PORTLAND, ORE.—The Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center Portland-Lloyd Center announced that the property has created an innovative carbon offset program with The Climate Trust. This carbon offset program is the latest accomplishment in the Doubletree’s systematic efforts to build sustainable practices into its entire operations. The 476-room Doubletree is the first lodging property in Oregon to be certified with a Green Seal “green hotel” designation. “Our entire team at the Doubletree Hotel Portland-Lloyd Center clearly understands how our everyday duties throughout our hotel can ultimately have a measurable impact on the world in which we live,”...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—About 10 years ago, David Oakey realized he needed to change. As the founder of David Oakey Designs, an independent design and marketing firm specializing in the carpet and textile industries, Oakey was fed up with the waste that went into the design, production and disposal of his firm’s products. “I had a choice: Either I change the way I looked at designing or I leave the industry,” Oakey says. “I accepted the choice to be environmentally responsible in the design process—to bring the concept of sustainability into everything I do. “We will not have...

LA TANTE, ST. DAVID’S, GRENADA—Paradise Bay Resort, base here, is laying the foundation for an 80-kilowatt, 100-foot-high windmill. According to James Post, a representative of the resort, the wind generator is the first utility-size windmill in the Eastern Caribbean and will be able to supply the resort with almost 100 percent of its electricity needs. The foundation for the windmill will hold 6,000 feet of steel rods and 40 tons of concrete. The propellers for the windmill will span 60 feet from tip to tip. In March, the installation will be completed under supervision of Netherlands-based Wind Energy Solutions BV....

SAN JUAN, P.R.—The Caribbean Hotel Assn. (CHA) and its environmental subsidiary, the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST), have announced the opening of the nomination process for the new 2007 American Express Caribbean Environmental Award. This award recognizes the commitment made to sustainable tourism by Caribbean hotels each year and social performances as demonstrated by their policies, plans and records of activities. The deadline for submission of nominations is March 20, 2007. “This is probably one of the most important hotel awards this year,” says Dianelys Rodríguez, Vice President of Destination Business Development, American Express Company. “In light...

TORONTO—Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced that it will manage Pittsburgh’s newest hotel to be housed in Three PNC Plaza, a 780,000-square-foot mixed-use “green” building complex now under construction by The PNC Financial Services Group Inc. in the heart of downtown. Fairmont Pittsburgh, expected to open in summer 2009, will be built according to sustainable design and construction guidelines. In addition to the hotel, the complex will include a 326,000-square-foot office building, the first of its kind in 20 years. “We are delighted to place the Fairmont name on this hotel,” says William R. Fatt, Fairmont’s CEO. “The new...

NATIONAL REPORT—Fortunately for the lodging industry, the options for energy-efficient interior lighting have grown substantially over the last several years. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) have become more affordable and compact, offer better light quality, and include reduced levels of mercury and lead—a real advantage for the environment. Linear fluorescents also have improved and an increasing number of LED lighting products have become available. Green Lodging News recently spoke with a number of lighting companies to uncover the newest energy-efficient hotel interior lighting products. Below is a summary from each company (listed in alphabetical order): Aero-Tech Light Bulb Co.—Ray Schlosser, president...

LONDON—Great Hotels Organization (GHO) will announce the launch of its new Eco Collection at ITB in March. Officially in operation in November, the new collection will complement the brand’s existing portfolio by offering hotels the chance to uniquely distinguish themselves for being ecologically friendly, while also meeting consumer demand for alternative eco-friendly accommodation in one simple directory. Following a year of research, GHO’s Eco Collection will include a range of strict and monitored membership prerequisites. In addition to the basic requirement of member hotels operating and auditing a comprehensive energy management system, other criteria include: • Conservation...

ITHACA, N.Y.—Why should hospitality leaders embrace uncertainty, disruption, and risk when the world (and perhaps a boss or two) prizes confidence, calmness, and security? Does innovation really pay? And does sustainability? These questions and many more will be answered at Hotel Ezra Cornell (HEC), April 12-15, 2007. The theme of this year’s conference is rather fitting for an 82-year-old organization: “Sustainability Through Innovation.” When the student leaders of HEC chose the theme, they aimed to answer the question, “What must innovative hospitality organizations do in order to survive and to thrive?” The theme includes, but is certainly not...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Marriott International Inc. announced the winners in the first phase of the company’s Energy and Water Resource Management Contest, open to more than 350 hotels outside of the United States. Marriott challenged these hotels to reduce the percentage of total consumption of energy (kilowatt hours per occupied room) and water usage during a six-month period in 2006 in comparison to the same timeframe in 2005. Creativity, innovation and associate teamwork were vital to the success of the three hotels named as winners of the challenge: the London Marriott County Hall, Renaissance Chemnitz Hotel, and Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—More than 3,200 top performing buildings have earned the Energy Star for powerful cuts to their energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions. These award-winning buildings represent almost 575 million square feet, save an estimated $600 million annually in lower energy bills, and prevent almost 11 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equal to emissions from almost 900,000 vehicles. “Through Energy Star, President Bush and EPA are brightening our nation’s future, and I applaud these buildings for being America’s energy all-stars,” says EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “Whether you are running a grocery store, a school, or an office building,...