SAINT CHARLES, MO.—It’s now easier than ever for travelers to click and book smoke-free hotel reservations, simply by visiting the completely redesigned FreshStay online directory and integrated booking process for more than 3,500 nonsmoking lodging facilities. With an increasing number of hotels discovering the many benefits that come with fresher guestrooms and nonsmoking environments, the new FreshStay lists hundreds of additional smoke-free lodging facilities. The FreshStay site also has greatly improved search capabilities, making it simple for site surfers to find the rooms they want, where and when they want them. Even more valuable, FreshStay now features...

ATLANTA—With concern for our nation’s environment and conservation of its natural resources on the rise, today’s travelers want a safer, more healthy and sustainable experience while on the road. Now, two hotel chains—America’s Best Inns & Suites and Country Hearth Inns—will feature a green initiative known as EcoRooms with products that are energy efficient, water efficient, waste reducing, and non-toxic and/or biodegradable. The systemwide program was announced by America’s Best Franchising Inc., franchisor of the hotel brands. “EcoRooms are more comfortable for guests and more cost-effective for hotels,” says Doug Collins, chairman and CEO of America’s Best Franchising...

You’ve taken the plunge and greened your hotel. Now, how do you make people aware that your hotel meets their standards? How do you reach your most important target market—the eco-conscious, often referred to as geo-tourist? If your hotel is located in one of the states that has few, if any, green hotels, this may prove to be an easier feat. You won’t have to contend with an overcrowded marketplace and heavy competition. One of the first things you need to do is determine what knowledge point or base you are starting from with the media. This can easily be...

NEW YORK—Leonardo Media, an international leader in providing e-marketing solutions for the travel and hospitality industries, announced that The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. Leading Spas collection directory is now available online as a digital eBook. Using the original artwork from the printed version, Leonardo created an exact replica of the 120-page directory into a dynamic and eye-catching electronic format—complete with links to the Leading Spas website and page zoom functionality that provides online viewers with the feeling that they are reading a printed brochure. “It is tremendous to expand our relationship with The Leading Hotels...

BUFFALO, N.Y.—Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts recently accepted the IMEX Green Meetings Award for its efforts in environmental responsibility and stewardship. Through its commitment to GreenPath, a nationally renowned system of environmental management, Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts received the Silver IMEX Green Meetings Award for hosting a green meeting for the Sierra Business Council (SBC) conference at Curry Village and Yosemite Lodge at the Falls in Yosemite National Park. The conference, held in November 2006, featured many green initiatives and used many environmentally friendly products. Measurable achievements at the SBC conference included 50 percent...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is erecting a new milestone in the march toward a greener government. Now the agency plans to turn its meetings green. EPA is changing its acquisition rules to give preference to facilities that consume less and manage their resources in environmentally positive ways. The rule change was effective May 1. For the first time, EPA will consider environmental achievement along with such factors as price and past performance when buying meeting and conference space. The new regulation is a step toward giving priority to hotels and conference centers that demonstrate green progress....

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.—In celebration of National Arbor Day, Friday, April 27, Doubletree Hotels has launched a month-long “Pledge to Plant Challenge” by encouraging America to help plant 50,000 seedling trees. The initiative is an extension of the brand’s environmental education and preservation efforts. Together with The National Arbor Day Foundation, the hotelier is challenging Americans to “think trees” in an active effort to re-green America and reinforce the importance of trees in our everyday lives. By visiting www.doubletree.com/thinktrees between now and May 31, those making a personal pledge to plant may receive two of their very own seedling...

OTTAWA, ONTARIO—More than 500 hotels and counting. That is the number of properties that have signed up for the Hotel Association of Canada’s (HAC) Green Key Eco-Rating program. According to Anthony Pollard, president of HAC, another 450 are in the pipeline and a total of 1,200 should be signed up by the end of the year. The program, which rates hotels with from one to five green keys, with five keys being the best, has been blossoming of late for several reasons. “In Canada, the No. 1 issue by far is the environment,” Pollard says. The...

BOULDER, COLO., NEW YORK—The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd., the largest global luxury hotel brand, announced the launch of the Leading Green Initiative. This innovative program will enable and encourage guests to make a conscious decision toward greener travel by actively supporting Sustainable Travel International (STI), a leading nonprofit organization focused on responsible tourism. The Leading Green Initiative is a carbon neutral program whereby The Leading Hotels of the World will directly absorb the cost to offset guests’ energy consumption for stays at any of its 440 hotels worldwide. “We are extremely proud to be the...

NATIONAL REPORT—Six prominent spas are forming a network dedicated to bringing environmentally sustainable operating practices to the burgeoning spa industry. The Green Spa Network (GSN) seeks to help spas and spa professionals reap the financial and social benefits from implementing environmentally friendly business practices. The intention of the organization is to synergize greening efforts among network members as a way to support spas in reducing their ecological impact, while improving energy efficiencies and reducing operational costs. With nearly 14,000 facilities generating $9.7 billion in annual revenues, spas are a leading leisure industry and naturally suited to be at...