WASHINGTON, D.C.—Leaders in sustainable tourism from across North America and beyond will meet in Vancouver, British Columbia, October 27-29, 2008 at the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference 2008 (ESTC 2008), The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) announced. Hosted by the British Columbia Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts, the BC Sustainable Tourism Collective and the Council of Tourism Associations of British Columbia, the conference will provide opportunities to gain knowledge of the latest trends in ecotourism and sustainable tourism, learn practical skills, and participate in invaluable networking and knowledge sharing. The ESTC 2008 will be held at the Fairmont Hotel...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announces the launch of the Education Provider Program (EPP). The program will result in an extensive “course catalog” of top-tier green building educational programs, peer-reviewed and approved by USGBC, which will be available on www.greenbuild365.org. “The Education Provider Program is an extension of the Council’s mission and our ongoing efforts to broaden and deepen educational offerings for green building professionals,” said Peter Templeton, Senior Vice President of Education and Research for USGBC. “The program will review and promote top-quality, innovative courses that will expand green building knowledge and capacity across all...

PHILADELPHIA—Buyers beware. That so-called “green” product is likely stretching the eco-truth according to the “Six Sins of Greenwashing,” a study released recently by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing. The study found that of 1,018 common consumer products ranging from toothpaste to caulking to shampoo to printers, randomly surveyed for the study, 99 percent were guilty of “greenwashing.” “The products we surveyed made a total of 1,753 claims, and 99 percent committed at least one of the Six Sins of Greenwashing,” says TerraChoice President Scott McDougall. “The ‘Six Sins of Greenwashing’ will equip consumers with tools to help figure out the truth about...

VANUA LEVU, FIJI ISLANDS—Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort announced that it is a recipient of Islands magazine’s 2007 Global Sustainable Tourism Award. The December issue features its Blue List, the 100 “best of the best” people and places compiled from readers’ and editors’ recommendations of leaders in responsible tourism, who show commitment to preserving the beauty of island life worldwide. Of the 100 “best of the best,” five were selected to receive the Global Sustainable Tourism Award. This award adds to a number of honors for the resort, which include “Leading Boutique Resort in Fiji” from the 2007 World...

NEW YORK—One of this city’s first hotel projects in pursuit of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is under construction on Crosby Street in SoHo. The 11-story 9 Crosby Street Hotel will have 75 rooms and is expected to open in the first quarter of 2009. The hotel is being developed by London-based Firmdale Hotels, a company known for high-end properties including the Haymarket Hotel, The Soho Hotel, and Number Sixteen—all in the London area. The company supplying the architects for the project is New York-based Stonehill & Taylor Architects, P.C. The firm is involved in the project...

SAN FRANCISCO—Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants garnered California’s most prestigious ecological honor given by the state’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), given to organizations for their notable, voluntary contributions to conserving California’s precious resources. The GEELA award recognizes Kimpton’s pioneering and steadfast green commitment, from its initial environmental efforts in 1985 to the formalization of its innovative EarthCare program in 2005. “Supporting a sustainable world has long been a core, guiding principle behind our business practices,” said Niki Leondakis, COO, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. “As environmental awareness is increasingly spreading throughout the country, this...

SEATTLE—After eating an evening meal of fish and chips, tourists in Juneau who retire for the night at the Westmark Baranof Hotel may find themselves warming their toes in a room partially heated by the oil used to cook their food. The Baranof collects the town’s used vegetable oil to help heat the hotel. Environmental benefits from using vegetable oil include releasing fewer pollutants into the air, recycling of carbon already in the system and a reduction in carbon output. In addition, businesses in Juneau have found a reliable way to dispose of unwanted cooking oil without running afoul...

NATIONAL REPORT—Discarded mattresses can take up a significant amount of landfill space, do not degrade well, and can create a dangerous “soft spot” in a landfill, according to Terry McDonald, executive director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County (SVDP), located in Eugene, Oregon. That’s why SVDP created its DR3 mattress recycling program. DR3 stands for “divert, reduce, reuse, recycle.” The program’s centerpiece is a 26,000-square-foot mattress recycling facility in Oakland, Calif., that serves Alameda and San Francisco counties and seven surrounding counties. If SVDP is in Oregon, why did it set up a recycling program in...

KEY WEST, FLA.—Hyatt Key West Resort & Spa is officially the first “Green Certified” resort complex on Key West. The Florida Green Lodging Program has bestowed Hyatt Key West Resort & Spa the One Palm designation, acknowledging the resort as the first in the Keys to hold such a distinction. The award arrives on the heels of a recently completed $11 million renovation that complements the resort’s greening goals with a spa-inspired, “tropical modern” design. The resort’s One Palm status was officially recognized by the state of Florida in a celebration held on property on December 10. The mayor of...

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.—In the tradition of the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards, the International Restaurant and Hotel Awards (IRHA) is the world’s most prestigious awards ceremony recognizing the best value, moderate, and luxury travel establishments that go above and beyond industry standards. IRHA is currently seeking green hotels to submit entries that show how they are reducing their carbon footprint through smart design, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, on-site power generation, and more. IRHA just announced its list of sponsors. The list includes companies such as Michelin Maps & Guides, Villeroy & Boch, Fodor’s Travel Guides, The Chocolate...