CAMBRIDGE, MASS.—Zagster, a company that provides bikes as a service, announced it has partnered with the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing to offer bike sharing services to guests. Hotel guests can reserve and ride comfortable, city-friendly cruiser bikes, giving them a healthy, convenient and fun way to explore the area, visit friends or attend business meetings.  “In today’s congested cities, it’s increasingly easier, less expensive and more fun to get out and see the sights or attend meetings on a bike, rather than in a cab or rental car,” said Timothy Ericson, co-founder and CEO of Zagster. “With...

ALPHARETTA, GA.—BEST WESTERN PLUS The Inn at King of Prussia, a 168-room property owned and operated by RWK Enterprises, Inc., has completed a furniture refinishing and armoire conversion project led by The Refinishing Touch. Within 30 days, The Refinishing Touch restored headboards, nightstands, side chairs, benches, desks, micro fridge cabinets and armoires in 100 rooms throughout the establishment.With 2,500 square feet of meeting space added in 2011 and only 20 miles from Philadelphia, BEST WESTERN PLUS The Inn at King of Prussia caters to a large audience of corporate professionals. The most recent furniture renovations were a result of...

HEREFORD, ARIZ.—March was a good month for Patrick Dome and Karl Schmitt, co-owners of the 10-room Casa de San Pedro B&B in Hereford, Ariz. The 105-panel, 34-kilowatt, solar photovoltaic array positioned on the south side of their B&B supplied 125 percent of the electricity they needed for the month. The panels typically supply about 90 percent of the B&B’s electricity. Given its Arizona location, the Casa de San Pedro B&B is ideally located to take advantage of the sun’s power; the inn also uses a simple passive solar system (black piping) to heat water for the pool. Schmitt says...

EMERYVILLE, CALIF.—SCS Global Services (SCS) has earned accreditation from the Costa Rican government as a carbon footprint verification body under its ambitious new climate policy, which aims to make Costa Rica the first carbon neutral country. SCS will verify the measurement of private and public sector entities’ carbon footprints to help the government evaluate policies for emissions reduction.Costa Rica is one of six nations that have signed commitments to achieve carbon neutrality. To meet the commitment, it is necessary to measure emissions from industry, transportation, energy production, and other sources, promote policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), and...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International has launched a new corporate social responsibility (CSR) website. Branded to coalesce with MGM’s CSR initiative, “Inspiring Our World,” the website details the company’s advancements in diversity, community engagement and environmental responsibility.“Our new CSR website serves as a great forum to engage guests, customers and partners in our efforts to ‘Inspire our World,’” said Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International. “Customers, today, are interested not only in the exceptional service a business provides, but also whether it serves the community and planet with the same enthusiasm. We want them to know that...

MINNEAPOLIS—Club Carlson, the hotel rewards program for Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, announced that it has become the first hotel loyalty program to commit to a global meetings and events carbon offsetting initiative. Club Carlson will purchase carbon credits to offset the estimated carbon footprint of 100 percent of Club Carlson for Planners meetings and events globally, across the group’s six brands totaling 1,077 hotels in operation worldwide.The carbon offsetting—a free service for the meeting planners—will be managed through Carlson Rezidor’s new partner, Carbon Footprint Ltd. Carbon credits will be purchased and invested in renewable energy in India and with...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has selected the Cusco-Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu corridor in Peru, and the shores of Lake Llanquihue, Puerto Varas, and Frutillar in the Lakes Region of Chile for the second round of its pilot program to test its new Criteria and Indicators for Destinations.These new Early Adopters are the first South American destinations to participate.Overseen by GSTC’s Destination Working Group and managed by NGO partner Sustainable Travel International, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s Criteria for Destinations are designed to orient destination managers, communities, and businesses toward the steps that are needed to sustain their...

TURTLE ISLAND, YASAWAS, FIJI—Turtle Island Resort in Fiji has recently completed a groundbreaking solar installation, making it one of the first ever clean energy resorts in the world. The installation renders the island resort nearly 100 percent self-sufficient using the sun’s clean energy. This project, which entailed a total of 968 solar panels being installed on the island, commenced in early 2012 and is now fully operational. Through its ecologically conscious operations, the resort runs on an average of 85 percent solar power, more than any other island resort in Fiji, and perhaps any luxury resort worldwide.“At Turtle Island...

GAITHERSBURG, MD.—Sodexo announces the launch of a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified sustainable seafood program. The program will commence at some of the most recognized and iconic institutions that Sodexo serves in North America.The locations selected for Sodexo’s program are in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and include: National Geographic, National Academy of Sciences, National Aquarium, The Brookings Institution, International Monetary Fund, Gannett, Marriott International, Sodexo Headquarters (Rio Café), Marymount University, The University of Mary Washington and George Mason University. The program is expected to reach more than one million consumers, and help Sodexo raise awareness about its...

DEATH VALLEY, CALIF.—Approaching its five-year anniversary, the solar photovoltaic system national park and resort concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts installed in Death Valley has produced more than 10 million kW and met the company’s goal of reducing purchased electricity by 30 percent.The one megawatt (MW) system was completed in June 2008 and covers five acres within Furnace Creek Resort which includes the historic Inn at Furnace Creek, Ranch at Furnace Creek and Furnace Creek Golf Course as well as employee offices and housing.“Our solar PV system has been a true workhorse as it harnesses the sun’s energy practically every...