PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA.—PGA National Resort & Spa announces the launch of its new Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) charging stations with a reception on October 7. The South Florida destination is the first in the area to install the Eaton electric vehicle charging stations for electric and hybrid cars. Its parking lot will be outfitted with three total charging stations—two Eaton Commercial Level II Chargers and one Eaton DC Level III Quick Charger. The DC Quick Charging unit is capable of fully charging a vehicle in 40 minutes or less, while the two Level II chargers can fully charge...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, announced that in 2012 it achieved a nearly 12 percent reduction in carbon emissions per square foot of its operationally controlled assets versus its carbon footprint in 2011.The company, which is working toward a goal to reduce its carbon emissions by 16 percent by 2016 and by 20 percent by 2020, announced this latest accomplishment in its third annual Sustainability Report.“Advancing sustainability best practices remains among our top priorities not only because it’s good for the environment, but because it’s also good for business,” said Stephen P. Holmes, chairman...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Restaurant Assn. (NRA) announced the members of the Conserve Sustainability Advisory Council as part of its plan to help restaurateurs better understand environmental awareness and become more resource-efficient through its Conserve program.  The advisory council is composed of 14 members of the foodservice and allied industry, all of whom are sustainability experts in their own right. As council members, they will be tasked with sharing their education, lessons learned and best practices applied at their own businesses. “We are pleased to announce this group of some of the most influential sustainability leaders in the foodservice industry today,”...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab has been named to the 2013 CDP Global 500 Climate Performance Leadership Index (CPLI) and CDP Global 500 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI), two leading environmental indices announced with release of the CDP Global 500 Climate Change Report 2013. CDP is the only global environmental disclosure system, and the report tracks how the world’s largest public companies are responding to a changing climate.The annual CDP indices highlight those companies listed on the FTSE Global Equity Index Series (Global 500) that demonstrate actions to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the risks of climate change (CPLI) or have...

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN—During the first half of 2013, Scandic’s energy consumption fell by 0.42 percent, water consumption was down 3.26 percent and unsorted waste was 10.17 percent less, compared with the same period last year. Emissions of carbon dioxide have, however, risen by 4.71 percent, largely due to a third party change in energy purchasing by the external district heating supplier.Scandic has been working on environmental issues since the mid-1990s. Water, energy, waste and carbon emissions are some of the areas that the Group measures each month in order to continuously improve its sustainability work. This work has paid dividends...

Since re-launching our Sustainability practice in late 2011, HVS has contended that sustainability initiatives should focus on utility efficiency and be driven by the bottom line. We believe that a valid business case exists for numerous types of investments in building equipment and enhanced operating practices, and across the hospitality sector there are literally thousands of good projects with strong return on investment that are waiting to be undertaken. While we have observed a growing number of case studies that describe the cost and savings of various building equipment upgrades, it would be remiss to have a conversation about...

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...