SAN FRANCISCO—The Orchard Hotel, one of San Francisco’s most stylish, green hotels, is now offering its guests an allergy-friendly option with 10 new hypoallergenic rooms by PURE Solutions.PURE Rooms are treated according to a patented seven-step process that kills and protects against 98 to 100 percent of viruses, bacteria and other harmful airborne particles. This method creates a hypoallergenic space that is more comfortable for asthma and allergy-sufferers and that also can provide a more refreshing and rejuvenating experience for all hotel guests.With the addition of PURE Rooms, the Orchard Hotel continues its emphasis on health and wellness for...

DEARBORN, MICH.—Boxed Water is Better, the sustainable boxed water company, announced that the adoba Eco Hotel & Suites Brand, the eco-friendly independent hotel brand with a commitment to green responsible design, has added its single-serve, boxed water product to its 773-guestroom Dearborn, Mich. location. The hotel selected Boxed Water because of the product’s focus on sustainability, environmental awareness and its distinct package design.The Boxed Water container is more sustainable than plastic bottled water, with more than 75 percent of its packaging derived from renewable resources. The trees used to make Boxed Water come from certified, well-managed forests. These forests...

PORTLAND, ORE.—The Green Meetings Industry Council (GMIC) announced its annual Sustainable Meetings Conference will be held in San Francisco, April 15 to 17, 2014. The event theme will be “bridging the gap” between conceptual sustainability and real world practices at the industry scale. The host hotel for the event will be the San Francisco Hilton. The conference will be geared toward event planners, suppliers, service providers, and destination representatives with an interest in learning the latest green meetings best practices and technologies.“The GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference continues to innovate not only on showcasing sustainable event practices, but on the...

ENGLEWOOD, COLO.—In the company’s second annual “State of the Meetings Industry” survey, Destination Hotels & Resorts, the fourth largest hospitality management company in the United States, forecasts major meetings trends to watch for in 2014. Based on input from more than 180 corporate, association, independent, and government planners nationwide, the report provides insight on a number of key topics: budget; lead time; location; technology; culinary; teambuilding; and environmental sustainability. Money & Time Twenty-six percent of the survey participants forecast expenditures to be greater in 2014, an expected increase from the 20 percent who forecasted the same for 2013 funds, while 55...

DEARBORN, MICH.—In the chic, historic Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Mich., Adoba Hotel is looking to create a better customer experience through their focus on sustainability and corporate responsibility. Among the myriad elements in this evolution are 10 allergy-friendly guestrooms from PURE Solutions, which reflect Adoba’s emphasis on wellness and healthy travel.PURE Rooms are treated according to a patented seven-step process that kills and protects against 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria. By virtually eliminating surface and airborne irritants, PURE Rooms create a hypoallergenic space that is not only more comfortable for allergy-sufferers, but also more refreshing and rejuvenating for...

NEW YORK—New York State Division of Tourism’s iconic “I Love New York” heart logo has had a green makeover to celebrate the launch of responsibletravel.com’s new guide to responsible tourism in New York State.The guide encourages travelers to escape the confines of the Big Apple and to discover an even bigger secret—the rest of New York State’s 11 regions. Searching out wilderness hiking trails connected to the city by mainline railways, motor-free lakes best explored by kayak and enthusiastic local New Yorkers dedicated to sharing and preserving their local environments, the guide highlights the best, most inspirational travel experiences...

NEW YORK—Underscoring sustainable hospitality and the importance of honeybees for the environment, InterContinental New York Barclay and The Center for Sustainable Design Strategies at Pratt Institute announced the launch of the Barclay the Bee comic series. Aiming to educate and sensitize children to the environment in a fun way, student artist Olga Andreyeva, a senior Illustration major at Pratt, has created sweet, savvy bees-in-the-city characters that playfully highlight the vital work of bees against the backdrop of their New York City home.Printed locally on 100 percent recycled paper using non-toxic inks and renewable wind-powered energy, the comics, starting with...

TORONTO—Tourism Toronto has become the first convention and visitors association outside of the United States to reach a new international sustainability standard. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Certification is awarded to destinations that achieve high standards in environmentally sustainable meetings, trade shows, and conferences. Tourism Toronto has been recognized as achieving Level One certification.“Toronto and our partners in convention centers and hotel industry place a high premium on being leaders in sustainable meetings and events,” said David Whitaker, President and CEO of Tourism Toronto. “In a highly competitive market, achieving a prestigious certification like this can...

SAN DIEGO—Courtyard by Marriott and MindClick Global, a leader in supply chain sustainability performance and sourcing solutions, announced the launch of the Rest Better sustainability program, a MindClick initiative to educate travelers on the environmental impact of implementing green hotel purchasing practices.“As a Marriott International brand, Courtyard places a high precedent on sustainability,” said Mari Snyder, Vice President Social Responsibility & Community Engagement. “Partnering with MindClick Global to launch the Rest Better program at our renovated hotel in Rancho Bernardo goes hand-in-hand with Marriott’s ‘Spirit to Preserve’ philosophy and demonstrates the ways we are taking better care of our...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Hyatt Regency Orlando, formerly The Peabody Orlando, announced it will offer 25 new hypoallergenic rooms installed by PURE Solutions. Treated with a patented seven-step process to kill and protect against 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria, PURE rooms virtually eliminate all surface and airborne irritants and create a hypoallergenic and rejuvenating space for allergy-sufferers and health-conscious travelers.“Our allergy-friendly rooms are especially popular with business travelers,” said Brian Brault, CEO of PURE Solutions. “When you’re away from home for a business meeting or conference, the last thing you want to worry about are allergy symptoms or getting a good...