LEXINGTON, KY.—Griffin Gate Golf Club, at the newly renovated Kentucky resort, the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa, has received certification in Environmental Planning from the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP). The ACSP is an international program administered by Audubon International designed to help landowners preserve and enhance the environmental quality of their property. The plan at the Lexington hotel was developed by Scott Bender, director of grounds, who is also recognized for his effort to plan for environmental stewardship. The ACSP for Golf Courses provides advisory service to help existing golf courses develop effective conservation and...

HONOLULU, HAWAII—The Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa has won its second Green Business Award from the State of Hawaii. The award is sponsored by the following: State Department of Health; Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. The award is given to companies that employ innovative green practices and do their part to ensure that residents and visitors continue to enjoy a healthy environment. The Hilton property has a long history in Hawaii. With close to 3,000 rooms, it is one of the Hilton Hotels Corporation’s (100 percent) flagship...

LOS ANGELES—Next year’s Hotel Developers Conference, organized by Los Angeles-based Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro (JMBM), will emphasize green hotel development, according to Jim Butler, chairman, Global Hospitality Group, JMBM. The event will be held March 12 to 13 at Green Valley Ranch in Las Vegas. The specific title for the conference has not been finalized but Butler suggested the following working theme: “Isn’t it really time we started building green hotels? What does it mean? Who’s doing it now? Where are the challenges and the opportunities? How others have succeeded and failed. What you need to know...

JUPITER, FLA.—Each year, from March 1 through October 30, guests of the Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa are exclusive witnesses to one of Nature’s miracles: the annual migration of endangered sea turtles to the beaches of Palm Beach County, Fla. “Florida’s east coast beaches provide nesting habitat for the world’s largest remaining population of threatened loggerhead turtles, as well as globally important populations of endangered green and leatherback turtles,” says David Godfrey, executive director of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation & The Sea Turtle Survival League. “For these species to survive, Florida must protect its sea turtle nesting beaches.”...

CHICAGO—Yes, there was a Green Restaurant Products Pavilion and an Organic & Natural Pavilion but finding other green exhibitors among the more than 2,100 vendors at the National Restaurant Assn. Restaurant Hotel-Motel Show last weekend was more of a challenge. They most definitely were there but one had to look closely to find them. The good news is that those green vendors that were there had some exciting new products to talk about. Here is a list of some of them: EATware International introduced its line of 100 percent biodegradable disposable tableware. Their compostable products are made from corn starches...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—It’s now easier than ever for travelers to click and book smoke-free hotel reservations, simply by visiting the completely redesigned FreshStay online directory and integrated booking process for more than 3,500 nonsmoking lodging facilities. With an increasing number of hotels discovering the many benefits that come with fresher guestrooms and nonsmoking environments, the new FreshStay lists hundreds of additional smoke-free lodging facilities. The FreshStay site also has greatly improved search capabilities, making it simple for site surfers to find the rooms they want, where and when they want them. Even more valuable, FreshStay now features...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Restaurant Assn. (NRA) announced that it is forming a new board of directors task force to take the lead on implementing the association’s recently launched environmental initiative and encourage the nation’s 935,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets to adopt practices that are good for both business and the environment. The Green Task Force is being created at the association’s board meeting and trade show in Chicago, and will be chaired by Niki Leondakis, chief operating officer of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. The association launched its environmental initiative in the summer of 2006, and received a grant...

OSLO, NORWAY—Significant gains can be made in efforts to combat global warming by reducing energy use and improving energy efficiency in buildings. The right mix of appropriate government regulation, greater use of energy saving technologies and behavioral change can substantially reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the building sector which accounts for 30 to 40 percent of global energy use, says a recent report from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Sustainable Building and Construction Initiative (SBCI). The new report, Buildings and Climate Change: Status, Challenges and Opportunities, says many opportunities exist for governments, industry and consumers to...

OAKVILLE, ONT.—Howard Johnson Canada announced that it will become the first mid-market hotel brand within Canada to provide a 100 percent smoke-free guest experience. Each of their 3,500 guestrooms across Canada will become 100 percent smoke free by September 1, 2007. This change comes with the support of Howard Johnson’s franchisees. “This move is in reaction to the input and opinions of our franchise family and hotel guests,” says Glen Blake, president of Howard Johnson Canada Franchise Systems Limited. “Based on our research, we know this move will result in a cleaner, healthier and more family friendly...

ATLANTA—With concern for our nation’s environment and conservation of its natural resources on the rise, today’s travelers want a safer, more healthy and sustainable experience while on the road. Now, two hotel chains—America’s Best Inns & Suites and Country Hearth Inns—will feature a green initiative known as EcoRooms with products that are energy efficient, water efficient, waste reducing, and non-toxic and/or biodegradable. The systemwide program was announced by America’s Best Franchising Inc., franchisor of the hotel brands. “EcoRooms are more comfortable for guests and more cost-effective for hotels,” says Doug Collins, chairman and CEO of America’s Best Franchising...