ANN ARBOR, MICH.—Traveling green just got easier with the launch of a new website, Green Lodge. Green Lodge is a one-stop shop for individuals to research and book green hotel stays and receive carbon credits for all travel booked through the site. Green Lodge offers a database of more than 600 U.S. hotels whose rankings are based on green certification status and specific green efforts. Green Lodge also offers resources on different types of green hotels, an online community for sharing travel tips, experiences at eco-hotels, and opportunities to reduce carbon footprint by booking travel. “We are making it easy for...

BETHESDA, MD.— The average three-day meeting at a Marriott hotel attended by 1,000 people produces more than 12 tons of trash, uses 200,000 kilowatts of power and consumes 100,000 gallons of water. Beginning this summer, Marriott, JW Marriott and Renaissance Hotels & Resorts will introduce a series of meeting products that are eco-friendly and will help guests and meeting planners reduce their environmental impact. Marriott is building on an aggressive environmental strategy by adding new elements to green its meetings. Products and Services include: • 100 percent post-consumer fiber writing pads; • Bic Ecolutions pens made from recycled content and biodegradable (Marriott purchases...

TORONTO—Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced a new partnership with the National Geographic Society, one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations with a long history of supporting the achievements of renowned explorers and groundbreaking researchers. As a new Mission Partner, Fairmont will support the National Geographic’s work to inspire people to care about the planet, which is a natural fit as the two organizations share a commitment to responsible tourism and the environment. Through the partnership, Fairmont will offer its guests access to a number of exclusive events and enriching experiences with the Global Explorer Series. The series...

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.—Doubletree Hotels announced that it has received the prestigious 2008 “Promise to the Earth Award” from the Arbor Day Foundation. The Promise to the Earth award is presented annually by the world’s largest nonprofit tree planting organization to corporations for outstanding commitments to environmental stewardship and education. The award also recognizes organizations that support the Arbor Day Foundation’s mission to “Inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.” The Arbor Day Foundation acknowledged Doubletree for their continued and growing dedication to three major projects: • Doubletree Teaching Kids to CARE Community Outreach Program. Since the spring of 2004, Doubletree has...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Eco-savvy travelers can now enjoy luxury, style and a commitment to sustainability when they visit two premier hotels. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Lexus have partnered to unveil two “Lexus Hybrid Living Suites” geared for eco-conscious visitors, with the first launched at The Fairmont San Francisco in April 2008, and now in the nation’s capital at The Fairmont Washington, D.C. Guests can sleep, eat and drink sustainably in these unique suites, with every aspect of the room meticulously planned for the eco-minded traveler, incorporating ideas and products from Lexus Hybrid Living partners. Complimentary use of a Lexus LS...

DOVER, DELAWARE—Delaware, the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution way back in 1787, is the 12th state to launch a green lodging program. The announcement was made on June 19 by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), and the Delaware Hotel & Lodging Association (DH&LA). Two hotels—the Courtyard Newark-University of Delaware, and the Hilton Wilmington/Christiana—are the first properties to join the Delaware Green Lodging program. DNREC and DH&LA may have set a time record for getting a state program up and running. According to Crystal Nagyiski, program manager for the DNREC’s Pollution Prevention Program, work...

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Rhode Island recently joined the list of states that have formalized green lodging/tourism programs. Seventeen hotels in the state have earned Rhode Island Hospitality Green Certification. A total of 32 hospitality-related establishments, including 13 restaurants and the Rhode Island Convention Center, have achieved certification. Rhode Island’s Department of Environmental Management (DEM) partnered with the state’s Division of Tourism, the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Assn. and a dozen other entities to establish the certification program. Companies get points for recycling, local purchasing, using biodegradable cleaners and detergents, food donations, eliminating the use of chemicals in landscaping, towel and linen...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) released its 2008 Lodging Survey, one of the most comprehensive industry-wide surveys of its kind, revealing notable trends in all segments of U.S. hotels. Funded by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) and conducted by Smith Travel Research, the research analyzes feedback from more than 10,000 U.S. hotel properties polled in more than 100 areas of hotels, including types of in-room amenities, security and technology features, food and beverage options, number of beds, guest services, and property offerings. Additionally, this year’s survey included green initiative analysis for the first...

ATLANTA—IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s largest hotel groups by number of rooms, announced that The Hotel Management Group, the company’s Americas Operations division, was awarded the Gold Halo Award for Best Environmental/Wildlife Campaign for its 2007 “Chase the Extraordinary” program from the Cause Marketing Forum. The Cause Marketing Halo Awards were presented at a luncheon late last month at the Cause Marketing Forum Conference in Chicago. “We are honored to receive the Gold Halo Award for Best Environmental/Wildlife Campaign from the Cause Marketing Forum,” said Tom Murray, COO, the Americas, IHG. “The Chase the Extraordinary campaign gave...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. has launched an innovative opportunity for its customers booking group meetings to address climate change and improve the environment. A first in the lodging industry, Marriott will contribute funds on behalf of its customers to protect the critically endangered Brazilian Amazonas rainforest for meetings booked between July 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009. Marriott is also unveiling a menu of eco-friendly green meeting products and services that will enable groups of all sizes to save water and energy, reduce waste and recycle during their stays. Some of the ways Marriott will be making meetings green include...