PRASLIN BAY, ST. LUCIA—The Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort, St. Lucia is aiming to be the Caribbean’s first fossil fuel independent resort when it opens in June 2009. The 554-acre resort is being developed with special consideration to social and environmental impacts, with the goal of improving the community in St. Lucia. Situated along the island’s east coast, The Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort, St. Lucia will feature 192 rooms, as well as an 18-hole Greg Norman Signature Golf Course and the Westin brand’s full range of services and amenities. “Protecting and preserving the local environment...

NEW YORK—The Network of Executive Women in Hospitality, Inc. (NEWH), a nonprofit network providing scholarships, education, and leadership opportunities for individuals in the hospitality industry, recently gathered leaders from across the hospitality industry to discuss and debate the top trends in green and sustainable design in its second leadership forum. The Sustainable Hospitality Leadership Forum was designed to spark creative ideas and strategies for how hospitality and design experts can incorporate environmentally-sensitive practices, while maintaining a luxury experience for guests. Moderated by Jeanne Varney, vice president, Host Hotels and Resorts, forum participants included some of the hospitality industry’s biggest...

PORTLAND, ORE.—Sage Hospitality, a hospitality development and management company, announced that the famed Meier & Frank building in the heart of downtown Portland will reopen this fall as the Nines, a Starwood Luxury Collection Hotel. Once the store where Portland residents shopped when they needed to dress “to the nines,” the hotel ushers in a new level of style and eco-luxury on the top nine floors of this historic building on Pioneer Square. “The building has been completely recreated, blending the legacy of its architectural heritage with a world-class hotel,” said Walter Isenberg, president and CEO of Sage Hospitality, the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Willard InterContinental Hotel here has released its first Sustainability Report. The report examines the Willard’s environmental and social performance, with comparisons of the progress of its sustainable development initiatives, started in 2005 as “Willard InterContinental, The Next 100 Years”. Based on its Triple Bottom Line strategy of Economic Prosperity, Social Responsibility and Environmental Protection, the report highlights the hotel’s strategy as well as its results. The report adheres to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), an internationally recognized standard for sustainability reporting. Encouraged by the direction of InterContinental’s commitment to corporate responsibility, the Willard sought out Washington, D.C.-based...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) annual conference and exhibition will be held from November 19 to 21 in Boston. Greenbuild is the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building, and is the recent recipient of Tradeshow Week’s “Fastest 50,” honoring the 50 fastest growing shows in North America. This year, more than 25,000 attendees will attend, eager to learn more about LEED green building certification, the nationally accepted system for green buildings, developed by USGBC as a tool to build healthy, energy-efficient, resource-friendly structures. This year’s show will explore “Revolutionary Green: Innovations for Global...

NIAGARA FALLS, ONT.—The Doubletree Fallsview Resort & Spa by Hilton-Niagara Falls announced that it has earned a Three Green Key Eco-Rating from the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC). The Green Key Eco-Rating Program is a voluntary program designed to recognize hotels that have taken significant steps towards sustainability through participation in environmental programs, best management practices, training programs, and engineering solutions which have benefited the environment and the local community. The Green Key Eco-Rating Program, which is entirely voluntary for hotels, consists of a questionnaire with approximately 140 questions related to various areas of sustainable hotel operations. Each question has...

DENVER— National park and resort concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts has received the 2008 National Park Service Environmental Achievement Award for the company’s operations in Death Valley National Park. The award was given for exceptional achievement in sustainable energy practices. More specifically, the award recognizes Xanterra’s completion of one of the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems in the United States—a five-acre one-megawatt (MW) system that will generate more than one-third of the total annual electricity needs of the company’s operations in Death Valley, including the historic Furnace Creek Inn, Furnace Creek Ranch, Furnace Creek Golf Course, employee offices and...

LONDON—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)—the business leaders’ forum for the Travel & Tourism industry—announced its call for entries for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, WTTC’s sustainable tourism accolade, in association with Travelport and The Leading Travel Companies Conservation Foundation. The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are presented annually to tourism organizations that are demonstrating best practices including helping to improve the livelihoods of communities and supporting the protection of natural and cultural heritage through sustainable tourism development. The awards are given in four different categories addressing all sectors of the travel and tourism industry: • Destination Stewardship Award—For destinations comprising a...

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF.—The Brendan Group Inc. has unveiled Seven4one, Orange County’s first contemporary boutique hotel located just a shell’s toss from the white sands and crashing surf of Laguna’s legendary beaches. Seven4one’s location places guests in the heart of the area’s best restaurants, galleries and retail boutiques. The sleek yet sophisticated design hotel draws inspiration from the some of the most fashionable boutique hotels in Europe, New York, Miami and Los Angeles. Seven4one is a member of the Green Hotel Association and is an EPA WasteWise Partner. “Mix in a little of Orange County’s laid back attitude and Laguna’s artsy...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—From lawn mowers and weed trimmers, to personal watercraft and speedboats, gas-powered engines will soon contribute to healthier and cleaner air for Americans. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set strict new standards for gas-powered lawn equipment and marine engines, enhancing public health by substantially reducing the amount of gas fumes, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and smog-forming pollutants emitted from a wide range of engines. The regulations will take effect in 2010 and 2011. “EPA’s new small engine standards will allow Americans to cut air pollution as well as grass,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “These standards help...