MIAMI BEACH, FLA.—Vero Water, a leading provider of luxury still and sparkling water to the hospitality industry, announced the debut of the Vero Water Tower and a sneak-peek at the VERO+4 at the National Restaurant Show. Both systems were designed specifically to meet the needs of large independent and national accounts. Vero Water offers great tasting luxury still and sparkling water—on site and on demand—swiftly, profitably, and sustainably by transforming tap water through its proprietary purification system.  In just a few years, Vero has rapidly become the “water brand of choice” among a growing number of the most celebrated...

GALENA, ILL.—The City of Galena, Ill., already a leader in green practices as a municipality, now features lodging properties that are earning green badges by meeting criteria set forth by the Galena Area Green Designation Committee. Since the program was launched two weeks ago, eight Galena hotels and bed and breakfasts have completed applications indicating their desire to reduce waste, improve efficiencies and meet certain requirements to earn the designation.Once officially approved, those eight will be able to market themselves as green lodging properties to help visitors seeking green destinations while improving the environment and enjoying the cost savings...

NEW YORK—Delos is expanding its Stay Well hotel room portfolio into a handful of Marriott International hotels. The company has now completed the installation of Stay Well rooms at six Marriott properties, including Charlotte Marriott City Center, Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Richmond Marriott Short Pump, Residence Inn Orlando Lake Nona, Courtyard Orlando Lake Nona and Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina.“The growing demand for healthy travel is rapidly increasing, and we have received a tremendous number of requests to open more Stay Well rooms since first debuting the product in Las Vegas,” said Delos Founder and CEO Paul Scialla. “Marriott...

LAS VEGAS—Caesars Entertainment Corp. announced that its Responsible Meetings (RM) group is expanding its service offerings with the release of a new “Meetings for Good” menu of community service opportunities at select properties. The new Meetings for Good menu will promote stronger community engagement among Caesars-operated resorts, their meeting customers, and local nonprofit organizations. Participating nonprofits include organizations dedicated to seniors, environmental sustainability, education, health and wellness, deployed soldiers and veterans. A meetings customer seeking an eco-friendly team building experience, for example, could help Clean the World build hygiene kits for distribution to impoverished people to help reduce hygiene-related...

UBUD, INDONESIA—Nestled in the heart of Ubud, where ancient stone carvings, scenic plantations, and rich cultural traditions await exploration, Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve invites young experience collectors to go on a learning adventure with its new immersive program, “Mini Explorers” at Mandapa Camp. Tailored for children or the entire family to enjoy, Mini Explorers offers a chance to learn new skills, make new friends, and take part in a wide range of creative activities, all under expert supervision.Tucked away amidst rice paddies, the expansive Mandapa Camp facility includes an organic garden, an enlightening Kid’s Hut, and an educational farm...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—From the fifth annual Building a Healthier Future Summit hosted by The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), which works with the private sector and PHA Honorary Chair First Lady Michelle Obama to make healthier choices easier for busy parents and families, Westin Hotels & Resorts announces its continued commitment to build healthier futures for children.Part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc., the Westin brand just launched a global competition to reinvent recipes for the brand’s Eat Well Menu for Kids, in which hotel associates will have six weeks in their kitchens to demonstrate their culinary creativity and...

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...

NATIONAL REPORT—As reported in Green Lodging News earlier this year, a number of suppliers are making it increasingly easy to offer filtered water to guests through water bottle filling stations. These stations, connected to a water supply, allow one to eliminate plastic bottle waste and even create a new revenue stream through the sale of reusable bottles. Making the location of water dispensing easier, several suppliers are now offering atmospheric water generators. These water dispensers need no water supply connection because they pull water from the air before filtering it for guests. Technology varies per supplier with some even...

NEEDHAM, MASS.—Almost three years after launching its GreenLeaders program, TripAdvisor has good reason to be ecstatic about its success. There are now more than 11,000 participating properties in 66 global markets across North America, Latin America, Europe, as well as Australia and New Zealand. In the last year alone, TripAdvisor has added nearly 3,000 GreenLeaders participants. “When we launched TripAdvisor GreenLeaders just a few years ago to help our community of millions of travelers plan and book greener trips, we never imagined it would grow so quickly to become the world’s largest green program,” says Ryan Dillon, Responsible Travel...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As spring arrives, meeting planners are working tirelessly to secure event space for 2016 meetings. The Hyatt Place Washington D.C./U.S. Capitol, located in downtown Washington, D.C., just north of the U.S. Capitol, is offering meeting planners an opportunity to help their favorite charities while providing top rated service and value to their attendees. The hotel is managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts, an operator of more than 100 hotels throughout North America, including 15 in the Washington, D.C. area.Planners contracting new groups at the Hyatt Place Washington D.C./U.S. Capitol by June 30, 2016, for stay dates now through...