Name: John Roberts Title: Director of Elephants & Conservation Activities Organization: Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas & Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation Years with organization: 13 Primary responsibilities: Most of Roberts’ responsibility is split several ways—managing the Foundation, working directly with the hotels to help them through their Green Growth 2050 sustainability certification, and working with the Minor International Sustainability Team on local and global policies to ensure what they do in Anantara is aligned with the vision of the board. Organization’s most significant sustainability-related accomplishment: Roberts says, “I think our greatest sustainability related accomplishment (which also has welfare implications, by the way) so...

NORWALK, CONN.—Russ Rogg, President and CEO of Metroflor Corp., along with Harlan Stone, Halstead and Group CEO, announced the appointment of Rochelle Routman, LEED AP, O+M, as the first Chief Sustainability Officer for Metroflor and Halstead International. Routman will oversee product development, customer service and regulatory aspects in a collaborative fashion to define the greatest potential for environmental leadership. She will be based at the company’s Calhoun, Ga. campus. Rochelle brings over 30 years’ experience as a sustainability and environmental professional. At Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems, where she served as Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Coordinator in the 1990s, she...

Name: Wes Shirley Title: Director of Engineering Hotel: Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead Years with hotel: Six Primary responsibilities: “It’s my responsibility to make sure every single guest that stays in our hotel has a flawless and enjoyable stay. I do that by making sure that my employees are happy, well trained and completely engaging with our guests. It’s my responsibility to the owners to ensure that their building is well maintained. At all times it should look and run like a new hotel. It’s also my duty to spend their money wisely, always looking for new, inventive ways to lower their costs...

Name: Scott Lipscomb Title: Environmental Coordinator Company: McMenamins Years with McMenamins: Almost 24 years Primary responsibilities: “Diverting waste out of the landfills at our 56 locations (including our 10 hotel properties), educating employees and setting up recycle/compost programs at locations.” Company’s biggest accomplishment in the area of sustainability so far: “Waste diversion, saving historic properties and reinvigorating communities.” Company’s biggest challenge in the area of sustainability moving forward: “Better energy management, using LED lights, using alternative energy sources, reducing our carbon footprint.” PORTLAND, ORE.—Scott Lipscomb is always trash talking. It is his job, literally, as Environmental Coordinator at McMenamins in Portland, Ore. If there is something...

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS—The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has appointed Dominican native Amanda Charles as Sustainable Tourism Specialist. Charles will coordinate and implement the CTO’s sustainable tourism program aimed at enhancing the development, growth, quality, competitiveness and sustainability of Caribbean tourism. Charles is a tourism professional with several years of experience, having worked most recently as the adviser to the Directorate of Sustainable Tourism at the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, a position she held for five years. While there Charles coordinated the directorate’s sustainable tourism program and managed the financial, technical and logistical aspects of...

Name: Tom Rhodes Title: NC (North Carolina) GreenTravel Initiative Program Manager Organization: North Carolina Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service (NC DEACS) Years with NC GreenTravel Initiative: Almost five years Primary responsibilities: “I manage our website, write updates for Visit North Carolina newsletters, review applications for the NC GreenTravel program, visit businesses to present the program and talk about how to become a green destination. I coach applicants and provide technical assistance with our waste reduction partners.” Program’s biggest accomplishment so far: “We are at 176 businesses in the NC GreenTravel Initiative, 64 of which are lodging establishments.” Program’s biggest challenge moving forward: “When...

BANGKOK—Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas announced that Jeffery Smith has joined the group in the role of Director of Sustainability. In his new role, Smith will ensure that Six Senses remains at the leading edge of sustainable tourism practices. These include environmental performance of each property, support for the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, and enhancing social and economic benefits to local communities in destinations where Six Senses operates. Smith joins Six Senses with 11 years of broad experience of delivering green programs, with internal and external engagement. His most recent role was in the delivery of solar energy...

Name: Rick Werber Title: Senior Vice President, Engineering and Sustainability | Development, Design and Construction Company: Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Years with Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.: Seven Primary responsibilities: Werber is responsible for global strategic capital infrastructure planning and execution, enterprise-wide supply-and-demand-side energy and utility management, and the evaluation and implementation of energy and utility-related ROI initiatives, with a focus on improving sustainability and increasing efficiency of operations to create and drive value. Additionally, Werber co-chairs Host’s Corporate Responsibility (CR) team, a cross-functional team charged with developing the organization’s CR framework and integrating policies within its business practices at the corporate...

NASHVILLE, TENN.—Arizona volunteer Rashmi Bhakta was awarded P&G Professional’s “Community Hotelier of the Year Award” in conjunction with the Asian American Hotel Owners Assn. (AAHOA). Bhakta was chosen as the grand prize winner after submitting an essay detailing her participation with and support of Child Crisis Arizona. The charity will receive a $10,000 award in Bhakta’s name. Bhakta, who was not able to attend in person, was recognized on stage during the 2016 AAHOA Annual Convention and Trade Show awards presentation at the Nashville Convention Center. Amiti Bhow, who nominated Bhakta for the honor, accepted the recognition on Bhakta’s...

HIGHLANDS, N.C.—Old Edwards Hospitality Group announces the appointment of Ezra Gardiner as Head Farmer. Ezra will oversee Old Edwards Gardens at Sequoia Lake and The Gardens at Cherrywood including greenhouses and hoop houses. Ezra will be responsible for cultivating vegetables and herbs to support the culinary offerings throughout Old Edwards, including Madison’s Restaurant and Wine Garden, the Spa Café, the country inn at Half-Mile Farm and the Grill Room at Old Edwards Club, as well as weddings and special events.Gardiner was raised in Ashe County, N.C., an agricultural community of small homesteads and sustenance farming where growing things for...