VINELAND, N.J.—Could the Ramada Vineland be the first property its size to receive a monthly electricity bill of $0? Possibly. That is what happened in October at the 102-room property in Vineland, N.J. Time will tell if the Ramada will maintain its “net zero hotel” status but NGL Property Management’s John Scipione, owner of the hotel with his family, believes it is possible.What lowered the hotel’s electricity bill from $15,000/month to $5,000/month over the last couple of years is a $2.6 million, 2,500-solar panel installation behind the property. It sits on three acres of land owned by NGL Property...

NEW YORK—At this past weekend’s International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show, carbon measurement was a hot topic as part of the Hospitality Leadership Forum. In “Reporting Your Hotel Carbon Metrics, Responding to Green RFPs,” the moderator and panelists summarized the progress of the lodging industry’s joint effort to develop standard metrics for hospitality carbon reporting. The session at the Javits Center was moderated by Pat Maher, green consultant, American Hotel & Lodging Assn. and partner, The Maher Group. The panelists included: George Favaloro, managing director, PwC; Eric Ricaurte, principal, Greenview; Maury Zimring, director, corporate responsibility & sustainability, InterContinental Hotels...

HILLSBORO, ORE.—MindClick SGM along with Marriott International announced the launch of the hotel industry’s first pilot program to gauge the impact of sustainable purchasing on guest perception, satisfaction and loyalty through a vendor sustainability evaluation program, guest marketing program and research study. In the program, the Residence Inn by Marriott Portland West/Hillsboro, owned by Apple REIT Six, will be renovated using approved suppliers who are evaluated and rated by the MindClick Hospitality Sustainability Performance Index (HSP Index).The HSP Index is the hospitality industry’s first and only supply chain sustainability rating and reporting system to help hoteliers furnish and supply...

LANCASTER, PA.—High Hotels Ltd., a Lancaster, Pa.-based operator of nationally branded hotels, has introduced electric vehicle charging stations at its properties in Greenfield Corporate Center in East Lampeter Township. Guests of the Courtyard by Marriott, at 1931 Hospitality Drive, and the Hampton Inn, at 545 Greenfield Road, can fully charge their all-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles in two to four hours.The two new charging stations join a third station in Greenfield Corporate Center next to the offices of AMERIgreen Energy, a Lancaster, Pa.-based wholesale energy provider. High Hotels partnered with AMERIgreen Energy to install the charging stations.Green Plus-Certified High...

TORONTO—The Delta Chelsea Hotel, Canada’s largest hotel and located in downtown Toronto, announces installation of the Sun Country Highway’s (SCH) publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging station. Guests of the hotel who travel by EV can conveniently charge their vehicles during their stay. Sun Country Highway’s mission is to “Green Canada’s Highways” in collaboration with tourism destinations such as Toronto and this installation will become part of 100 charging stations across Canada before the end of the year.“The Delta Chelsea recognizes and respects its corporate social responsibility ensuring that our quest for sustainable solutions continues to grow and evolve,”...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Valley Forge Fabrics has received the 2012 Marriott International Supplier Sustainability Leadership Award. Marriott made the announcement at their International Global Discipline Conference. Marriott’s “Supplier Sustainability Award” is designed to annually recognize one of Marriott International’s suppliers who have made the greatest impact on their guests and properties through innovative ideas that help Marriott meet their sustainability goals. This year two suppliers were honored with Marriott’s prestigious award; Ecolab also took home this recognition.Valley Forge Fabrics is the largest producer of decorative fabrics for the lodging industry. Over the past several years, the company has been honored...

NEW ORLEANS—In honor of National Food Day, a time to champion affordable, healthy and sustainable food, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center announced a partnership with the Recirculating Farms Coalition and the New Orleans Food and Farm Network to create an urban food and farming center on 2.5 acres of land owned by the Convention Center, at the corner of Melpomene Street and Tchoupitoulas. The new center, named Growing Local NOLA, will be a hub for research, education, training, and community interaction on growing, marketing, and preparing healthy, fresh food.“We are thrilled to host the new food...

LAS VEGAS—A leading publication that monitors corporate responsibility has included the chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International among the 30 finalists for its 5th Annual Responsible Chief Executive Officer of the Year recognition. Jim Murren, chairman & CEO of MGM Resorts International, was noted in the annual compilation by CR Magazine, the voice of the corporate responsibility profession.“Corporate responsibility begins at the top and Jim Murren’s leadership has materially advanced MGM Resorts’ sustainability results,” said Richard Crespin, executive director of the Corporate Responsibility Officer Assn. and chairman of the COMMIT!Forum. “Jim, together with all of this year’s finalists,...

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND—The International Golf Federation (IGF), which includes member organizations representing more than 150 countries, agreed to a policy that will make sustainability a core priority within the sport through a number of initiatives aimed at conserving water, reducing impact on land and increasing awareness. The IGF outlined eight sustainability measures, including a commitment to expand awareness among golfers and golf facilities; help golf facilities to incorporate sustainable principles and practices into daily business decisions; conduct high profile golf events in an environmentally responsible manner; and embrace measurement, target setting, transparency and verification. The IGF also said it would continue to...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Hotel Sustainability Solutions as a Product & Service Directory partner. The company is a leader in the development of sustainability programs, which are customized for full service, boutique, resort and limited service hospitality properties. Hotel Sustainability Solutions’ program merges sound hospitality business practices with the application of products, systems and technologies to achieve sustainability leadership; resulting in increased net cash flow, added asset value, and increased market share. Hotel Sustainability Solutions is currently working with the Hilton Concord in Concord, Calif. The hotel is managed and owned...