HORSHAM, PA.—Green Key Global, the exclusive provider of the Green Key Eco-Rating Program (“Green Key”) in the United States, will be exhibiting at the 2009 International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS) in New York City from November 8 to 10. Green Key is among the first programs of its kind to rank, certify and inspect hotels and resorts based on their commitment to sustainable “green” practices. The show is being held at the Javits Center; Green Key will be exhibiting at Booth No. 2578. Those attending the show can visit Green Key to: • Learn more about the Green Key program...

BLACKSBURG, VA.—A significant gap lies between consumers’ attitudes towards “green” initiatives in the hospitality industry and their actual behavior, says a recent study by two hospitality and tourism management graduate students at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business. Moreover, consumers who engage in environmentally friendly behavior at home behave differently when staying at a hotel, their study found. Master’s students Melissa Baker, of Marshfield, Mass., and Eric Davis, of Lorton, Va., in a project supervised by hospitality and tourism management professor Pamela Weaver, say that while more hotels are adopting green practices, few scholars have examined the relationships between such...

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—Pineapple Hospitality announced that two new hotel management groups have joined FreshStay.com, the largest online directory of 100 percent smoke-free hotels in the world. Potomac Hospitality Services and Charlestowne Hotels combined offer 22 properties that have completely eliminated smoking on their properties, adding to the comprehensive list of more than 4,800 other FreshStay.com hotels, motels and B&Bs. “Potomac Hospitality and Charlestowne Hotels are two well-known, well-respected management groups in this industry, so we are excited they see the benefits and are leading their properties to be smoke free,” says Dave Janicke, FreshStay’s CBO—Chief Breathing Officer. “It’s clear that...

BUFFALO, N.Y.—The Buffalo Green Hospitality Initiative, formed in August 2007 to develop and maintain environmentally responsible practices and promote a green experience for travelers and conventioneers visiting the Buffalo Niagara region, is expanding with the launch of “Green & Mean (It).” Led by the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau, the purpose of the program is to help make Buffalo Niagara a more environmentally responsible meeting destination. As part of Green & Mean (It), a comprehensive lodging certification program has been introduced. It is now available to lodging establishments in the Buffalo Niagara area. A corresponding website, www.greenandmeanit.com, will...

ORLANDO, FLA.—RezHub.com has re-launched their website, delivering discount and green travel to the mainstream. The concept was born out of the understanding that while many travelers are interested in going green on vacation, these kinds of trips are often overlooked because they are perceived as too expensive or too extreme. RezHub has been able to remove these misconceptions by eliminating barriers including: higher cost, longer duration, and limited availability. And even when a green opportunity is not available for a particular trip, travelers may still feel good about travel knowing that RezHub always donates 20 percent of their profits...

LOS ANGELES—The 2009/2010 International Restaurant & Hotel Awards (IRHA) are now accepting submissions. In the 2007/2008 awards season, IRHA received submissions from more than 50 countries around the world. The jury reviewed submissions from properties ranging from bed and breakfasts and boutique hotels to six-star luxury resorts, as well as the world’s top restaurants. Top brands and hotel groups that participated in the 2007/2008 awards season include The Ritz-Carlton, Marriott International, Accor Hotels, The Peninsula Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Kor Hotel Group, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Hotels and a host of others. The awards were presented at...

MURRIETA, CALIF.—Green Globe International, Inc., the worldwide owner of the Green Globe brand, announced that it has recognized the Greater Chattanooga Hospitality Association’s Chattanooga Green Lodging Program, the leading certification program for tourism accommodation in the state of Tennessee. “The Chattanooga Green Lodging Program is the first U.S.-based program to be fully recognized by Green Globe,” said Guido Bauer, CEO of Green Globe Certification. “All hotels certified under the Chattanooga program will automatically receive Green Globe Certified status.” GCHA member Tom Cupo first proposed the Green Lodging Program in the fall of 2008, and continued to develop the program until its...

HORSHAM, PA.—The State of Indiana has announced it will adopt the Green Key Eco-Rating Program as its official statewide environmental initiative for the lodging industry. Indiana is the first state to make this designation following the launch of Green Key in the United States on September 17. The program will be managed via a partnership between the Indiana Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA) and Green Key Global, whereby the IHLA will promote the program to lodging properties within the state. This partnership will provide IHLA with a customized, branded version of the Green Key website, allowing IHLA to promote the...

ORLANDO, FLA.—It is official. As reported in Green Lodging News in July, in response to growing member interest in green hotels, AAA has launched a program to highlight AAA Approved lodgings that have been eco-certified through a well-established government or private program. A bright green “ECO” symbol makes it easy to identify eco-friendly lodgings in the new 2010 editions of the AAA TourBook guides and on AAA.com. Additionally, travelers will be able to customize their hotel searches on AAA.com to show green properties first in their search results. “The new ECO symbol serves as a notice to AAA members that a...

OKLAHOMA CITY—The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department has unveiled a new travel initiative called ECO—Encouraging Conservation in Oklahoma—which promotes, educates and encourages sustainable travel in the state. The ECO program approaches sustainable travel from both industry and consumer perspectives. It includes education, green certification and marketing support for tourism industry partners and helps them embrace sustainable travel practices for minimal economic impact with maximum return. ECO will also identify sustainable travel options such as lodging, restaurants and attractions so that tourists seeking green travel will have easy access to this information. “Oklahoma has a legacy of conservation, preservation and innovation—qualities that...