THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS—Benchmark Hospitality International has announced the greening of its three Virginia resorts: The Founders Inn and Spa of Virginia Beach; Virginia Crossings Resort of Richmond; and Lansdowne Resort located near Leesburg. Each property has been presented with the Virginia Green Lodging Certificate of Environmental Commitment by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. This acknowledgement underscores the commitment of each resort to minimizing its environmental impact by conserving resources wherever feasible in its operations. At a minimum, the property has committed to core activities, such as optional linen service, recycling opportunities, water conservation, energy conservation and green conferences. “One...

TORONTO—The Metro Toronto Convention Center (MTCC) announced that it is the first convention center in Canada to offer green electricity to clients and event planners to help them reduce the environmental footprint of their events. In addition, the MTCC will use green electricity to power its administrative offices and electronic signage. To achieve this, the MTCC is partnering with Bullfrog Power, a leading Canadian provider of 100 percent green electricity. The MTCC has a long tradition of providing leadership in the area of environmental stewardship, and has won numerous awards for its efforts in recent years. The MTCC has...

NATIONAL REPORT—In meeting rooms, back of house and other areas of your hotel, chances are great that you are using T-12 fluorescent lamps or the more efficient T-8s to illuminate large spaces. At least two companies—ilumisys, Inc. in Troy, Mich., and LEDdynamics, Inc. in Randolph, Vt.—are trying to replace these linear fluorescents with LED alternatives that are more energy efficient and safer for the environment. Fluorescent tubes include mercury and despite recycling efforts, 500 million to 600 million lamps end up in landfills each year. LED alternatives do not include mercury. “LED lamps also last longer, which means you throw...

CAPE ELIZABETH, MAINE—Inn By The Sea’s multimillion dollar transformation into Maine’s premier eco-friendly, luxury beach destination is well underway according to the Inn’s general manager, Sara Masterson. Scheduled to reopen in the spring of 2008, the hotel’s complete makeover will create an atmosphere of relaxed elegance throughout the 57 redesigned guestrooms, new restaurant and five acres of seaside indigenous garden. The addition of a spa and cardio room, fireside bar and lobby, and expanded decks for ocean view dining top the list of new amenities, but every area of the Inn will be touched by enhancements. ...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Can you picture what it means to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 1 million metric tons? News stories are packed with measurements of greenhouse gas reductions, but it has been difficult to understand them—until now. EPA’s new Greenhouse Gas Calculator helps you turn greenhouse gas savings into more easily understood everyday terms. The calculator converts greenhouse gas-related savings estimates, typically presented in “million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents,” into familiar terms such as the greenhouse gas emissions that would result from: • Driving a particular number of cars for a year; • Using a particular amount of gasoline...

KISSIMMEE, FLA.—Gaylord Hotels and The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) welcomed Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center into the Florida Green Lodging Program. The 1,406-room resort is one of the largest in that state to participate, and the first in Osceola County’s popular Kissimmee resort corridor. In addition, the resort announced the upcoming rollout of a new guest communications program, called “We’re Eco-Logical”, designed to share the spirit of the resort’s eco-friendly initiatives with guests and meeting planners, while encouraging them to take an active role in the programs. “Together with the citizens of Osceola County, we have created one...

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—Mercure hotels across Australia have gone green on conferencing, with the hotel group being among the first to offer a national Carbon Neutral Conferencing product. The new initiative was unveiled at the Asia Pacific Incentive Meetings Expo (AIME) in Melbourne. Accor’s Mercure hotel brand is one of Australia’s largest, with 17 hotels in every state capital of Australia, as well as in a number of regional centers. Under the Mercure Meetings initiative, Mercure hotels will fully fund offsets for carbon emissions produced during a conference. This means the offset cost of making a conference Carbon Neutral is covered by...

DALLAS—Accor North America announced a new agreement between its Sofitel Hotels and wind energy supplier Community Energy, Inc. to purchase clean, renewable, wind energy for all nine Sofitel locations in the United States. This purchase of wind-generated power in the form of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) qualifies Sofitel Hotels as an EPA Green Power Partner, making them the first hotel chain to choose green power for each of the brand’s hotel locations in the country. “We’re proud to step up as a leader in our industry and to do our part for the environment,” said Robert Moore, Senior Vice President...

TORONTO—Almost 400 people attended the Hotel Association of Canada’s 2008 Conference this week at the Hilton Toronto Hotel. Green hotel trends and operations were highlighted in a session entitled, “How Big is Your Carbon Footprint and Who Really Cares? How Can Going Green Make Some Green?” The session was moderated by Allan Gregg, Harris/Decima Research Inc. Panelists included: Bruce Cords, Vice President, Environment, Food Safety & Public Health for Ecolab Inc.; John Lambert, Direct Energy Business Services; Ted Manziaris, Turtle Island Recycling; Vince Quattrociocchi, Vice President of Operations, Metro Toronto Convention Centre; and Michelle White, Director, Environmental Affairs, Fairmont...

ORLANDO—The Orlando Airport Marriott received Green Lodging certification from the State of Florida during a recent ceremony held at the hotel. As a member of the Florida Green Lodging Program, the Orlando Airport Marriott is recognized as a true environmental leader in the state’s hospitality industry. The eco-savvy meeting venue, which is fresh from a complete renovation, has taken measurable steps to reduce its environmental impact. “With so many travelers environmentally-conscious today, we had an obligation to help reduce our carbon footprint on our planet and become not only green, but stylishly green,” said Roy Nassau, Orlando Airport Marriott’s general...