SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF.—What was once a tired Days Inn here has been transformed into a vibrant resort that blends modern architecture with a “Rustic-Zen” feel. Owned by G8 Partners, 968 Park Spa Resort features items such as organic linens, towels and duvets, organic food and wines, and a day spa that offers treatments heavy on homemade ingredients. Throughout the property, every attempt was made to use reclaimed materials from the old Days Inn or other sources to create a style unique to Tahoe. Standing outside the resort, one is struck by the rust-friendly sheet metal that accents the...

ATLANTA—IHG, the world’s largest hotel company by number of rooms, is trialing a new online system called “Green Engage,” which will help hotel general managers manage energy consumption more effectively. Early trials have shown potential energy savings of up to 25 percent. If fully adopted by all hotels across the 4,000-strong IHG portfolio, it is estimated that the savings for hotel owners could be as much as $200 million. The system, which was developed by IHG, will be rolled out across IHG’s seven brands including Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental following final trials in 650 hotels which started in...

OCEAN CITY, MD.—With all the recent buzz around the “greening of the industry,” the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association deemed it time to bring the topic to a local level. Scheduled March 8 and 9, the association’s 35th Annual Spring Trade Show will have the theme of “Conserve While You Serve.” This annual tradition will feature a variety of products and services to showcase the latest environmentally friendly ideas for the hospitality industry. From solar energy to biodegradable flatware, the lodging and dining industries will be able to select from many different products during the expo. There will be close...

FREEPORT, MAINE—Maine Innkeepers all over the state will cut their rates by 50 percent this spring to support “Hospitality for Habitat,” a program which raises funds for Habitat for Humanity projects in Maine, announced Greg Dugal, executive director of the Maine Innkeepers Assn. (MEIA). The sixth annual Hospitality for Habitat program will run from May 1 to May 22, with participating MEIA members offering half priced, discounted room rates to guests in exchange for a $35 donation check payable to Habitat for Humanity. “Hospitality for Habitat offers visitors to Maine an opportunity to give back to the community where...

SAN DIEGO—Grappling with a recession that has created a more challenging marketplace than the industry has seen in 30 years, the majority of hospitality executives are decidedly bearish for 2009, according to the DLA Piper 2009 Hospitality Outlook Survey revealed here at the Americas Lodging Investment Seminar conference. The survey, measuring the attitudes and perspectives of top executives within the hospitality industry, reveals that nine out of 10 respondents describe themselves as bearish. Expected to continue its recent decline, the majority (62 percent) of respondents also predicts that the full-year 2009 U.S. hotel occupancy rate will drop to a...

BUFFALO, N.Y.—Gideon Putnam Resort, a historic upstate New York property managed by Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, has registered its GreenPath environmental management system to the guidelines put forth by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The announcement came after an independent, third-party auditor evaluated the strength and validity of Delaware North’s environmental management system and its progress toward meeting the objectives outlined in the plan. GreenPath, the name given to Delaware North’s companywide environmental initiative, was implemented at Gideon Putnam last year when the company began operating the property for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation...

SAN DIEGO—The Eighth Annual Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) got off to a fast start here in San Diego with two quick 35-minute sessions on green hotels—one focused on standards and guidelines, and another focused on what hotels can do today to become more green. The first day of ALIS also included a series of speakers who provided a somewhat grim look at the state of the overall industry, and a Hilton announcement about a new extended-stay brand called Home2 Suites that promises to feature carpet with 70 percent recycled content, water-conserving bathroom fixtures such as dual-flush toilets, and...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) will host a webinar, “Leveraging Green to Become Stronger and More Cost-Efficient,” Wednesday, February 18, guiding hoteliers on how to effectively integrate sustainability initiatives into economically-efficient business decisions. The webinar will provide tangible strategies to reduce operating costs and devise long-term management plans based on AH&LA’s new 11 minimum environmental guidelines, and offer attendees personalized advice to their unique questions. Moderator Pat Maher, formerly with Marriott International and currently AH&LA’s green consultant, will lead the group of expert panelists and members of AH&LA’s Green Task Force, including Carmen Baker, vice...

CONCORD, N.H.—The New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association (NHLRA) will host the first New England-wide Eco-Hospitality Expo in Nashua, New Hampshire on April 14, 2009. The event will be the first of its kind in New Hampshire and for New England, and comes at a time when the hospitality industry recognizes their environmental responsibilities and realizes the cost-saving benefits of implementing a sustainability program. The New England Eco-Hospitality Expo will focus on advancing green initiatives and sustainability practices, raising environmental consciousness and promoting eco-tourism throughout the hospitality industry in New England. Through NHLRA’s Sustainable Lodging & Restaurant Program, NHLRA has...

MCLEAN, VA.—The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and Tourism Cares have partnered to recognize sustainability initiatives in the travel industry with a new award. The first-ever Tourism Cares Sustainability Award will be presented at the HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala, January 26, 2009, at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. The Tourism Cares award is a new addition to HSMAI’s annual Adrian Awards, a competition that honors the “best of the best” in travel and hospitality marketing in the categories of advertising, public relations and web marketing. “Tourism Cares is pleased and proud to honor those who epitomize...