Name: Laura KaneTitle: Business Travel Sales/Sustainability ManagerOrganization: Westin Michigan Avenue ChicagoYears at Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago: Almost six yearsPrimary responsibilities: “I lead our green team and green efforts. I continue to promote environmental responsibility—minimizing waste, hazardous substances, improving energy efficiency—doing anything internally to promote sustainability.”Organization’s most significant environment-related accomplishment so far: “Earning our Green Seal certification. It was a huge accomplishment.”  Organization’s most significant environment-related challenge: “Developing a complete composting system. We are currently only doing a small amount. We would like to be able to completely compost our wet waste.” CHICAGO—If you visit the Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago...

VANCOUVER, WASH.—International sustainable travel expert Richard G. Edwards, founder of the travel marketing firm ecoism, has joined the Advisory Board of the Adventure Travel Trade Association, a global membership organization dedicated to unifying, networking, professionalizing, promoting and responsibly growing the adventure travel market.An expert in sustainability and adventure travel with more than 20 years of experience in marketing, ecotourism, and community development in Latin America, where he lived for many years, Edwards recently launched a new travel and sustainable tourism marketing company, ecoism, which is committed to a more socially and environmentally responsible approach to travel. “In the years...

Name: Bennett ThomasTitle: Vice President of Finance & SustainabilityOrganization: Hersha Hospitality GroupYears with Hersha Hospitality Group: FivePrimary responsibilities: Bennett is responsible for corporate finance and EarthView, Hersha Hospitality’s sustainability program.Organization’s most significant environment-related accomplishment so far: “We have a program in place to cut carbon emissions and water consumption by 7 to 10 percent and waste by 30 to 40 percent.”Organization’s most significant environment-related challenge: “Largely, when you have more than 80 hotels and rooms it is about implementation and engagement. Continuing to educate and reiterate what the message is. We try to reach out to properties as...

SAN FRANCISCO—Inn at The Presidio, the first hotel in San Francisco’s Presidio, a national park site, has appointed Terry Haney as the general manager. Haney brings extensive managerial and directorial knowledge to the position, with a wealth of more than 28 years’ experience in the hospitality industry.One of Haney’s notable achievements was his involvement with the much-heralded opening of the W San Francisco, where he was director of operations. Having started his career in 1982 as the restaurant manager at the Hyatt Regency, Fort Worth, Texas, he has since held numerous management and director-level positions at premier hotels, with...

Name: Andrew MimsTitle: Vice President of SustainabilityOrganization: Gaylord EntertainmentYears with Gaylord Entertainment: 1.5Primary responsibilities: “I created and now run Gaylord’s sustainability department—with efforts ranging from environmental initiatives to social responsibility. Ultimately, for the company to maximize the impact of the program, it needs to fit seamlessly into our overall strategy and become a central component of our culture. I report directly to David Kloeppel, our president and COO, and meet regularly with Colin Reed, our CEO, and they both understand the growing importance of sustainability in the marketplace and the value that it can bring to our company. And...

TORONTO—The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) announced another milestone in its journey toward sustainability with the addition of a local food advocate to its team. In the newly created role of local food procurement officer, chef and project manager Kelly Hughes has taken on a mandate to create and implement a new strategy for MTCC around Ontario-based sourcing. The Broader Public Sector Investment Fund as part of the Greenbelt Fund has provided funding for the position. The MTCC has partnered with OCTA (Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance) in support of this initiative. The MTCC is enthusiastic about increasing the amount of...

Name: Mari L. SnyderTitle: Vice President Social Responsibility & Community EngagementOrganization: Marriott International, Inc.Years with Marriott International: 12 yearsYears with current title: 4 yearsPrimary responsibilities: Responsible for developing Marriott’s social responsibility strategy and its global implementation.Organization’s most significant environment-related accomplishment so far: “The scope of our work beyond the hotel’s doors .” Organization’s most significant environment-related challenge: “Helping to create an industry standard for measuring carbon—delivering a formula that all of the industry will abide by.” BETHESDA, MD.—In her role as vice president Social Responsibility & Community Engagement for Marriott International, Mari Snyder says “strategy development” is the favorite part of...

Name: Stephanie SteinbergTitle: ChairwomanOrganization: Smoke-Free GamingLocation: Englewood, Colo.Years with Smoke-Free Gaming: Seven yearsPrimary responsibility: “To ensure that we maintain a presence in the media and the community. If we are out of sight, we are out of mind.”Organization’s most significant accomplishment: “We succeeded in helping to get a law passed in Colorado so that casino employees are treated fairly and do not have to breathe second-hand smoke.”Organization’s most significant challenge: “Nevada. It is an untamed beast.” ENGLEWOOD, COLO.—As chairwoman of Smoke-Free Gaming, Stephanie Steinberg’s mission is to work her nonprofit out of business—to get to a point when all casinos...

TORONTO—Fairmont recently made several management and supervisory-level appointments at its properties worldwide. Among them was the promotion of Sarah Dayboll to director, environmental affairs. Dayboll has been instrumental in progressing Fairmont’s green agenda and most recently oversaw the company’s commitment to reduce its carbon emissions under the World Wildlife Fund’s Climate Savers Program. In her expanded role, she will continue to seek out new ways in which to proactively green Fairmont’s operations. Working closely with Fairmont’s portfolio of world-class hotels, Dayboll plays an instrumental role in the day-to-day operations of Fairmont’s Green Partnership program, a worldwide environmental platform recognized internationally...

ANN ARBOR, MICH.—NSF International, an independent organization that aims to protect human health and the environment, has promoted Tom Bruursema to general manager of NSF Sustainability. In this role, Bruursema will lead the growing portfolio of NSF Sustainability services that assists organizations in greening their products, operations, systems and supply chains. These services include standards development through the National Center for Sustainability Standards founded by NSF International in 2010. NSF develops life-cycle based, multi-attribute sustainability standards for green products and services, including building products and materials, furniture, carpet and flooring, fabrics, wallcoverings, roofing membranes, green chemicals, and water and wastewater...