BETHESDA, MD.—In honor of Earth Day and Environmental Awareness Month, Marriott International is hosting its first green products fair for more than 3,000 employees at Marriott headquarters. The event will be held Friday, April 20. Local vendors—EcoLab, Whole Foods, Eco-Coach, Green Living, Clean Energy Currents, Starbucks, Clean Up the World and more—will showcase their latest eco-friendly products from paint, carpet and flooring to green travel, recycling and organic food. Associates will also have a chance to check out the latest hybrid cars from Toyota and Ford. Elected officials have also been invited. Guest speakers include: Dennis Dimick, Executive...

BASKING RIDGE, N.J.—The Olde Mill Inn here is now offering its guests a healthier night’s sleep with PURE rooms from Pure Solutions NA, Cheektowaga, N.Y. The inn is the first hotel in New Jersey to offer this special service. A PURE room is one that has been professionally treated to minimize irritants, contaminants, and odors. PURE allergy friendly rooms are the most complete allergen-resistant hotel rooms on the market. Each PURE room is treated extensively, ensuring a comfortable and inviting stay every time. In addition to PURE guestrooms that feature air cleaners, eco-friendly items such as Energy Star...

AMERICAN CANYON, CALIF.—The Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa, now open in American Canyon, Calif., has installed a GreenTouchscreen from Quality Attributes Software to educate visitors about the numerous green aspects of the facility. Gaia’s GreenTouchscreen educates guests by displaying the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) checklist. Historical electricity, water and CO2 graphs compare this efficient facility to an average hotel to educate users of the energy saving benefits, and a system animation demonstrates how the hotel uses a photovoltaic array to help generate electricity. Multiple screens around the lobby and a channel on every hotel...

CHICAGO—With more than 67 percent of Americans placing importance on the eco-friendliness of a destination, this market segment has a growing future ahead of it, according to a recent Orbitz survey of 320 adults ages 19 to 65. Travelers are reassessing how they travel, where they stay and the impact they leave behind when on vacation. Conducted by MarketTool’s Zoomerang’s polling service, the Orbitz survey found that: • More than half (65 percent) state it would somewhat impact their decision to stay at a hotel if they knew the hotel was using solar or wind energy to supplement...

PORTLAND, ORE.—According to recent research, 67 percent of meeting and incentive professionals have taken environmental considerations into account when planning a conference or incentive program (IMEX 2007). The corporate model is fast changing to one where sustainability is no longer fringe, but mainstream. This year promises to be an unprecedented year for the global meetings industry. In response to this trend, the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) is helping to prepare meeting professionals to meet the challenges of a sustainable approach and experience how greener meetings are creating better meetings. On the heels of a successful annual...

NEW YORK—The deluxe Premier Hotel in Times Square, a Millennium Hotels and Resorts property, is breaking new ground and changing the quality of travel and wellness of its guests with the introduction of its new “Premier Pure” rooms which feature an allergen- friendly environment. The Premier Pure rooms are 98 percent free of bacteria and viruses which are eliminated via a special purification technique. The hotel is also introducing therapeutic natural skin care products by LATHER as its bath amenities. The Premier is the first New York City hotel to introduce allergen-friendly rooms utilizing an innovative, one-of-a-kind high-tech...

NEW YORK—Travelers in the United States will be able to enjoy Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee at all of the Holiday Inn brand’s nearly 1,000 hotels nationwide by June. The commitment by Holiday Inn, which will be the largest hotel chain to serve Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee, means that at least 30 percent of the beans used to brew the more than 55,000 cups of coffee served at the hotels every day will come from farms that meet rigorous environmental and social standards. These standards include biodiversity conservation, worker protection, healthcare and education for children of farm workers. “Holiday...

YACHATS, ORE.—Green Vacation Hub is happy to announce the launch of a new website linking travelers with accommodations that emphasize good health and green practices. The URL is www.GreenVacationHub.com. Lodging establishments can join now for a low introductory rate. Members enjoy full-page feature listings with photos and property details—just in time to capture the interest of summer travelers. What is Green Vacation Hub? Green Vacation Hub is a low-cost, high-impact marketing tool that specifically targets guests who seek lodging that promotes a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. The dynamic website provides properties with high visibility by targeting the...

TORONTO—Businesses are embracing Fairmont Hotel and Resorts’ respect for the environment and promotion of sustainable tourism by rallying behind its Eco-Meet program now available at all of its properties. A staunch advocate of environmental stewardship within the travel and tourism industry, Fairmont was the first major hotel company in North America to include green business practices as an intrinsic part of its operations. Another major milestone as the pioneer of going green is the brandwide launch of the Eco-Meet program—an environmentally friendly conferencing program intended to minimize harm to the environment during meetings, conferences and similar events. ...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Although travelers burn gas to get to their destinations, one answer to greener travel is to vacation by choosing an eco-friendly B&B. BedandBreakfast.com innkeepers are moving toward greener getaways by investing in earth-friendly practices to ensure guests the finest in eco-escapes. BedandBreakfast.com currently lists more than 35 earth-friendly special packages. Listed in alphabetical order by state, here are some examples of green packages offered by BedandBreakfast.com members. Strawberry Creek B&B, Idyllwild, Calif.: Relax on soft, cotton-like hammocks made from recycled soda bottles. This inn’s tranquil wooded setting is certified by the National Wildlife Federation as an...