ORLANDO, FLA.—Grande Lakes Orlando has been recognized for its commitment to the environment and is pleased to announce that The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Grande Lakes is now a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Endorsed by the United States Golf Assn., the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses provides information and excellence to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat, and protect national resources. “The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Grande Lakes has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program,” said Jim Sluiter, staff ecologist for the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programs. “They are to be commended for...

NATIONAL REPORT—Years ago, before there were standards limiting water flow, hotel showers were kind of like Niagara Falls—fast and mighty. Today, for the most part, showerheads allow 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm) to funnel through to guests. Increasingly, because of environmental concerns such as drought, as well as a desire to trim recurring water and energy costs, hoteliers in every lodging segment are opting for low-flow showerheads that give up a miserly 2.0, 1,85, 1.75, 1.6 or 1.5 gpm. Every hotelier knows that one of the best ways to rankle a guest is to provide an inferior shower...

DALLAS—Lodging Hospitality and Pineapple Hospitality’s second annual Green Hospitality Conference is set to take place March 12 to 14 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas. The green event will run concurrent with Lodging Hospitality’s eighth annual Hospitality Operation & Technology Conference. The Green Hospitality Conference will get started on Wednesday, March 12 with a welcome reception. Thursday, March 13 will be packed with a series of educational opportunities. In the opening general session, a panel of top lodging company executives will debate the important operational and technology issues facing the lodging industry in 2008. Additional sessions will focus on...

GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—The sand is golden, the water is blue, and the rest of the destination is going green. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, along with the Board of Broward County Commissioners, and in conjunction with private and public sector partners in the hospitality industry, is transforming Greater Fort Lauderdale into “Greener” Fort Lauderdale. The CVB is contributing by creating an environmentally-friendly in-room card for hotel guests and working with the hotels to become Florida Green Lodging certified. “Greater Fort Lauderdale is actively making a commitment to preserving our water resources and sensitive ecosystems...

ATLANTA—The industry’s most comprehensive mandatory certification program of green practices by limited service hotels has been launched by America’s Best Franchising Inc. on behalf of its two brands—America’s Best Inns & Suites and Country Hearth Inns & Suites. “Improved environmental performance makes both dollars and sense,” explained Doug Collins, chairman and CEO of Atlanta-based America’s Best Franchising Inc., which is paying for the entire certification program on behalf of its 98 America’s Best properties and 90 Country Hearth properties. “We’re requiring all our franchisees to implement simple practices which will generate savings of between $1 and $3 per night in...

BETHESDA, MD.—With more than 35 million U.S. consumers spending $209 billion annually on socially and environmentally responsible products, Marriott becomes the first hotel company to offer its customers organic and sustainably-grown flowers for their events and meetings. Through a partnership with Organic Style Ltd., customers can get these flowers for their weddings, meetings and other events at prices competitive with comparable, high-quality, non-organic flowers at participating Marriott and Renaissance Hotels in North America. “Our customers want to do business with companies that share their values,” said Robin Uler, senior vice president, lodging operations. “They are asking more and more what...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Finding energy efficient schools, supermarkets, offices, and other facilities throughout the country has become even easier for Americans interested in being green. Now they can find the Energy Star not only where they live but where they work, shop, play and learn. The number of commercial buildings and manufacturing plants to earn the Energy Star for superior energy efficiency is up by more than 25 percent in the past year, and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions reduced has reached an all-time high of more than 25 billion pounds. “From a historic office tower in the Big Apple...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced that its Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton hotel brands will implement a smoke-free policy at more than 300 hotels and resorts throughout the United States, Caribbean and Canada. Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton have begun converting all smoking guestrooms to nonsmoking in preparation for the new policy. In addition, all public areas will also be 100 percent smoke free. Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton hotels’ decision to go smoke free reflects both brands’ commitment to providing guests with a clean, comfortable and healthy stay. The new policy also...

SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS—Social consciousness, including environmental issues, was a hot topic in 2007, and according to a recent Travelocity poll, the trend among travelers shows no sign of slowing down in 2008. With 38 percent of respondents planning to dedicate at least some portion of their vacations this year to volunteering and nearly 80 percent willing to spend more on an eco-friendly destination or business, 2008 is truly the year consumers plan to travel responsibly. Travelocity’s Travel for Good program is designed to help them do just that. “There are limitless opportunities to minimize the negative impact of our travels...

TORONTO—The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) is gearing up for its annual conference on February 25 to 26 at the Hilton Toronto Hotel. More than 350 hoteliers are expected to attend. The program will include several important green elements, including a plenary session entitled, “How Big is Your Carbon Footprint and Who Really Cares?” and a special Green Key room where a select number of HAC Green Partners will be on hand. More than 750 hotels have already signed up for the highly successful HAC Green Key Eco-Rating program. The “How Big is Your Carbon Footprint and Who Really Cares?”...