BOSTON—Formed a year ago as an outgrowth of the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Conventions (CERC), Boston Green Tourism (BGT) is working to position America’s Walking City as the place to go to find green hotels and meeting facilities. The organization already has 76 active members including hoteliers, restaurateurs, vendors, and convention center and government officials. “It is a three-year project,” says Dan Ruben, executive director of BGT, who as executive director of CERC led efforts to green America’s two political conventions in 2004. The goals of BGT are four-fold: • Establish Greater Boston as a preeminent...

GRENADA—The 32-room Blue Horizons Garden Resort in Grenada has achieved the prestigious Green Globe Benchmark Certificate under the new Green Globe Certification program, which recognizes the property’s commitment to operating at the world’s highest environmental standard. Achieving this distinction means Blue Horizons Garden Resort can now proceed to the next step—securing the coveted Green Globe Certification. Blue Horizons first obtained the Green Globe Benchmark distinction in 2004 but it expired during the time the property was closed (as a result of Hurricane Ivan). During the $1.5 million renovation project that ensued, Blue Horizons made sure to keep environmentally-conscious...

PAGE, ARIZ.—Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas, an Aramark Harrison Lodging managed property, announced it has received a Pollution Prevention Award from the Utah Pollution Prevention Assn. (P2) and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. “This is especially important to us because this award recognizes organizations and companies in Utah that are making outstanding efforts in programming and training to prevent pollution and improve environmental quality,” says Bubba Ketchersid, resident district manager, north Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas operations. “Protecting and preserving our environment is an extremely important part of our company’s commitment to our guests, employees and neighbors.”...

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND—A recently formed group of tourism and hospitality consultants, educators and researchers have joined forces to develop and distribute content that will be designed to “help move the agenda forward” in the areas of tourism and hospitality sustainability. Located in Lausanne, Switzerland, this organization is in the process of recruiting new members who support their mission and vision. A preliminary website, which will soon be updated, provides some background information and can be found at www.thisd.org. Anyone interested in participating in this new organization and who is willing to contribute to its formulation process are encouraged...

NATIONAL REPORT—Any hotel property that has a restaurant or bar has to deal with bottle disposal. No matter where they are on the property—behind the bar or in the dumpster—bottles take up space. It costs money in labor to move them from one location to another and to have them hauled away. Glass bottles do not generate much cash as recyclables—about $4 to $6 per ton—so most often they end up in landfills. Yes, there are places where bottles are sorted for recycling or returned for deposit refunds, but sometimes it costs more than a nickel to get a nickel...

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WYO.—Taking a green vacation just became easier with Grand Teton Lodge Company’s (GTLC) announcement that it will offset 100 percent of its energy use by purchasing clean, renewable wind-generated energy. By purchasing energy credits equal to the company’s entire electricity use, GTLC becomes one of the largest purchasers of wind power in Wyoming. In 2003, GTLC led the way in promoting alternative energy sources in the state by becoming one of the first Wyoming businesses to purchase wind-generated electricity, securing the equivalent power to run Jenny Lake Lodge annually. The company will work with...

GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND, THE BAHAMAS—As a result of increasing demand from guests, Pelican Bay at Lucaya is now a smoke-free resort and has converted all of its smoking rooms into nonsmoking accommodations. The decision to go smoke free comes as Pelican Bay stays true to its promise to be an island oasis for guests. “The feedback from our guests regarding this decision has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Magnus Alnebeck, Pelican Bay’s general manager. “The number of nonsmoking hotels continues to increase as the marketplace demands it.” In addition to the new smoke-free policy, Pelican Bay has also...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Energy Star label for refrigerated vending machines is now available for thousands of vending machines rebuilt and reinstalled with more efficient components, EPA announced recently. The new Energy Star specification is expected to save end users more than $2 million in the first year alone. Initially, Energy Star qualified rebuilt machines will potentially be an average of 40 percent more efficient than conventional models. Each machine can save end users an average of 1,600 kWh and $130 a year on their utility bill. On July 1, 2007, when more stringent Energy Star requirements become effective, Energy Star qualified...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Assn. (AH&LA), the voice of the lodging industry, intends to increase the volume of conversation about the environment in the coming year, according to Brad Aldrich, vice president of business development for the Washington, D.C.-based organization. Until recently, Aldrich says, the environment has not been a member priority and response to AH&LA initiatives has been what he calls “lackluster.” In fact, the AH&LA’s National Energy Procurement Program with Ernst & Young Energy Advisory Services was cancelled earlier this year due to a lack of interest. The program’s intent was to leverage AH&LA’s membership base...

BOSTON—David Gibbons has been appointed general manager of The Lenox, a 212-room four-diamond hotel in the heart of Boston’s historic Back Bay. The Lenox, one of the greenest hotels in the United States, is the flagship property of The Saunders Hotel Group (SHG). Gibbons joins The Lenox at a time when SHG is putting the final touches on a top to bottom $15 million capital improvement program at the property, including guestrooms, public spaces and restaurants. “With his global perspective and experience in luxury hotels, we are pleased to have David leading the hotel into its second century,”...