AMERICAN CANYON, CALIF.—Imagine a hotel with the sound of birds chirping on a green roof, swans gliding across a half-acre lagoon and koi swimming in a pond. Designed to appeal to eco-tourists who want luxury and comfort, Napa Valley’s first environmentally sustainable hotel, Gaia Napa Valley, will open next month. Cutting-edge, environmentally friendly technology was used in its construction and will be applied in the daily operations. Gaia Napa Valley will offer the ultimate experience of harmony with nature. The hotel is pursuing gold LEED certification. The lagoon has its own eco-system, is surrounded by a lush...

CAPE ELIZABETH, MAINE—The Inn By The Sea, here in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, is not a bad place to stay, especially if you happen to be a bird or a bug—the good kind, that is. The luxury property, which includes 43 suites and cottages, is two-thirds surrounded by a state park and is adjacent to a bird sanctuary. Management at the Inn By The Sea takes its responsibility to maintain its surroundings seriously. Over the years, the need for chemicals has been reduced by replacing exotic plants with indigenous species that not only create a pleasing landscape for guests, but also...

DENVER—National park and resort concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts has received the National Park Service (NPS) 2006 Environmental Achievement Award for its performance at the Zion Lodge in Zion National Park. The NPS Environmental Achievement Award recognizes superior accomplishments in environmental stewardship. Zion Lodge also received the award in 2004. Xanterra also has received National Park Service Environmental Achievement Awards for environmental stewardship at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The 2006 award was presented by Fran Mainella, director of the National Park Service. “Xanterra at Zion...

SAN JUAN, P.R.—“Enhancing the Business of Tourism—The Path to Sustainability” is the general theme of the Green Globe International Conference and the Green Tourism Conference to be held November 1 to 3 at the Half Moon Hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The conference is a joint staging of the second biennial International Green Globe Conference (the inaugural edition was held March 2004 in New Zeeland) and the third biennial Caribbean Green Tourism Conference. The 2006 edition is being organized by the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) with the assistance of its parent organization, the Caribbean Hotel Assn.,...

LONDON—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has issued a call for entries for the 2007 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The awards, now in their third year under WTTC stewardship, promote and reward best practices in travel and tourism all over the world. There are four categories for entry, allowing for applications from tourism destinations, businesses and organizations. The categories are: • Destination Award: for destinations of any size that show a commitment to responsible tourism development; • Conservation Award: for any tourism organization committed to the protection of natural and cultural heritage; • Investor in People...

BROOMFIELD, COLO.—Vail Resorts Inc. and the National Forest Foundation have partnered together to raise money for conservation projects in the White River National Forest in Colorado and the national forests of Lake Tahoe Basin in California and Nevada, where Vail Resorts operates its five mountain resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly. Throughout the 2006-2007 winter season, Vail Resorts will offer guests at its five mountain resorts the opportunity to participate in a special fundraising effort by contributing $1 on season passes, $1 on online lift ticket transactions, and $1 per room night at its Colorado-based...

LUDLOW, VT.—Tim and Diane Mueller, owners of Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, Mount Sunapee Resort in New Hampshire, and Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado, have entered into an agreement with Gunnison County Electric Assn. to purchase 27 million kilowatt hours of Renewable Energy Certificates from Sterling Planet, one of the United States’ leading retail renewable energy providers. Gunnison County Electric Assn. is a member owned, nonprofit cooperative located in Colorado. The amount of kilowatt hours represents enough renewable power to fully offset the annual use of electricity by the Mueller’s three resorts. “Protection of the environment...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes greenhotelier as a Green Product Directory Partner. The quarterly magazine is published in the United Kingdom by the Tourism Partnership, the tourism program of The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum. It is targeted toward those who care about a more environmentally and socially responsible hotel industry and its contribution to sustainable travel and tourism. Go to greenhotelier for more information.

SAINT CHARLES, MO.—The Sustainable Style Foundation (SSF) has recognized Saint Charles, Mo.-based Pineapple Hospitality for its successful marketing of 100 percent biodegradable amenities to hospitality properties across the United States, as well as for the company’s dozens of other environmentally friendly solutions. Seattle-based SSF nominated Pineapple Hospitality for its Third Annual Outstanding Sustainable Style Achievement (OSSA) Awards in the category of Travel. This award is given to an individual or firm for exceptional and exemplary work in the design of consumer goods, automobiles, technology and other products. This third OSSA Awards program recognizes the best in sustainable style...

CAMBRIDGE, MASS.—Henrietta’s Table, the award-winning restaurant at the Charles Hotel here, has staked its claim as one of the most environmentally friendly restaurants in America—and for good reason. Executive chef Peter Davis strongly advocates the purchase of local, organically grown vegetables, meat produced by farmers who practice humane animal husbandry, and seafood produced by well-managed fisheries. In 2005, Henrietta’s Table purchased close to $100,000 in food products directly from local farmers. As a member of the Boston-based Chefs Collaborative, a national nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable cuisine, chef Davis supports local farmers by buying as much organic produce as he...