BETHESDA, MD.— The average three-day meeting at a Marriott hotel attended by 1,000 people produces more than 12 tons of trash, uses 200,000 kilowatts of power and consumes 100,000 gallons of water. Beginning this summer, Marriott, JW Marriott and Renaissance Hotels & Resorts will introduce a series of meeting products that are eco-friendly and will help guests and meeting planners reduce their environmental impact. Marriott is building on an aggressive environmental strategy by adding new elements to green its meetings. Products and Services include: • 100 percent post-consumer fiber writing pads; • Bic Ecolutions pens made from recycled content and biodegradable (Marriott purchases...

SOUTHAMPTON, BERMUDA—Scout Real Estate Capital CEO Alan Worden announced that work on the company’s new five-star resort hotel on the site of the old Wyndham Beach Resort in Southampton Parish (formerly Sonesta Beach Resort) is progressing on schedule. Scout intends to present its proposed plans for the property to the government’s Special Cabinet Committee for approval in early September 2008. Current estimates place project development costs at $300 million. Scout plans to pursue U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the hotel. Preliminary plans for the hotel include more than 150 luxury hotel rooms,...

VANCOUVER ISLAND, B.C.—Starwood Capital Group LLC and Marine Drive Properties Ltd. CEO, Elke Loof-Koehler, announced the development of a landmark hotel-condominium at Wyndansea Oceanfront Golf Resort, home to the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club of Canada. The property is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, adjacent to the Pacific Rim National Park and will be known as the 1 Hotel Vancouver Island at Wyndansea. 1 Hotel and Residences is the first global hotel brand to combine the best of environmentally sustainable architecture and interior design with first-class service and luxurious comfort. Located on the west coast of...

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.—The 2008 International Restaurant and Hotel Awards (IRHA) will honor Grand Award Recipients and IRHA Award Honorees on November 16 at the home of the Golden Globes, The Beverly Hilton, in Beverly Hills, Calif. The star-studded gala ceremony will be hosted by Mark DeCarlo from Taste of America on the Travel Channel and will include a special spotlight on New Orleans along with the presentation of the 2008 IRHA Award Honorees, Recipients and Grand Award restaurants and hotels. A Green Award will be presented in the hotel category. Honorees were nominated by the distinguished IRHA advisory board. Less...

SANTA MONICA, CALIF.—The Ambrose Collection, having pioneered environmentally responsible practices years before “green” buildings were touted by the media, has made history with the recognition of its flagship property, The Ambrose, as the first-ever U.S. hotel to earn LEED-EB certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Under the vision of its founder and president, Deirdre Wallace, The Ambrose has earned a Silver LEED-EB (existing building) award, based on measurements set forth by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System™, USGBC’s system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy-efficient, and high-performing buildings. ...

TORONTO—Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced a new partnership with the National Geographic Society, one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations with a long history of supporting the achievements of renowned explorers and groundbreaking researchers. As a new Mission Partner, Fairmont will support the National Geographic’s work to inspire people to care about the planet, which is a natural fit as the two organizations share a commitment to responsible tourism and the environment. Through the partnership, Fairmont will offer its guests access to a number of exclusive events and enriching experiences with the Global Explorer Series. The series...

NATIONAL REPORT—With electricity and natural gas prices about to follow gasoline prices into the stratosphere, there is no better time to consider combined heat and power (CHP) as a means to lower utility bills—especially with CHP system providers offering so many attractive financing options. In fact, with some vendors you can have an on-site utility (power plant) installed with no upfront capital cost. CHP is ideal for hotels with 100 rooms and above. CHP, also known as cogeneration, is generated onsite by a plant powered by any number of systems: fuel cells, reciprocating engines, turbines, or microturbines. Electricity generated is...

NEW YORK—The creation of a Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council (STSC) moved a step closer to becoming a reality recently as a coalition of international organizations agreed to establish a body that will increase credibility around sustainable tourism certification programs, and ultimately help protect the environment, rights and livelihoods of local communities. The United Nations Environment Program, the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the United Nations Foundation are among the supporters of this initiative. As part of this joint scheme, they will work with the Rainforest Alliance, an international environment organization, and other NGOs and industry groups, to raise...

LEAVENWORTH, WASH.—Sleeping Lady Mountain Retreat, long known to visitors for its sustainable and ecologically-minded practices, is now pursuing the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance certification. Guestrooms and the Kingfisher Dining Lodge will also receive soft-goods upgrades throughout 2008, including fresh paint, works of art and more luxurious furniture. “This certification will truly underscore the commitment Sleeping Lady has had to the environment since opening in 1995,” said CEO and owner Harriet Bullitt. “Everything we do here, from our sustainable cuisine, to using paints that do not off-gas, to the very buildings...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The EPA is accepting nominations for the 2008 Water Efficiency Leader Awards to recognize organizations and individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership and innovation in water efficiency. Winners will be chosen by a panel of national water experts and based on three criteria: leadership, innovation, and water saved. “We encourage organizations and individuals who are saving water, energy and money for our nation’s families and communities to apply for the 2008 Water Efficiency Leader Awards,” said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA’s assistant administrator for water. “Together, we are proving innovative technology and environmental stewardship can help conserve our country’s greatest...