STONE MOUNTAIN, GA.—The Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort, a Stone Mountain hotel surrounded in natural wooded beauty and lush greenery, has received designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System (ACSS). As the only hotel in America certified under Audubon International’s Business Program, the Georgia resort joins a renowned, worldwide environmental initiative by eco-aware businesses and Audubon International. “The Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Business and Corporate Properties gives people an opportunity to do something good for the environment where they live, work and recreate,” says Shawn Williams, staff ecologist for Audubon International. “The system...

NEEDHAM, MASS.—TripAdvisor announced the results of its ecotourism survey of more than 1,000 travelers worldwide. Eleven percent of respondents have taken and one-quarter are considering going on an ecotourism trip. Thirty-eight percent of respondents said that environmentally-friendly tourism is a consideration when traveling. Thirty-eight percent of travelers surveyed have stayed at an environmentally-friendly hotel, and 9 percent specifically seek out environmentally-friendly hotels. When asked what qualities are most important to making a hotel eco-friendly, conserving energy ranked number one, followed by conserving water and using recycled paper. Seventy-eight percent of travelers said they decline to have their...

LAS VEGAS, CHICAGO—The HD 2007 Expo & Conference, to be held in Las Vegas at the Sands Convention Center from May 9-12, and the National Restaurant Association Show, to be held in Chicago at McCormick Place from May 19-22, will both feature myriad green events for attendees—everything from a green luncheon at the HD 2007 Expo & Conference to a Green Restaurant Products Pavilion at the NRA Show. In Las Vegas, HD Expo & Conference green activities will kick off on Wednesday, May 9, with the second annual Green Luncheon. Three case studies will be presented, each of which involves...

CHICAGO—Orbitz has added an eco-travel microsite to its website. The company’s intent is for it to be a comprehensive resource for travelers who want to find everything from eco-friendly hotels to environmental volunteer opportunities. Travelers who visit the Orbitz eco-travel microsite (http://eco.orbitz.com/) will have access to the following information and tools: • Articles on eco-travel, how it effects local environments and communities throughout the world, and how everyone can make a positive impact while traveling. Read articles from the experts at Away.com and Gorp.com to expand your knowledge on this important topic. • Top eco-friendly destinations. Editors...

LAS VEGAS—Empire Resorts Inc. and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe announced that they are exploring ways of making the proposed St. Regis Mohawk Casino at Monticello Raceway in Sullivan County (N.Y) the first such facility in the Northeast to be built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Empire Resorts is the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe’s development and management partner in the $600 million project. Steven Winter Associates will be guiding the developers through the LEED certification process. “Empire Resorts looks forward to working with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe in exploring the possibility of building...

PORTLAND, ORE.—The historic Heathman Hotel in Portland, Ore., is inviting its guests to travel responsibly with their newest guest package—the “Go Green” package—in honor of Earth Day. For every guest that chooses the package, the Heathman Hotel will plant a tree in conjunction with the Portland-based Friends of Trees. The nonprofit organization inspires community stewardship of the urban forest by bringing people in the greater Portland area together to plant and care for city trees and urban natural areas. Guests will also receive one night’s deluxe accommodation, a full continental breakfast at the award-winning Heathman Restaurant, and a...

DALLAS—Inspired by Earth Day, Sofitel is offering a special organic menu in each of its North American properties throughout the month of April. Sofitel, the prestige brand of Accor hotels, will donate 10 percent of the proceeds from the select food and beverage offerings to the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, Second Harvest. The organic menu items are part of the Sofitel Earth Guest Week program, a worldwide commitment by all the Accor brands to further existing eco-friendly efforts. North American Sofitel hotels serve a minimum of one white and red organic wine, appetizer, dessert and entree. Each...

BETHESDA, MD.—In honor of Earth Day and Environmental Awareness Month, Marriott International is hosting its first green products fair for more than 3,000 employees at Marriott headquarters. The event will be held Friday, April 20. Local vendors—EcoLab, Whole Foods, Eco-Coach, Green Living, Clean Energy Currents, Starbucks, Clean Up the World and more—will showcase their latest eco-friendly products from paint, carpet and flooring to green travel, recycling and organic food. Associates will also have a chance to check out the latest hybrid cars from Toyota and Ford. Elected officials have also been invited. Guest speakers include: Dennis Dimick, Executive...

NATIONAL REPORT—If your idea of a water-saving toilet is 3.5 gallons per flush (gpf), it is time to pull yourself out of the 1980s. Since 1994, it has been a requirement in the United States for new toilets to be installed with at least 1.6 gpf tanks. With today’s high-efficiency models, it is possible to use as little as 1.28 gpf or even less per flush. High-efficiency toilets (HETs) can save thousands of gallons of water per room over a year’s time, reducing expenses and preserving valuable natural resources. That is good news for hoteliers, especially those with hotels in...

DALLAS—In honor of international Earth Day on April 22, Accor North America (NA), which operates more than 1,200 upscale and economy hotels, will launch Accor Earth Guest Week from April 15-22. As part of the Earth Guest initiatives implemented at Accor hotels worldwide, Accor NA will plant 20,000 trees representing each Accor employee in North America, implement a 65-point environmental checklist at all properties and corporate, and donate $375,000 to educational and charitable groups. The Accor NA Earth Guest Week efforts are designed to maximize Accor employee involvement in beautifying Mother Earth, educating and helping the community and...