WASHINGTON, D.C.—MGM Resorts International received the Alliance to Save Energy’s highest honor, the Galaxy Star of Energy Efficiency Award at a special awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.. Each year, the Star of Energy Efficiency Awards are bestowed upon individuals, organizations, companies, government programs and learning institutions that have demonstrated a significant and tangible commitment to the cause of energy efficiency both in the United States and abroad.Secretary Alexis Herman, a member of the company’s Board of Directors and the Chair of its Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, accepted the award on behalf of the company. MGM Resorts was honored for...

BROOMFIELD, COLO.—This Saturday, thousands of Vail Resorts, Inc. employees will gather to complete 13 trail, habitat or school restoration projects across the United States and in Jamaica to commemorate Vail Resorts’ newly launched EpicPromise, a new brand platform designed to engage resort guests and residents of the communities where it operates in one of the company’s core values, “Do good.”Over the last five years, Vail Resorts has consistently demonstrated a commitment to sustainability through environmental and community support, including: •    Over $7 million in contributions to more than 235 nonprofit partners annually. •    Energy reduction of 10 percent and a...

VANTAA, FINLAND—Vancouver, B.C.-based Water Wall Turbine Inc. (WWT) has selected The Switch to provide a 500 kW full-power converter for its innovative self-floating power plant. This new commercially viable system extracts potential and kinetic energy from large, fast moving water currents for conversion into electric energy.The Switch will supply its first 500 kW full-power converter in October 2014 for WWT’s prototype project, which will be used for the Dent Island Resort, near Vancouver Island off the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. System testing of the integrated equipment is planned for the first quarter of 2015.The vessel will power...

BURBANK, CALIF.—The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF)—Disney’s granting program focused on protecting wildlife and connecting kids and families with nature—has announced its 2014 conservation grant recipients.This year, $3.5 million in grants will benefit wildlife and habitats spanning five continents—from African lions in Tanzania and elephants in China to giant armadillos in Brazil and monk seals in Hawaii.“For nearly two decades, the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund has supported crucial work to address threats that face wildlife, critical habitats and the communities that depend upon them,” said Beth Stevens, Senior Vice President of Corporate Citizenship, Environment & Conservation. “As we seek...

LAS VEGAS—Approximately one month remains until the second annual Lodging Green & Sustainability Conference & Expo. The event will be held Tuesday, October 28 through Thursday, October 30 at the LEED Gold and Green Key certified ARIA Resort & Casino. The event, with about 50 speakers and 40 exhibitors, will feature many educational and networking opportunities. If you have not yet registered for the Lodging Green & Sustainability Conference & Expo, contact Alisha Allen at Lodging Magazine at (215) 321-9662, ext. 62, or by e-mail at aallen@lodgingmagazine.com. Mention Green Lodging News and receive $100 off of the $495 registration...

WASHINGTON—The National Restaurant Association unveiled new research that shows a substantial number of operators are implementing sustainability best practices into their businesses. The survey of 1,000 full-service and quick-service operators found that nearly three quarters of operators recycled used fryer oil, fats and grease. More than six in 10 recycled their cardboard and paper, used compact fluorescent lighting and bought products made of recycled materials. About three in 10 installed faucet aerators to conserve water.“More operators are looking at ways to increase efficiency—environmentally and fiscally,” said Scott DeFife, Executive Vice President, Policy and Government Affairs, National Restaurant Association. “Restaurateurs...

PORTLAND, ORE.—Viridian Reclaimed Wood announced it has launched a line of paneling derived from reclaimed cedar and redwood fencing, according to Viridian co-owner Pierce Henley.“Robert Frost’s musing verse, ‘good fences make good neighbors’ was the inspiration for our newest product,” Henley said.  “Our pet project to keep old fence boards from going to the landfill has grown into an extensive recycling operation and a gorgeous new paneling line called Good Neighbor.”Available in Weathered Redwood, Fresh-Sawn Redwood and Multi-Toned varieties, Good Neighbor paneling is lightweight and easy to work with.  Good Neighbor Weathered Redwood has been exposed to years of...

DALTON, GA.—Tandus Centiva, a Tarkett Company, has been Cradle to Cradle Certified Silver (v3) for its ethos modular soft surface products from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. The Cradle to Cradle design principles provide for continual improvement and innovation around the economic, environmental and social issues of design and use of products. The purpose of the product certification program is to improve the way we design, make, use and reuse products.Tandus Centiva’s ethos is a backing option for Tandus Centiva modular soft surface product platforms. It was developed in 2010 from recycled PVB, which is an abundantly...

NEW YORK—The American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Sustainability Committee has added a session entitled, “Measuring Hotel Carbon Footprints Using HCMI Methodology,” to the lineup of sessions at the Hospitality Leadership Forum which leads up to the International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS). The session will take place from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, November 8 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. IHMRS will take place at the Javits Center from Sunday, November 9 through Tuesday, November 11.Pat Maher, partner, The Maher Group, LLC, will moderate the panel discussion that will include:...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, continued to demonstrate its leadership in sustainability best practices in 2013, reducing its operationally controlled asset water usage globally by 16 percent per square foot and its carbon emissions by 13 percent per square foot from the 2010 baseline. In the company’s fourth year of formal sustainability reporting, its 2013 Sustainability Responsibility Report details its strong commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. Wyndham Worldwide is one of the first hospitality companies to use the progressive G4 Sustainability Reporting Structure to report its economic, environmental and social performance.“Our...