HOLLYWOOD, CALIF.—The Renaissance Hollywood Hotel has joined a list of elite organizations to earn the Energy Star Label from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its efforts to conserve water and energy and protect the environment. Some of the ways the hotel is going green include: changing to energy efficient lighting and energy star efficient appliances, converting to a computerized energy management system, offering daily energy saving tips to all hotel cast members, and monitoring the property daily to make sure these systems are in place and working properly. The EPA’s list of Energy Star Leaders has grown...

CHICAGO—The green hotel wheels are spinning in Illinois as that state’s hotel and lodging association steps up its efforts to encourage properties to purchase renewable energy, recycle and much more. According to Marc Gordon, president of the state association, hotels that participate in such programs would be recognized with special icons in the association’s print directory and on its website. A hotel that purchases 60 percent of its electricity from renewable sources of energy, for example, would be recognized. The Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association is currently working with an energy provider to develop a program for hotels. It is...

NEW YORK—From the popularity of eco-lodges and “green” vacation tips in magazines to the rise of carbon offset programs among airlines, an increasing number of companies are taking steps to encourage sustainable travel choices. But how can responsible tourists separate the green-doers from the greenwashers? By choosing businesses that show they are meeting environmental and social standards by earning a seal of approval from an independent sustainable tourism certification program. Latin America experienced a 25 percent growth in the number of certified tourism businesses in 2007, up to 167 in October 2007 from 136 in 2006, according to the second...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Can surfing the Web help protect the environment and save you money? Yes, and it is as simple as buying one of the new Energy Star qualified computer products. With more than 500 newly qualified product models already on the shelves, there are many options for home and work that will reduce your energy bill and greenhouse gas emissions. “As the driver of America’s technology revolution, the innovative spirit of the computer industry is now powering our energy revolution,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “Thanks to the new Energy Star specifications for computers, today’s consumers can be...

KAPALUA, MAUI, HAWAII—The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua has opened following an extensive $160 million transformation, providing a dramatic new appearance and amenities to further enhance the guest experience. The new design incorporates an authentic Hawaiian sense of place, which is evident from the moment guests arrive at the lobby with native Hawaiian artwork, Koa wood panels and the lava stone bar. The resort reinvents itself with an interior design concept that incorporates the area’s vibrant colors of the lush mountains, natural rainforests and ocean. The 463 guestrooms and suites now feature dark wood floors, all new furnishings, travertine bathrooms, area rug designs...

RIDGWAY, COLO.—TheBestGreenHotels.com, a leading ratings service focused on environmentally friendly hotel operations worldwide, has announced its first-ever award of seven trees—the website’s highest possible rating—to the Old Chapel Forge Bed & Breakfast in Sussex, United Kingdom. The Old Chapel Forge B&B is an AAA four-star hotel built in and around a 1611 chapel building. The hotel also won a 2006 Gold award from the UK’s Green Tourism Business Scheme. “To us, green tourism is not a product to be tagged on to a holiday; it is integral to the way we run the Old Chapel Forge,” says proprietress Sandra Barnes-Keywood. “Through...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced Archbishop Desmond Tutu as the opening keynote speaker for USGBC’s annual Greenbuild Conference & Expo. Greenbuild will be held November 17-19, 2008, in Boston. Bishop Tutu, a Nobel Peace Laureate, lead a crusade for social justice and racial conciliation in South Africa as then-General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches. Today, he is revered worldwide as a “moral voice” seeking to end poverty and human rights abuses. “Bishop Tutu’s life, work, and message demonstrate the power of transformational change,” commented Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO & founding chairman of USGBC....

PALO ALTO, CALIF.—Energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems are becoming increasingly important in North America in light of the current drive to conserve energy, make buildings “green,” and enhance indoor air quality (IAQ). New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, “North American Energy Recovery Ventilation Market,” found that this market earned revenues of $324.6 million in 2006 and it is expected to reach $778.7 million in 2012. “ERV is a growing segment within the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) market, particularly in northern tier winter heating zones and areas with warmer and high humidity climatic conditions,” says Frost & Sullivan research...

KINGSTON, JAMAICA—In a special communication to member hotels, the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA) last month announced its decision to support an occupancy surcharge intended to help its members combat the rising costs of energy. Effective December 15, when Jamaica’s winter season officially began, hotels have the option of adding a surcharge to their nightly room rates, with the amount to be individually determined by each property. Hotels were advised to base the amount on market assessment and cost structure; a maximum of $10 per room, per night, was recommended. JHTA president Wayne Cummings spoke in a recent...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Leaders in sustainable tourism from across North America and beyond will meet in Vancouver, British Columbia, October 27-29, 2008 at the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference 2008 (ESTC 2008), The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) announced. Hosted by the British Columbia Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts, the BC Sustainable Tourism Collective and the Council of Tourism Associations of British Columbia, the conference will provide opportunities to gain knowledge of the latest trends in ecotourism and sustainable tourism, learn practical skills, and participate in invaluable networking and knowledge sharing. The ESTC 2008 will be held at the Fairmont Hotel...