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Hyatt Hotels & Resorts Appoints Brigitta Witt V.P., Environmental Affairs
CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Brigitta Witt to the new role of vice president, environmental affairs. Witt will assist with the development of a corporate environmental policy that addresses Hyatt’s commitment to minimizing the impact that its hotels have on the environment. The policy she creates will focus on awareness and education to promote and reinforce a culture of environmental consciousness throughout all facets of Hyatt’s global operations. Witt reports to John Wallis, senior vice president of product and brand development, Global Hyatt Corp.
“Brigitta will play a vital role at Hyatt,” Wallis said. “As a...
Kimpton Launches ‘Great Meetings, Great Causes’ Program
SAN FRANCISCO—Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants has launched “Great Meetings, Great Causes,” an innovative program offering eco- and social responsibility incentives to meeting planners and clients. An out-of-the-box approach to traditional incentive programs, “Great Meetings, Great Causes” offers clients who book meetings at Kimpton hotels nationwide the choice of two of the following five incentives:
• Complimentary meeting upgrade to Kimpton’s environmentally-themed EarthCare meeting;
• $100 donation to one of Kimpton’s not-for-profit partners (The Trust For Public Land, Dress for Success and local HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness charities nationwide), or the client’s charitable partner of choice;
• Greensender.com box to help anyone get started or continue...
Sustainability a Hot Topic of Conversation at This Year’s ALIS Event
LOS ANGELES—Jim Burba, chair of this year’s Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), started the event this week by announcing that the travel of every one of the approximately 3,000 attendees would be offset by a donation to the Conservation Fund’s Go Zero program. That announcement set the tone for this year’s ALIS here at the Hyatt Regency Century City. Throughout the three-day event, green hotel development and operations most definitely were hot topics.
At the Hotel Leaders Outlook session, some of lodging’s leading executives were asked to give their take on the sustainability movement and whether or not it is...
Golden Arrow Receives Four Green Leaves Rating From Audubon Society
ALBANY, N.Y.—Audubon International has awarded The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, located on the shoreline of Mirror Lake in Lake Placid, New York, the prestigious Four Green Leaves Rating. Notification of the award was recently received after a lengthy review process. Over the past two years the Golden Arrow has worked hard to become a sustainable, earth friendly business. The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort is the only property in New York State to have a certified Audubon Green Leaf rating and the only property in North America to have achieved the coveted Four Green Leaves status.
“We are thrilled to have...
Motel 6 Completes Rollout of Light Bulb, Battery Recycling Program
DALLAS—Motel 6, the largest corporately owned and operated hotel chain in North America, has completed the rollout of the first national fluorescent light bulb and battery recycling program within the hospitality industry. Motel 6, with more than 900 properties across the country, is the first U.S. hotel chain to implement this type of recycling program at its corporate properties nationwide without a federal mandate. The program, which launched in June 2007, is a continuation of Accor’s Earth Guest initiatives that demonstrate Accor North America’s dedication to preserving the environment.
“We have already embraced the national phasing out of incandescent light...
Mauni Lani Named One of ‘World’s Top Earth-Friendly Getaways’
KOHALA COAST, HAWAII—Mauna Lani Resort has been named one of the “World’s Top Earth-Friendly Getaways” by Conde Nast Traveler magazine in its January 2008 issue. The award winning Big Island green resort was recognized as one of the world’s top luxury, eco-friendly beach destinations, and is the only beach resort in the United States named in the collection.
“Since opening 25 years ago, Mauna Lani Resort has been at the forefront of environmental stewardship in the resort industry,” said Mark Glickman, director of resort marketing. “As we continue to add new amenities and programs, we always do so with an...
Xanterra Publishes 2008 Environmental Sustainability Report
DENVER—As part of its ongoing efforts to set the pace in the travel and tourism industry, Xanterra Parks & Resorts has published the third edition of its Environmental Sustainability Report. The report is used to measure the progress of the company’s environmental program—called “Ecologix”—and track the company’s environmental impacts as well as steps toward meeting long-term environmental goals.
“We have learned that tracking our performance helps us to better assess where to focus our efforts in the areas of resources and staffing, regulatory compliance and sustainability initiatives,”...
Developers Pursue First Wind-, Solar-Powered Resort in Midwest
ARCOLA, ILL.—Agri-Fab Holding Company (AFHC) and Bob McElwee announced that they are developing about 100 acres into a green village near Arcola, Ill. This resort, called Green Mill Village (GMV), is set to open in the fall of 2009 and will include a lodge/conference center, spa, restaurants, retail center and education center—all operated on wind power and solar power.
“It will be an unprecedented midwestern sustainable project, from both an environmental and an economic standpoint,” McElwee says.
The resort lodge, to be called the Green Mill Hotel, will have 200 rooms and guestrooms will feature furniture made locally. McElwee says there...
ASHRAE Technology Awards Highlight Outstanding Building Projects
NEW YORK CITY—The importance of HVAC&R as it applies to a range of building types is highlighted in the winning entries for the ASHRAE Technology Awards. Designers of systems for a hospital, a poultry slaughter house, a community center, a school and a hotel were recognized for incorporating elements of innovative building design in the areas of occupant comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy conservation. Winners have applied ASHRAE standards for effective energy management and IAQ. The awards were presented at ASHRAE’s 2008 Winter Meeting held earlier this month in New York City.
“While each project was unique in...
Singapore’s First Smoke-Free Hotel Still Going Strong One Year Later
SINGAPORE—Royal Plaza (RP) on Scotts, Singapore’s first completely smoke-free business hotel, continues to get positive results from its move to promote the health of its employees through its nonsmoking program first implemented in early 2007. When the hotel decided to go nonsmoking, 96 percent of its employees had successfully quit smoking or had cut down significantly. Employees were continuously encouraged to make a conscientious effort to either reduce the number of cigarettes smoked or kick the habit completely.
To further promote the health of the hotel’s staff, RP on Scotts has implemented initiatives with Singapore Wellness Medical Clinic and Changi...