COSTALEGRE, MEXICO—The Sea Turtle Protection Program at Las Alamandas has been a great success over the years, increasing the number of turtles arriving each year on the four beaches of this hideaway resort nestled inside a private nature reserve. And now guests can participate in the two critical action phases of the program—the collecting of the eggs and the protecting of the newly hatched babies—and play an integral role in boosting the sea turtle population. “Guests can be part of an exciting and fulfilling eco-tourism experience that is unique to Las Alamandas,” said Isabel Goldsmith Patiño, founder and owner of...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. released its 2014 Sustainability Report—available this year as 10 separate and concise issue reports—sharing the company’s progress against a 2007 baseline, including a nearly 13 percent decrease in water intensity, 11 percent decrease in energy intensity, and a 12 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions intensity. One of Marriott’s key environmental goals is to achieve a 20 percent reduction in energy and water intensity by 2020. “Our sustainability strategy is critical to the growth and success of our communities, our company, and our efforts to help protect our planet’s natural resources,” said Arne Sorenson, President...

YARDLEY, PA.—Lodging Magazine is accepting submissions for its first Lodging Sustainability Award. There are five categories in the competition: Individual Person; Individual Hotel Property; Hotel Brand; Hotel Supplier; and Other Corporate Entity (Hotel Group, Property Management Company, Design/Architecture/Engineering/GC Firm, Consulting Organization, Finance Organization, Association, or Other entity).According to Lodging Magazine, the Lodging Sustainability Award recognizes the contribution of individuals, groups and corporate entities who exemplify the meaning of sustainability in the hotel industry. The winners stand as role models whose work embodies the industry’s efforts to be strong advocates for corporate social responsibility in doing what’s best for both...

CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels Corp. announced a global initiative to increase procurement of responsibly sourced seafood at Hyatt hotels, starting with an initial goal of responsibly sourcing more than 50 percent of their inventory by 2018. As a part of this effort, Hyatt will also work toward purchasing more than 15 percent of its seafood supply from fisheries or farms that have been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). This is the first phase of a long-term seafood sustainability strategy in partnership with World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a leading global conservation organization, to build...

DALTON, GA.—Tandus Centiva, a Tarkett Co., announced that its ethos products, ethos modular and Powerbond ethos cushion have completed an Environmental Health Statement (EHS). An EHS is a third-party reviewed declaration of content and material assessment for building products. The material assessment and review of content was performed by the Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency (EPEA) International, the scientific institute founded by Dr. Michael Braungart. The EHS is designed to thoroughly address ingredient disclosure, possible human and environmental health impacts as well as post-use considerations. The EHS discloses, within a rating system, whether or not an ingredient may pose a...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International has released its 2013 Corporate Social Responsibility Executive Summary, highlighting the company’s continued commitment to diversity, engagement with its communities, and stewardship of environmental resources. Themed “Inspiring Our World,” the summary is available for download on the company's CSR website.“We are proud of the strides we have made over the last year in our continued efforts to fully integrate social responsibility throughout all levels of our company’s operations,” said Jim Murren, Chairman & CEO of MGM Resorts International. “We strongly believe our CSR efforts make us not only a better company; they also make us...

BAKERSFIELD, CALIF.—REC Solar, a leader in commercial solar electric system design and installation, announced it has completed a 102 kilowatt array for The Hampton Inn & Suites Bakersfield North-Airport, a subsidiary of Hilton Hotels, in Bakersfield, Calif. The carport-mounted installation will offset 44 percent of the electricity costs for the 94-room hotel, saving up to $8,800 per month. The installation reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to accelerating solar deployment with hospitality customers.“Solar never made sense for us in the past,” said Braxton Myers, Vice President of Operations for Blackstone Hospitality Group Inc., which provides property management for franchise hotels...

HOUSTON—The new strategic alliance between Green Power Offsets, a provider of single-source renewable energy credits (RECs), and impactChoice, a provider of turnkey sustainability solutions, will provide U.S. companies with tools and services needed to set and achieve carbon reduction goals.“Our mission is to make it easy to choose renewable energy, promote sustainable behavior and encourage businesses to make informed choices about how to reduce their carbon footprint,” said Green Power Offsets’ Stephan Blasilli. “Experience has shown us that businesses with sustainability goals are looking for comprehensive solutions. They don’t stop at purchasing renewable energy; instead, they want guidance in...

SAN FRANCISCO—Airbnb, a leading community-driven hospitality company, released a new study quantifying the environmental benefits of home sharing for travelers. Conducted by Cleantech Group (CTG), this study finds that Airbnb promotes a more efficient use of existing resources and is an environmentally sustainable way to travel. Traveling on Airbnb results in significant reduction in energy and water use, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste, and encourages more sustainable practices among both hosts and guests.“Resource sharing is rapidly growing across a number of sectors including hospitality, consumer goods, and transportation,” said Michael Ellis, EVP Advisory for CTG. “Cleantech Group’s initial analysis...

W. CONSHOHOCKEN, PA.—The ever-increasing cost of resources and the threat of adverse environmental impacts indicate that the time for sustainable manufacturing processes to emerge is now. A proposed new ASTM International standard will help industry adopt more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices by informing manufacturers how they can incorporate sustainability into their daily operations.ASTM WK35702, Guide for Evaluation of Environmental Aspects of Sustainability of Manufacturing Processes, describes methods to enhance resource efficiency, considering environmental impacts, at the manufacturing process level.“WK35702 will help identify opportunities in operations planning, provide guidelines for collecting data and give insight into how to calculate...