MONTREAL—The Green Meeting Industry Council’s (GMIC) annual Sustainable Meetings Conference will be held April 22 to 25 at the Hilton Montreal Bonaventure. The annual event, which has been growing in size each year, will include many educational as well as networking opportunities. An area for exhibitors is also part of the conference.A highlight of this year’s event is a keynote presentation by John Picard. Picard is the founder and CEO of Picard Associates, a company founded on the principles of bringing a natural systems approach to traditional business issues. Picard is one of the preeminent environmental consultants in North...

DELAVAN, WIS.—When the husband-and-wife team of Fritz Kreiss and Catherine McQueen learned that a two-lane highway adjacent to their five-acre property in Delavan, Wis. would be expanded to four lanes they could have tried to sell the land with their cottage on it. Instead, they decided to build perhaps North America’s greenest lodging establishment—the 19-suite Green Leaf Inn that will be a net zero energy property. Net zero energy properties generate more energy than they consume. The Green Leaf Inn is scheduled to open in the spring of next year.It is the owners’ intention for the inn to serve...

TORONTO—Delta Hotels and Resorts will once again shut off lights in support of Earth Hour for the third consecutive year at its 43 properties across the country on Saturday, March 31, at 8:30 p.m. (local time). In addition to going dark, the chain will further demonstrate its commitment to the environment by providing guests with a host of energy-saving service offerings, as part of Delta’s national sustainability program, Delta Greens.“Earth Hour is a great example of how small, simple steps like turning off lights can engage a global community and help create a sustainable future,” said David Bird, senior...

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL—The Sheraton World Trade Center (WTC) in one of Sao Paulo, Brazil’s leading financial districts recently completed installation of multiple PURE Allergy-Friendly Rooms in partnership with PURE Global. PURE Room uses a patented and award winning seven-step process specially treating all surfaces, and purifying the indoor air to greatly reduce allergy and asthma symptoms, resulting in a better night’s sleep even for non-sufferers.The seven purification steps of the patented PURE Room installation process include: 1. Air sanitization via units that heat and cool air entering the room;2. Maintaining sanitized air with tea tree oil, an organic disinfectant;3. Cleaning...

WICHITA, KAN.—Nancy J. Larson, director, Pollution Prevention Institute, Kansas State University, is spearheading an effort to develop a green lodging certification program for lodging establishments in Kansas. In the effort she has worked closely with Joe Andrick, general manager of the Overland Park Residence Inn by Marriott, Overland Park, Kan. Larson is pursuing an Environmental Protection Agency grant to fund the program that initially would be focused on properties in Kansas City and Wichita. If the effort to obtain an EPA grant is successful—Larson expects to have an answer by September—Kansas could have its own green lodging certification program...

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—On the heels of launching six new bath and body care hotel collections, Concept Amenities, a manufacturer and supplier of environmentally responsible guest amenities, announced the launch of their new website as part of their corporate rebranding efforts. The site includes essential information to ensure the most effective communication with hotels, distributors, the media and consumers alike. Easy to navigate, the functionality provides a streamlined user-friendly experience for visitors with access to the specific information they seek immediately. The new site is divided into eight main sections: Story, Luxury, Classic, Custom, Environment, Media, Enquiries and Support. Visitors will find detailed...

The hospitality community in the Buffalo Niagara region in Western New York is serious about green initiatives. A few years ago, Visit Buffalo Niagara created the Buffalo Green Hospitality Initiative to establish environmentally responsible practices and promote a green experience that would make Buffalo Niagara a more environmentally responsible meeting destination.  Also strengthening its commitment to sustainability, Visit Buffalo Niagara joined the ASAE Convene Green Alliance, a community of event professionals dedicated to advancing green initiatives in the meetings and events industry. The “Green & Mean (It)” program led by Visit Buffalo Niagara earned support from area businesses. The program requires...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Earth Day Network, organizer of the world’s largest civic observance, has teamed up with Best Western International. In a year-long partnership just announced, Best Western will become a sponsor of the massive Earth Day event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on April 22. “The theme of Earth Day 2012 is Mobilize the Earth, and Best Western has been mobilizing its hotels around the world to implement eco-friendly policies,” said Kathleen Rogers, president of Earth Day Network. “Because of their enormous size and influence in the industry, it’s an extremely important step.”The event on the National Mall...

RAPID CITY, S.D.—The newly branded Rapid City, S.D., Adoba Eco Hotel recently unveiled its exterior signage package. It was designed and fabricated by Lauretano Sign Group, a national provider of eco-savvy signage products. Atmosphere Hospitality Management Services is the owner of the Adoba Eco Hotel brand.As the hotel continues to strive towards LEED certification and reducing its carbon footprint, owner of the property Karim Merali stated, “Joining forces with the Lauretano Sign Group was a great recommendation by the Adoba executives. This sign package was custom-designed for the hotel, constructed with up to 85 percent recycled plastic and finished...

OTTAWA, ONT.—Latest results from the 2012 HAC Canadian Travel Intentions Survey show that 42 percent of business travelers (up 5 percent from 2011) said environmental initiatives such as water recycling and energy efficiency are important to them. Thirty six percent of leisure travelers and 34 percent of business travelers said it is important for hotels to have green products. Twenty-five percent of leisure travelers and 31 percent of business travelers said a hotel with an environmental certification program is important to them.  Nineteen percent of business travelers and fifteen percent of leisure travelers said the ability to purchase carbon...