DENVER— National park and resort concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts has received the 2008 National Park Service Environmental Achievement Award for the company’s operations in Death Valley National Park. The award was given for exceptional achievement in sustainable energy practices. More specifically, the award recognizes Xanterra’s completion of one of the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems in the United States—a five-acre one-megawatt (MW) system that will generate more than one-third of the total annual electricity needs of the company’s operations in Death Valley, including the historic Furnace Creek Inn, Furnace Creek Ranch, Furnace Creek Golf Course, employee offices and...

LONDON—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)—the business leaders’ forum for the Travel & Tourism industry—announced its call for entries for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, WTTC’s sustainable tourism accolade, in association with Travelport and The Leading Travel Companies Conservation Foundation. The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are presented annually to tourism organizations that are demonstrating best practices including helping to improve the livelihoods of communities and supporting the protection of natural and cultural heritage through sustainable tourism development. The awards are given in four different categories addressing all sectors of the travel and tourism industry: • Destination Stewardship Award—For destinations comprising a...

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF.—The Brendan Group Inc. has unveiled Seven4one, Orange County’s first contemporary boutique hotel located just a shell’s toss from the white sands and crashing surf of Laguna’s legendary beaches. Seven4one’s location places guests in the heart of the area’s best restaurants, galleries and retail boutiques. The sleek yet sophisticated design hotel draws inspiration from the some of the most fashionable boutique hotels in Europe, New York, Miami and Los Angeles. Seven4one is a member of the Green Hotel Association and is an EPA WasteWise Partner. “Mix in a little of Orange County’s laid back attitude and Laguna’s artsy...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—From lawn mowers and weed trimmers, to personal watercraft and speedboats, gas-powered engines will soon contribute to healthier and cleaner air for Americans. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set strict new standards for gas-powered lawn equipment and marine engines, enhancing public health by substantially reducing the amount of gas fumes, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and smog-forming pollutants emitted from a wide range of engines. The regulations will take effect in 2010 and 2011. “EPA’s new small engine standards will allow Americans to cut air pollution as well as grass,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “These standards help...

GAINESVILLE, FLA.—Officials of the 248-room Hilton University of Florida Conference Center announced it will be the host hotel for the inaugural Florida Green Lodging Conference from November 10 to 12, 2008. Entitled “Being Green, Saving Green & Making Green,” the conference is sponsored by VisitGainesville and the University of Florida TREEO (Training, Research & Education for Environmental Occupations) Center. “Designated as one of the first green hotels in Florida, the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center is an ideal location to host this first-of-its-kind event,” said Roland Loog, CDME, executive director of VisitGainesville. “With the passage of Governor Crist’s Executive...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Offering a detailed road map for sustainable operations, a new Green Hotel Industry White Paper from Cornell’s Center for Hospitality Research details the comprehensive program implemented by the Willard InterContinental Washington Hotel. The report, “Sustainable Hospitality: Sustainable Development in the Hotel Industry,” is written by Hervé Houdré, general manager of the Willard, and is available for download at no charge from the center’s website. In addition to explaining the Willard’s sustainable eco-friendly hotel development program, the Cornell Industry Perspectives paper outlines environmental efforts by several of the industry’s major companies—including InterContinental, Marriott, and Taj—all of which are partners...

PITTSBURGH—The Green Meeting Industry Council announced that their 2009 “Greening the Hospitality Industry” Conference will be held February 24 to 26 in Pittsburgh at the LEED Gold certified David L. Lawrence Convention Center. This conference will provide timely, professional education and invaluable networking opportunities through presentations, workshops, and a tradeshow. Key industry leaders will discuss green meeting practices for meeting and event planners, hotel properties, convention and conference venues, and suppliers to the meeting and event industry. Participants will have an opportunity to share practices in roundtable discussion groups. The latest environmentally responsible meeting products and services will be...

SEATTLE—The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle, a 450-room AAA Five Diamond property, is taking a big bite out of its waste hauling costs thanks to an aggressive recycling program that includes composting and the occasional dumpster dive to analyze what exactly is being thrown away. Waste minimization is top of mind, even when making purchasing decisions. The end result at the end of each day is that a significant chunk of what used to be bound for the landfill is now being recycled. The luxury hotel stepped up its recycling efforts about a year ago when it began working with Eirik...

CARIB TERRITORY, DOMINICA—Distinguished International Hotels, Residences and Resorts announced that it has reached an agreement with the Carib Council to develop an Eco-Lodge Resort and Conference Center in the Carib Territory of Dominica. The designated site for this private-public partnership between Distinguished International, the Carib Council and the Government of Dominica with continuing support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Kalinago people, will be the Carib Model Village next to ‘Morne Diablotins’ National Park and Central Forest Reserve. The multi-phased project, with construction scheduled for 2009, will feature 100 villas, cottages and tree house...

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA—Emirates Hotels & Resorts has announced the start of a major habitat regeneration project at its first luxury Australian conservation resort, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa. The first step in the long-term conservation program commenced with the planting of more than 1,000 indigenous trees. The reforestation project aims to regenerate ecologically sensitive areas within Emirates’ Wolgan Valley Reserve and is part of Emirates Hotels and Resorts’ carbon offsetting initiative and its commitment to the protection of biodiversity. The first resort to be developed by Emirates Hotels & Resorts outside the United Arab Emirates, Wolgan Valley includes an extensive conservation...