WASHINGTON, D.C.—Grosvenor, the international property development, investment and fund management group, is embarking on a $35 million renovation and re-branding of an old Holiday Inn hotel in Chevy Chase, Md. It closed earlier this year and will reopen as a Courtyard by Marriott in the spring of 2009. Grosvenor is seeking a Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for the newly renovated hotel. The renovation will include expanding the hotel from 214 to 226 rooms and creating 1,500 additional square feet of retail space just north of Saks Jandel with...

CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels & Resorts has announced the January 2009 launch of its second property under its new brand, Andaz. Located on Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip—the site of the Hyatt West Hollywood—Andaz West Hollywood will reflect the cosmopolitan feel of its surrounding neighborhood while showcasing the brand’s friendly and caring service, relaxed ambience and vibrant social spaces. Launched in 2007 with Andaz Liverpool Street in London, the Andaz brand was designed with simplicity and locality in mind. Andaz offers a flexible and personalized experience beginning with the arrival process. Departing from convention, guests are welcomed into the Andaz Lounge, a non-traditional...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Solar Power International announced that its Solar Conference and Expo will be held in Anaheim, Calif., October 27 to 29, 2009 to accommodate the event’s rapid growth. Attendance at what was already the industry’s largest solar conference and expo in North America jumped from 12,500 in 2007 to 23,200 in 2008, according to the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the show organizers. The new location will be able to meet the increased demand for hotel accommodations, exhibition and meeting space, and will allow the event to deliver a positive experience for all...

CHICAGO—Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in downtown Chicago launched an extensive recycling program and energy conservation program entitled, “When not in use, turn off the juice,” one year ago. A unique effort to compost biodegradable food material has been introduced, and Hyatt Regency McCormick Place bottles its own water at its restaurant, Shor, as well. The hotel’s green program has garnered successful results with the participation of both its entire staff and guests. In the past year, 76 tons of material (equaling 300 cubic yards) has been recycled, approximately 1,500 trees have been saved, and more than three tons of...

ORLANDO, FLA.—While marketers of travel services may gladly bid adieu to 2008, the year ahead promises to be equally challenging as competition for travelers heightens, according to Peter Yesawich, president and CEO of Ypartnership, a leading marketing, advertising and public relations agency serving travel, leisure and entertainment clients. According to research conducted by Ypartnership, the travel intentions of Americans remain robust with 71 percent of active travel households planning at least one overnight trip during the next six months, the same as one year ago. “Our most recent tracking surveys reveal there is still plenty of demand for travel services...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Research released by the National Restaurant Association shows that Americans are looking for healthier options and “greener” restaurants when they dine out, in addition to an increased interest in value and convenience. Surveys of restaurant operators, customers and chefs indicate that restaurateurs will sharpen their appeal in 2009 in these areas and that restaurants’ responsiveness to customers’ preferences will drive these industry trends, according to the Association’s 2009 Restaurant Industry Forecast. “The restaurant industry is both innovative and resilient, and will remain the cornerstone of the nation’s economy and communities, employing and serving millions of Americans in 2009,” said...

At this time of celebration, Green Lodging News would like to wish its readers and clients a very happy and safe holiday season and a healthy and prosperous new year in 2009. It is hard to believe that yet another year is about to come to a close. For Green Lodging News the year has been a good one, with newsletter circulation now at 9,300 and a high of 91,111 page views for a month in October. An average of more than 23,000 visitors a month now stop by the Green Lodging News website. That number has been as...

ROCKVILLE, MD.—Spearheading the hospitality industry’s efforts in Montgomery County, Md., to be increasingly environment conscious, the Legacy Hotel & Meeting Centre has launched its environmental program by integrating greener hotel products, cleaner energy, and enticing its guests to live green while traveling by participating in its Turn On service to offset the carbon footprint of their stay. “We are proud of our commitment to both traditional hospitality and contemporary environmental responsibility,” says Eric Siegel, executive vice president of Cohen Companies, the owner group of The Legacy Hotel & Meeting Centre. “We are introducing our 100 percent recycling policy and hope...

OTTAWA, ONT.—The Hotel Association of Canada’s Green Key Eco-Rating Program reached a milestone as the signing of a group of properties brought program participation to just over the 1,000-member mark. Earlier this month Lakeview Hotels & Resorts, a hotel company based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, began enrolling all their properties in the Green Key Eco-Rating Program. Today, with their final few hotels in the system, program participation has officially tipped the scales over into the thousands. “This is a landmark day for the Green Key program and a testament to our industry’s commitment to improving their environmental performance,” stated Tony Pollard,...

LONDON—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announced its agreement with the Government of Santa Catarina and the Government of Brazil to hold its forthcoming Global Travel &Tourism Summit in Florianopolis (the capital of Santa Catarina) from May 15 to 16, 2009. “We are delighted to enter this agreement which brings together WTTC, the Government of Santa Catarina, and Embratur—the national tourism organization of Brazil—in a strategic partnership to enhance the role of travel and tourism in developing sustainable economies and prosperous local communities,” said Luis Henrique da Silveira, the Governor of Santa Catarina. “Brazil is not only one of...