NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF.—In support of a companywide initiative for a Sustainable Summer—a new program that will encourage the company’s colleagues from all corners of the globe to put the concerns of the planet at the forefront on Friday, June 22, 2007—the employees of the Fairmont Newport Beach will do their part by staging a “sleep in” for the inaugural Dream in Green-Summer Solstice Sleepover, 2007. “Southern California and the OC are such a car-driven culture that it would be nearly impossible for some of our employees to consider walking, biking or taking public transportation to work,” says general...

NASHVILLE, TENN.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association announced the winners of the AH&LA Achievement Awards, part of the Stars of the Industry Awards luncheon, during the AH&LA Summer Summit at The Loews Vanderbilt Hotel. The awards, created in 1966, recognize individual hotel properties that have developed outstanding public relations campaigns. Two of the categories included Community Service, and Good Earthkeeping. The Washington Athletic Club in Seattle won the community service award, small property category, for its commitment to improving the quality of life for people in the community. The company matches employee donations to the local United Way;...

SEATTLE—AvStar Seattle LLC, a joint-venture partnership between Portland, Ore.-based Avalon Holdings and international real estate development firm Starwood Capital Group Global LLC, has broken ground on 1 Hotel & Residences, its 23-story, mixed-use development at Second Avenue and Pine Street in downtown Seattle. Upon its completion, expected by the second quarter of 2009, the building is expected to become the inaugural property under the 1 brand, which will set a new standard in environmentally conscious luxury living globally by combining extraordinary five-star service and features with the best of environmentally sustainable architecture and interior design. The majority of the Seattle hotel’s...

SANTA CRUZ, CALIF.—Benchmark Hospitality International, the operator of Chaminade at Santa Cruz, has been awarded Green Business Certification for exceeding environmental regulatory requirements, preventing pollution and conserving natural recourses. The award was presented to the resort, which overlooks Monterey Bay, by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. Chaminade is the first hospitality business in Santa Cruz County to receive the important certification. “We are thrilled to receive the Green Business Certification,” says Jeff Bloom, Benchmark’s general manager at Chaminade. “As a responsible corporate citizen we strive to be as green as possible and also encourage our guests...

NATIONAL REPORT—“Leading the hospitality industry in promoting education, inter-cooperation, and endorsed policies for environmentally responsible practices, construction methods, materials and environments.” That is the mission of the Network of Executive Women in Hospitality’s Sustainability Committee. Formed last year, the committee currently includes 11 members representing design, architecture, purchasing, manufacturing, and hotel asset management. “Two years ago, NEWH recognized the need to get involved in sustainability,” says Jillian Van Dresser, principal, The Van Dresser Co. in Atlanta and the committee’s sustainability adviser. “We identified several initiatives, the first of which is a Resource Directory.” Now available on the...

NATIONAL REPORT—State-of-the-art concrete building systems can save a hotel owner money through energy savings. But equally important, concrete systems can provide hotel guests with a comfortable, healthy, environmentally friendly place to relax during their time away from home. Concrete can provide a sustainable structure that will maintain its durability, energy savings and beauty for the full life of the building. Hotels built with concrete wall, floor and roof systems that incorporate rigid foam insulation with concrete, have optimal energy performance because of their inherent thermal mass properties. Thermal mass has the ability to store heat during the hottest periods of...

HONOLULU, HAWAII—Outrigger Hotels & Resorts and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) have entered into an agreement designed to expand general public awareness about ocean conservation. NOAA is a federal agency that falls under the U.S. Department of Commerce and focuses on the condition of the oceans and atmosphere. Among other responsibilities, the agency oversees the National Marine Sanctuary Program, a system of 13 national marine sanctuaries and one marine national monument. Outrigger Hotels & Resorts is a family-owned hotelier based in Waikiki with properties throughout Hawaii and the Pacific. For years,...

LOS ANGELES—Vinotemp International, a domestic producer of wine cooling units, is stepping into a new area of business with its Green Line series, which not only increases the level of fine wine protection but also involves consumers in protecting the environment while enjoying their wine. This all becomes possible with thermoelectric technology that offers quiet, energy-efficient operation. The main advantage of thermoelectric technology is ecological cleanness. There are no chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) used that damage the ozone layer. Another benefit of the wine cooling units is the absence of any moving parts (except fan)....

AMERICAN CANYON, CALIF.—Wen-I Chang, founder and president of Atman Hospitality Group Inc., announced that the company’s Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The hotel is the first in the United States to achieve this level of certification. The 132-room property, located here in American Canyon, opened last October. It sits on 4.6 acres and includes green touches such as chemical-free landscaping; 100 percent recycled tile; a guest van that uses alternative fuel; waterless urinals; plates on guestroom doors that include the name of...

NEW YORK—Starwood Capital Group announced that the recently launched “1” Hotel and Residences, the world’s first luxury, eco-friendly global hotel brand, will open New York City’s first five-star green hotel on West 40th Street in Manhattan, across from Bryant Park. The “1” Hotel and Residences will be part of a proposed 31-story mixed-use green tower being developed by 40th Street Development, LLC, an affiliate of Ascent Real Estate Advisors, LLC, of New York. The new luxury project, which will also feature condominium residences and dining concepts developed by restaurateur Stephen Hanson, will be a green project built to...