NEW YORK—This year’s 98th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) will be its greenest ever. For the first time, a section of the trade show floor—Hospitality Green—will be carved out for exhibitors offering eco-friendly products and services. Hospitality Green, presented in partnership with Green Lodging News, is one of five pavilions at this year’s IHMRS. The others include: Operations, Technology, Food & Beverage, and Tabletop. Some of the companies exhibiting in Hospitality Green this year include: Planglow, Ultra Green, Lektron, Xeros, and Verdant Technologies. In addition to Hospitality Green, five green panel discussions, also presented with the...

LOS ANGELES—L’Heure Bleue, the eco-chic resort of Nosy Be, in Madagascar, has been created as a model for sustainable tourism: Everything is designed from the outset, in a spirit of respect for the environment and sustainable development, in harmony with local people. L’Heure Bleue was recently awarded Green Globe certification.“L’Heure Bleue wants to demonstrate that another type of tourism is achievable, based on ethical values and respect,” said Yves Benouaich, general manager. “We would like to prove that responsible tourism brings together pleasure and well-being, without impacting on the quality of services and benefits. We are committed to fight...

CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels Corp. has launched its 2012 corporate responsibility report update, highlighting critical advances in environmental sustainability in support of the company’s signature corporate responsibility platform Hyatt Thrive.The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 3.1-compliant companion piece serves as a mid-cycle reporting update to Hyatt’s full 2011 corporate responsibility report. Together, the reports offer a two-year snapshot of the company’s work to make local communities places where Hyatt associates are proud to work, where guests want to visit, where neighbors want to live and where hotel owners want to invest. “2012 offered opportunity to build on our strong foundation and extend...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort is changing its roof top landscape by adding six wind turbines to the 25-story all-suite resort located across from the Atlantic Ocean on AIA in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The 374-suite resort has been committed to saving energy since opening in 2007 and was the first hotel in Fort Lauderdale Beach to be awarded a Florida green lodging designation. Continuing the commitment of going above and beyond environmental regulations and voluntarily implementing hotel conservation programs, the hotel has begun installation of the six wind turbines that will help reduce energy consumption that will...

CHICAGO—Nucraft Furniture Co., known for its meticulously crafted office furniture, announced that its Flow XT Conference Table has received the first Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) in the North American furniture industry, independently certified by SCS Global Services (SCS). The EPD is a transparent disclosure of environmental performance based on lifecycle assessment (LCA). “Nucraft has a longstanding commitment to sustainability, as evidenced by our selection of furniture construction materials and our many certifications,” said Bob Bockheim, Nucraft president. “We are pleased to be able to provide even greater environmental transparency to our customers through this new Environmental Product Declaration.” EPDs are increasingly...

EMERYVILLE, CALIF.—SCS Global Services (SCS) has issued the first gold-level certification to Designtex, a Steelcase Company, under the facts ecolabel developed by the Association for Contract Textiles (ACT). The certification recognizes Designtex’s “Gold Standard” textiles collection—including its Concept, Precision, and Pop Art styles—as meeting stringent criteria for environmental sustainability from the fiber stage to end-of-use.“This certification confirms Designtex’s commitment to environmental excellence,” said Stowe Beam, managing director of SCS Environmental Certification Services division. “Its precedent-setting gold-level certification is a valuable example for other textile companies to follow.”According to Beam, the facts ecolabel is issued only after companies demonstrate that...

LONDON—The International Tourism Partnership and Greenview seek hoteliers’ views and perspectives on sustainable supply chain management. Earlier this year, ITP’s supply chain working group performed a high level risk mapping exercise of the supply chain in order to inform the future direction of the group’s activities. Weighing various criteria of spend, risk, impact and the likelihood of success, it gave a strong steer to the group where the opportunities for collaboration lay.In the next phase of its supply chain work, ITP has teamed up with Greenview to create a common framework for the hotel industry to discuss and approach...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown will hold its fourth annual Sustainability Fair (formerly Green Fair) on Friday, August 16h from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the hotel’s Colonnade Room. The event will showcases the eco, health and safety efforts of many D.C.-based organizations as well as the hotel’s own sustainability program.The following organizations will be represented: Balance Gym, Better bodies by Bethany, CarsToGo, ChemSearch, Dietztogo, District of Columbia Department of the Environment, District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU), Eco-Artware, Fairmont Pittsburgh (LEED Gold Certified), Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown’s Beekeepers, KEYS for the Homeless, KARMA by Erwin...

YARDLEY, PA.—Lodging Media, the publisher of Lodging Magazine, will host the Lodging Green & Sustainability Conference & Expo to educate hotel owners, senior executives, general managers and facility managers on ways to make their hotel operations more sustainable on October 1 to 3, 2013 at the Omni Dallas. A discounted rate of $395 is available for conference attendees who register before August 30, 2013.The conference will host more than 60 distinguished panelists and speakers, including hoteliers, business leaders, consultants, investors, and policymakers. The opening keynote speaker for the event is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who serves as senior attorney...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Global nonprofit Sustainable Travel International recently announced the launch of its Sustainable Destination Leadership Network (SDLN). The SDLN is the world’s first collaboration of its kind for decision makers from tourism authorities. The network brings together forward-thinking tourism destinations committed to meaningful exchange that advances good tourism, which preserves sense of place and ensures long-term prosperity.“Innovation Norway is proud to support the Sustainable Destination Leadership Network,” said Innovation Norway’s Ingunn Sørnes. “It is a perfect opportunity for destinations to advance the sustainability dialogue, to collaborate with peers on the international stage, and to make a difference. Innovation Norway...