BAY CITY, MICH.—Doubletree Hotels announced that the Doubletree Hotel Bay City-Riverfront has earned Green Lodging Michigan (GLM) Steward certification from the State of Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG). Green Lodging Michigan encourages hotels, resorts, motels, and bed & breakfast facilities to implement environmental initiatives and cost-saving “green” practices to conserve energy, reduce water consumption, protect air quality, reduce waste, and participate in environmentally preferred purchasing. “This accreditation is the mark of environmental responsibility of hoteliers who are committed to “green” business practices that make environmental and economic goals their top priority,” said DLEG director Keith W. Cooley....

BONITA SPRINGS, FLA.—The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Green Lodging Program noted a milestone this fall, designating its first “Three Palm” property. The Three Palm designation is the highest achievement under the DEP program that recognizes continuing and increased energy conservation and pollution prevention measures. The hotel property earning the Three Palm designation is the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. The Green Lodging Program is a voluntary state initiative that provides the lodging industry with free technical assistance, encouraging hotels and motels to adopt cost-saving green practices that reduce waste, conserve natural resources, and improve the bottom...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) reaffirmed its commitment to the development of Standard 189.1 P, which will be America’s first National Standard developed to be used as a green building code when completed. Created specifically for adoption by states, localities, and other building code jurisdictions that are ready to require a minimum level of green building performance for all commercial buildings, Standard 189.1 P is being developed as an ANSI standard under ASHRAE’s leadership, in partnership with USGBC and IESNA. “As green building goes mainstream, government leaders are asking for tools that set minimum standards for green building,”...

BOSTON—The Green Restaurant Association (GRA) announced that it has updated its Certification System to the points-based Green Restaurant 4.0. For the past two decades, the GRA has been certifying restaurants across North America with its environmental standards. Every few years, the GRA upgrades its certification standards to help the restaurant industry move toward environmental sustainability. Green Restaurant 4.0 will provide a comprehensive and user-friendly method of rewarding restaurants with points in each of the Environmental Guideline categories: Energy, Water, Waste, Disposables, Chemical and Pollution Reduction, Sustainable Food, and Sustainable Building Materials. Under the Green Restaurant 4.0 standards, restaurants will have...

NEW YORK—NEWH Inc., the hospitality industry network, providing scholarships, education, and leadership opportunities for individuals in the hospitality industry, will host a “Green Day” at the 2009 semi-annual NEWH Leadership Conference in San Diego on January 10, 2009. The NEWH Leadership Conference, designed to focus on leadership and education, takes place January 9 to January 11. The Leadership Conference Green Day, under the auspices of NEWH Sustainable Hospitality, will consist of a sustainability panel and an introduction to LEED presented by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), along with a vendor spotlight on sustainable products and a personal...

DENVER—What began with a company-wide seafood policy that ensured Xanterra Parks & Resorts served only sustainable seafood in its 68 restaurants has evolved into an aggressive program that includes a wide variety of new innovations in sustainable cuisine, waste-reduction programs and sustainable renovations and construction of restaurants. Known for its wide-ranging environmental programs, concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts operates lodges, restaurants, gift shops, tours and activities in national and state parks and resorts. “Our chefs have created some of the most innovative sustainable offerings we’ve ever seen,” said Chris Lane, vice president of environmental affairs for Xanterra Parks & Resorts....

MADRID, SPAIN—A new United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) project is leading to at least 20 percent overall energy savings and increasing renewable energy use by 10 percent in hotels. It targets particularly small and medium enterprises, which represent the vast majority of hotel rooms in the accommodation sector and which can benefit from best practice trends and technology advances. The project brings together partners from the hotel, environment and renewable energy communities and is supported by the European Union. More than half of the world’s 5.9 million hotel rooms are located in Europe. Ninety percent of those are...

ABU DHABI, U.A.E.—Expert speakers from around the world, including hospitality and green building pioneers, top consultants and senior managers from the information technology and building sectors, are among the confirmed speakers at “The Growth of Green Hotels Conference” which will take place on December 14 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center. The conference will be held on the opening day of Equip’ Hotel Middle East, the capital’s first hospitality trade show, being organized by Reed Exhibitions Middle East, from December 14 to 16. Equip’Hotel Middle East is organized with the support of Abu Dhabi National Hotels and the National...

TORONTO—They say all good “soles” go to heaven, and now shoes from the Fairmont Fit program will get a second life with Soles4Souls, a nonprofit organization that collects gently worn and new shoes for redistribution to those in need. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is donating footwear from Fairmont Fit, a program which offers members of Fairmont President’s Club, the brand’s exclusive guest recognition program, access to adidas athletic apparel for use during their stay. Fairmont is also providing a little incentive to begin the New Year on the right foot and stick with those resolutions to get in shape. Guests...

SAN FRANCISCO—Joie de Vivre, California’s largest boutique hotel collection, has launched Joie De Vivre Green Dreams, a dedicated portal on its website that allows consumers to track the company’s ongoing efforts to preserve the environment. Joie de Vivre Green Dreams, also the name of the company’s environmental program, features the company’s green policies and practices, a green certification “scorecard” for hotels, green travel tips, and links to environmental resources. “Joie de Vivre has made a long-term commitment to incorporating sustainability into its business operations through the Green Dreams program,” said Joie de Vivre’s senior vice president of operations, Karlene Holloman,...