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Whether an industry announcement, or a hotel accomplishment, Green Lodging News reports on the most up-to-date news and offers a unique perspective on trends—all with the purpose of making your company more profitable. Got news or a story idea to share? We frequently post contributed articles here. Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

News & Features

Home News & Features
Whether an industry announcement, or a hotel accomplishment, Green Lodging News reports on the most up-to-date news and offers a unique perspective on trends—all with the purpose of making your company more profitable. Got news or a story idea to share? We frequently post contributed articles here. Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Ritz-Carlton Launches New Resort Brand–The Reserve

CHEVY CHASE, MD.—The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. will introduce an exclusive new resort brand, The Reserve, with the 2008 debut of Molasses Reef, a 125-room boutique hotel on the secluded island of West Caicos, in The Turks and Caicos Islands. Other select destinations around the world are under consideration for future The Reserve brand locations. “A departure for Ritz-Carlton in size and scope, The Reserve brand will feature signature, one-of-a-kind boutique resorts located in choice settings, each with a distinctive personality and sense of place, says Simon F. Cooper, President and COO. A refuge from the expected, The Reserve is...

Hilton Portland & Executive Tower Earns Green Seal Certification

PORTLAND, ORE.—The ongoing efforts of the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower—one of the country’s first hotels to green its operations and the largest hotel in Oregon—have been recognized by Green Seal with the coveted Green Seal Lodging Properties certification (www.greenseal.org). Green Seal is a nonprofit organization that promotes the management, purchase and use of environmentally responsible products and services. In 2005, Hilton Portland & Executive Tower turned its attention to greening hotel operations. Recognizing the enormous consumption and dramatic impact of the hospitality industry on the planet, hotel management decided to take action to decrease its environmental footprint....

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Launches New Eco-Meet Program

TORONTO—Businesses are embracing Fairmont Hotel and Resorts’ respect for the environment and promotion of sustainable tourism by rallying behind its Eco-Meet program now available at all of its properties. A staunch advocate of environmental stewardship within the travel and tourism industry, Fairmont was the first major hotel company in North America to include green business practices as an intrinsic part of its operations. Another major milestone as the pioneer of going green is the brandwide launch of the Eco-Meet program—an environmentally friendly conferencing program intended to minimize harm to the environment during meetings, conferences and similar events. ...

Grupo Posadas Opens New 300-Room Eco Resort in Brazil

CABO DO SANTO AGOSTINO, BRAZIL—Grupo Posadas has opened a new resort on the coast of Brazil’s Pernambuco State—the Caesar Park Eco Resort do Cabo. The environmentally-friendly resort is located at Cabo do Santo Agostinho beach. The nature-inspired resort includes 300 guestrooms and amenities that were created with sustainable development mechanisms in mind. All are focused on preserving and utilizing natural resources. A well established niche among dozens of hotel chains in Mexico and South America, Caesar Park Eco Resort do Cabo is Grupo Posadas’ first eco resort. With a keen focus on sustainable development, Resort do Cabo...

BedandBreakfast.com Offers Editor’s Picks for Top Eco-Friendly B&Bs

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Although travelers burn gas to get to their destinations, one answer to greener travel is to vacation by choosing an eco-friendly B&B. BedandBreakfast.com innkeepers are moving toward greener getaways by investing in earth-friendly practices to ensure guests the finest in eco-escapes. BedandBreakfast.com currently lists more than 35 earth-friendly special packages. Listed in alphabetical order by state, here are some examples of green packages offered by BedandBreakfast.com members. Strawberry Creek B&B, Idyllwild, Calif.: Relax on soft, cotton-like hammocks made from recycled soda bottles. This inn’s tranquil wooded setting is certified by the National Wildlife Federation as an...

Allergy-Friendly Hotel Room Concept Making Industry Inroads

NATIONAL REPORT—When the first loft-style NYLO hotel opens later this year in Plano, Texas, an entire floor—44 rooms—of the 176-room property will include allergy-friendly guestrooms. Atlanta-based NYLO Hotels LLC has partnered with Pure Solutions NA, Buffalo, N.Y., to provide the PURE rooms. NYLO, which has a goal of opening 50 properties throughout North America by 2010, intends to include one PURE floor in each of its hotels. NYLO’s decision to provide these super clean rooms will be a welcome relief to the 70 million Americans who suffer from allergies or some type of chemical sensitivity. The PURE rooms also will...

Marriott to Celebrate Environmental Awareness Month Worldwide in April

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In April, all 2,800 hotels in nearly 70 countries will help Marriott International Inc. celebrate Environmental Awareness Month, marking the company’s biggest effort to promote eco-friendly practices on the road, at work, at home and in the community. The month-long drive enlists Marriott customers, associates and business partners in a variety of projects to save, recycle and reuse, including: Clean Up the World—In partnership with Clean Up the World, a global green volunteer organization, Marriott hotels will join forces on a variety of local cleanup projects including the River Thames in London, the Potomac River in Washington,...

AH&LA’s First Webinar Series to Focus on Energy Management

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) is launching a Webinar program to further compliment the association’s wide array of existing educational offerings that help members operate more efficiently and profitably. The first three trainings—presented in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program—will run in April, May and June, and focus on the keys to a successful energy management program that improve property efficiency and financial performance. Topics include: How Does Your Hotel Measure Up—April 4, 1 p.m. (EST) Explore the financial and environmental reasons why hotel operators should measure, trace...

Green Lighting 101: A Rundown of Energy-Efficient Lighting Types

NATIONAL REPORT—Lighting plays a key role in the hospitality experience, from enhancing architectural effects to providing security and directional functions. Recent technological advances in the lighting industry have also made it an increasingly important consideration in sustainable design and building practices. New light sources have emerged that are both cost-effective and that perform up to or better than older technologies. While some of the newer light sources may cost more initially, the resulting electrical and maintenance savings often equate to an impressive 30 to 600 percent return on investment. The energy programs and policies of any hotel, motel or resort should...

Caribbean Tourism Aims to Become Carbon Neutral

SAN JUAN, P.R.—Key players from the U.K. tourism industry had the opportunity to exchange views on climate change with the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), its environmental division the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST), and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) at a meeting held in London last week. The encounter, organized by the Caribbean Council for CHA and CTO, enabled representatives from tour operators, airlines, travel associations and government officials to exchange views on how best the industry in the Caribbean might develop a carbon-neutral approach. CAST Director Deirdre Shurland set the stage by tabling two fundamental...