AVALON, N.J.—Green Day, a fun and educational event focusing on green initiatives, ecology and the environment, took place today, July 16, at the Concord Suites in Avalon, N.J. The hotel invited everyone in the community to come and learn about ways they can be more environmentally aware and adopt green practices at home.In addition to featuring many of Concord Suites’ green initiatives, the Cape May County Zoo, EcoVentures, the N.J. Audubon Society and other environmentally conscious organizations participated with interactive displays and entertainment including singer, songwriter and tale spinner Valerie Vaughn. The day also included recycling crafts, giveaways and...

NEW YORK—InterContinental New York Barclay recently announced it has been accepted as a Gold level GreenLeader into the new TripAdvisor GreenLeaders program. The program helps travelers plan greener trips by identifying environmentally-friendly accommodations across the United States.Additionally, the hotel announced it was recently ranked as the No. 1 Green Hotel in New York on TripAdvisor—a nod to the InterContinental New York Barclay’s assertive sustainability program which includes 100 percent wind powered energy, organic, seasonal, natural or local food, on-site composting, recycling and reduced paper, compact fluorescent bulb lighting, roof top garden with honeybee maintenance, and an energetic variety of...

BUFFALO, N.Y.—Kana Hotels, an award-winning development and management group, and PURE Solutions, the provider of allergy-friendly hotel rooms, have teamed up to make travel easier for people with asthma and allergies.Over the past six months, three of Kana’s Embassy Suites hotels—Jackson (Miss.), Knoxville West (Tenn.) and Birmingham-Hoover (Ala.)—have each installed 10 hypoallergenic PURE Rooms, with more Kana properties slated to follow suit by the end of the year.PURE hotel 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. PURE Rooms create a...

PORTLAND, ORE.—The recent success of the IMEX Frankfurt show demonstrated an elevated awareness of sustainability as a business driver for international meeting buyers. The Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC), which serves as a strategic partner with IMEX on the Green Awards program, presented five awards that recognized excellence in sustainable meetings, suppliers and commitment to community programs. The organization also celebrates ten years as the industry’s voice of sustainability by welcoming new leadership. The GMIC Global board welcomes its new board of directors: Brian Hunt, Maritz Travel; Lindsay Arell, Arell Logic and Colorado Convention Centre; Allen Weidman, InfoComm International; Roger...

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte has unveiled plans for its first-ever Summer Honey Festival—three months of special events and dining festivities celebrating the 100,000 honeybees which live on the hotel’s green, vegetated roof. The Summer Honey Festival began this June 1, as the hotel’s Bar Cocoa all-dessert dining experience and The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Charlotte introduced a roster of seasonal honey-based offerings available until September.On June 20, the first honey harvest of the summer will take place, reaping more than 30 pounds of natural honey to be used in Bar Cocoa’s breakfasts, all-day desserts and freshly-made gelato. The honey may also...

DEARBORN, MICH.—Adoba Hotel Dearborn/Detroit announced that it has partnered with Stash Hotel Rewards, the largest point-based loyalty program for independent hotels in the United States. As a result of the partnership, both leisure and business travelers that are members of Stash can now earn and redeem points at the Adoba Hotel Dearborn/Detroit, one of the nation’s leaders in green hotel practices and sustainable ecotourism.“The Stash Rewards Program enables elite-level, independent hotels like the Adoba Hotel Dearborn/Detroit to entice more corporate travelers, compete with large hotel chains, and reward loyal guests—which is a distinct advantage for us,” said Adrienne Pumphrey,...

CHICAGO—The McCormick Place convention center has become the largest convention center in North America to be certified to a new international sustainability standard. This certification was introduced in 2012 to promote responsible environmental and social practices in the event industry. McCormick Place achieved Level One Certification to the ASTM Standard pertaining to the Evaluation and Selection of Venues for Environmentally Sustainable Meetings, Events, Trade Shows, and Conferences.“We can all be very proud of this international honor for McCormick Place, which highlights how Illinois is on the cutting-edge when it comes to sustainability and the green economy,” Illinois Governor Pat...

NATIONAL REPORT—The bicycle is making a big comeback. More than 500 cities in 49 countries now have advanced bicycle-sharing programs—evidence of the growing interest in carbon-free travel. In the lodging industry, making bicycles available to guests is becoming more common and even standard practice in some companies. Starwood’s Element hotels, for example, are required to have at least two bicycles available for guests as part of the brand’s Bikes-to-Borrow program. All Kimpton hotel properties offer bicycles as well. Properties offering bicycles as an amenity are meeting the needs of an increasingly green-minded and health-conscious traveler community. The cost of...

CAMBRIDGE, MASS.—Zagster, a company that provides bikes as a service, announced it has partnered with the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing to offer bike sharing services to guests. Hotel guests can reserve and ride comfortable, city-friendly cruiser bikes, giving them a healthy, convenient and fun way to explore the area, visit friends or attend business meetings.  “In today’s congested cities, it’s increasingly easier, less expensive and more fun to get out and see the sights or attend meetings on a bike, rather than in a cab or rental car,” said Timothy Ericson, co-founder and CEO of Zagster. “With...

MINNEAPOLIS—Club Carlson, the hotel rewards program for Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, announced that it has become the first hotel loyalty program to commit to a global meetings and events carbon offsetting initiative. Club Carlson will purchase carbon credits to offset the estimated carbon footprint of 100 percent of Club Carlson for Planners meetings and events globally, across the group’s six brands totaling 1,077 hotels in operation worldwide.The carbon offsetting—a free service for the meeting planners—will be managed through Carlson Rezidor’s new partner, Carbon Footprint Ltd. Carbon credits will be purchased and invested in renewable energy in India and with...