumption, one major energy user is rarely discussed—hotel PTAC/VTAC units. A dirty PTAC must often work twice as hard and consume twice the electricity to reach the desired room temperatures of demanding guests. Simply cleaning the filter on a regular basis is not enough. PTACs should be removed and thoroughly cleaned a minimum of once per year. Removing the dirt will increase efficiency significantly, and improve air quality immediately. Hoteliers that put an HVAC deep-cleaning plan into action for the first time can realize huge savings on their electric...

SAN FRANCISCO—The InterContinental San Francisco announced its plan to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification by early 2010. Working in conjunction with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the organization that sets the standards and categories for LEED certification, the InterContinental San Francisco is applying for certification in the “Existing Buildings: Operations & maintenance” category (EBOM) and will be evaluated on every facet of the property from construction and design elements to the types of amenities used in hotel guestrooms. The InterContinental San Francisco opened in February 2008. The 550-room hotel is set in the heart of...

TORONTO—The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has welcomed Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a worldwide hotel brand known for its industry-leading environmental efforts, as the newest member of its innovative Climate Savers Program. In recognition of this new partnership, Fairmont has agreed to a brand-wide carbon emissions reduction plan and has pledged to reduce operational CO2 emissions from its existing portfolio of hotels by 20 percent below 2006 levels by 2013, while also ensuring that new Fairmont properties strive to reduce their CO2 emissions through the implementation of the brand’s new Energy and Carbon Management program. In addition, Fairmont will: • Finalize a...

NATIONAL REPORT—Are your cleaning practices killing you? How about your guests and employees? If you are using toxic chemicals then the answer is yes. If you are using nontoxic products and supplies in a green cleaning program, the answer is no. Green cleaning, which isn’t at all the same as green washing, is one easy way to decrease costs and employee illnesses. It also increases the comfort of people coming into your hotel. Have a clean hotel, healthy employees, increase guest comfort, and save money by using natural or green and environmentally friendly cleaning products. With increased cleaning frequency, the quality...

GREENVILLE, N.C.—Eastern Carolina University’s (ECU) Center for Sustainable Tourism may be small but it may soon do something that no other U.S. university has done: create a Master of Science Degree in Sustainable Tourism. Late last month, the request to establish a new program was approved by the Faculty Senate. It is currently being reviewed by the University of North Carolina-General Administration office. The target date to offer the degree program is this fall. According to Alex Naar, sustainable tourism outreach coordinator at East Carolina University’s Office of Innovation, Engagement and Economic Development in partnership with the Center for...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, announced the launch of its new philanthropic program, Wishes by Wyndham. “Wyndham Worldwide hosts more than 240 million guests every year in our hotels, vacation rental properties and timeshare resorts,” said Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and CEO, Wyndham Worldwide. “One of our core values is to support our communities. Our associates, owners and franchisees are committed to enhancing the quality of life where we live and work.” Wyndham Worldwide has adopted four signature charities that reflect the company’s interests in women and children: Hole in the Wall Camps, Christel House...

MCLEAN, VA.—Travel industry professionals understand that green initiatives are good for the environment, but may find themselves wondering, especially in the current economic climate, is green good for business? The recently released study, “Going Green: The Business Impact of Environmental Awareness on Travel,” from PhoCusWright, with industry partners The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation and Sustainable Travel International, evaluates U.S. consumer values and attitudes surrounding green travel to help companies understand how best to design their initiatives and communications to match consumer expectations. “This report was designed to give companies insight into what consumers expect of...

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF.—Earlier this week the first ever Green Travel Summit was held at the Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach, Calif. It was attended by more than 100 of the travel industry’s top executives. The overarching sentiment of the conference was that “green” is not a destination but a concept that will continue to evolve. On the second day of the conference the leading corporate travel executives and meeting professionals in attendance collectively arrived at the Top 10 Challenges Facing the Green Travel Industry. The challenges included: how to elevate “green” as a priority for both the consumer and supplier;...

CHICAGO—Environmentally-conscious visitors to Illinois can now StayGreen at hotels throughout the Land of Lincoln. Launched by the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Assn. (IHLA), the StayGreen program recognizes hotels that proactively use eco-friendly products and services to help protect the environment. With 16,175 StayGreen rooms available across the state, IHLA is confident the StayGreen designation will help visitors better understand their choices in green lodging in Illinois. For the first year of the program, IHLA is focusing on two areas in which hotels must meet specific criteria in order to be awarded StayGreen designations: saving energy and recycling. IHLA will re-evaluate...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—In recognition of the need to take action on climate change, hotels around the world will turn their lights off for one hour on March 28 at 8:30 p.m. Earth Hour, as the event is called, is a global initiative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations with almost 5 million members worldwide. Companies ranging from Accor to the InterContinental Hotels Group will participate in the event and will ask their guests to participate as well. Even the sky above the Las Vegas Strip will be a little darker for an hour...