ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO—As consumers embrace ecotourism as “travel with ethics”, one resort is looking beyond simply reusing towels and installing compact fluorescent light bulbs, to actively investing in its community and strengthening the area’s long-term economic viability. Located on the west coast of Mexico near Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa in the town of Juluchuca, Playa Viva is demonstrating that a truly sustainable resort invests in people, in place, and in principles. “Buying their land and then employing locals as housekeepers is not a sustainable business model for anyone,” said David Leventhal, founder of Playa Viva. “We can only have a vibrant successful project...

OSHKOSH, WISC.—Hoffmaster introduces Earth Wise, an environmentally responsible line of recycled paper products that are now certified by Green Seal. All Earth Wise products are processed chlorine free and are 100% recycled with a minimum of 65% and up to 80% post-consumer content. Earth Wise products are tested to ensure that they meet stringent environmental leadership standards. The products are available in beverage, dinner or dispenser napkins and guest towels with the recycled symbol and message printed on each napkin. Green Seal is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to safeguarding the environment and transforming the marketplace by promoting the manufacture,...

CHERRY HILL, N.J.—Harbor Linen, a leading manufacturer and distributor of quality linen for the hospitality and cruise line industry, has gone green with its new Orchid Towel Collection made with Bamboo. Bamboo is one of the most eco-friendly textiles available. Bamboo thrives naturally without the use of pesticides. This natural cellulose fiber is converted into yarns without the addition of chemicals, and is 100 percent biodegradable. “This is an extremely luxurious, soft and rich, absorbent towel,” said Dennis Doucette, hotel manager of The Biltmore in Coral Gables Fla., which recently upgraded its entire resort and spa with the Orchid...

CITY OF INDUSTRY, CALIF.—Bentley Prince Street announced that its Cool Carpet program now comes standard on all of its broadloom and carpet tile products. Through the expanded program, every company product will now be third-party certified as carbon neutral, with zero net greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted during the entire life cycle. Expanding this program to all products is Bentley Prince Street’s latest step toward its Mission Zero goal of eliminating any negative impact it has on the environment by the year 2020. “Climate change is a significant issue for all of us, with consequences already evident across the...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Syndecrete LLC as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The Santa Monica, Calif.-based company’s Syndecrete countertops have the look of concrete but with an eco-friendly twist. Syndecrete is made of recycled carpet fibers, natural minerals and aggregates. It’s half the weight of ordinary concrete, yet has twice the compressive strength. Resistant to cracking and chipping, it contains no polymers or resins. Syndecrete comes in 8-foot slabs in several trademarked colors and aggregates. Syndecrete’s concrete tile alternative comes in three standard sizes: 12”x12” 18”x18” and 24”x24”. It is...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes LSI Wallcovering as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The Louisville, Ky.-based company’s award-winning Second-Look is the first vinyl wallcovering to include post-consumer recycled content. New from Versa, Cirqa and Plexus, Second-Look has the same look, performance and price as standard designs but with 20 percent recycled content. LSI’s Second-Look Retrieval Program converts reclaimed vinyl wallcovering into recycled post-consumer product without compromising the original aesthetic appeal and durability of the wallcovering. Call (866) 522-6072 for information., e-mail info@secondlookwc.com, or go to www.secondlookwc.com.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In response to EPA’s nationwide challenge issued in December 2006, 53 Fortune 500 corporations are now collectively purchasing more than 6 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually. These purchases surpassed the goals set by EPA’s Green Power Partnership by 130 percent and equal the avoided carbon dioxide emissions of more than 570 million gallons of gasoline each year or the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power nearly 670,000 average American homes annually. Aramark Parks & Resorts is among the top purchasers of green power. “EPA applauds our Fortune 500 partners for protecting our environment by...

TOBERMORY, ONTARIO—With its six suites, the E’Terra Inn here serves as one of the best examples of sustainable building in Canada and the United States. Ninety-five percent of products and materials used throughout the inn were made in North America, and the property is one of the first in the world to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold status. It was awarded that designation in 2005 by the Canada Green Building Council. E’Terra sits within the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve, at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula separating Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. The luxury property...

DENVER—The Colorado Hotel and Lodging Assn. (CH&LA) hosted a “Green Practices for the Hotel Industry” workshop for 150 participants last week. It was the second in a series of five workshops aimed at helping businesses in the Denver area and across Colorado create sustainable business practices. Denver is the host site for this summer’s Democratic National Convention, and the workshops help further the host city’s goal of making the August convention the greenest political event in history. The workshops also help Denver build momentum for its Greenprint Denver program, which works to create innovation and provide leadership around improving the...

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS—Dr. David Suzuki, one of the world’s most celebrated voices on preserving the environment, will deliver the keynote address at the 10th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development to be held April 28 to May 1, 2008 at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort & Spa (by Sandals), a Green Globe Certified hotel. The conference, organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization in collaboration with the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board and the Caribbean Hotel Assn., is designed to provide attendees with information on the development and implementation of tourism practices in a responsible manner. Many experts have identified...