FRANKFURT, GERMANY—Worldhotels, one of the leading groups of independent upscale hotels, has launched a new Worldhotels Sustainability Program aimed at assisting affiliate hotels to increase efficiency through sustainability. The initiative includes the publication of a group-wide Sustainability Policy, as well as the introduction of resources and tools to assist hotels in their individual efforts towards sustainability. In November 2011 Worldhotels undertook an extensive survey of its affiliate properties, which now number nearly 500 across the globe, on their current engagement in sustainability initiatives. All regarded corporate social responsibility as important, while 85 percent reported that their corporate clients now...

LAS VEGAS—Caesars Entertainment’s 2010-2011 Sustainability Report covers calendar 2010 and the first half of 2011. It is the company’s second such report. One report highlight is an updated CodeGreen (environmental) strategy that produced new two- to five-year targets for energy conservation, renewables, water consumption, waste diversion, supply chain, and guest and employee perceptions of Caesars’ CodeGreen performance. Other highlights: • On track to meet 2010 target to reduce absolute carbon emissions by 10 percent from 2007 to 2013. • Created Green Meetings & Events certificate program, graduating more than 200 managers. • Joined and played active role in UN Global Sustainability...

LAGRANGE, GA.—InterfaceFLOR has chalked up another sustainability first, continuing its legacy of leadership in the contract furnishings industry. The global manufacturer of modular carpet tile has aligned with “Architecture 2030” and is the first manufacturer to adopt the nonprofit organization’s 2030 Challenge for Products. The 2030 Challenge for Products initiative calls on the architecture, planning, design and building communities worldwide to specify, design and manufacture products that will meet a carbon footprint of 30 percent below the product average through 2014, and subsequently improve on this reduction: 35 percent in 2015; 40 percent in 2020; 45 percent in 2025;...

LOS ANGELES—MindClick SGM announced that Fairmont Designs, a leader in sustainable custom contact furnishings for the hospitality industry, has joined the Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium as a Contributing Member. Specializing in the design, manufacture and marketing of furnishings, case goods and seating to the contract market, Fairmont Designs has a longstanding commitment to defining business success by not only delivering comfort and style through its products—but also by advancing environmental well-being in the communities it serves. Its membership in the Consortium moves further toward establishing the new Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Index (HSP Index) as the industry resource for sustainable...

SANTA ROSA, CALIF.—The recently renovated Best Western Plus Wine Country Inn & Suites officially joined the EcoStay program. EcoStay is a national initiative that helps hotels measure their carbon footprint, identify and fund reduction strategies and balance off their greenhouse gas emissions through carbon offsetting.“We’re very excited to be part of the EcoStay Program,” said Todd Anderson, general manager of Best Western Plus Wine Country Inn & Suites. “It’s a meaningful and effective way of demonstrating our concern for the environment.”Under the program, Best Western Plus Wine Country Inn & Suites will collect two dollars per night from hotel...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) announces that Amadeus, Melia, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, Sabre Holdings and TUI Travel are among the first group of global travel and tourism corporations to publicly commit to promoting sustainable tourism products and services recognized by the GSTC. Each of these companies has committed to using the GSTC Criteria—a global framework for defining a sustainable travel benchmark—as the reference for sustainable travel.The objective of the program is to recognize and reward genuine practitioners of sustainable tourism, which in turn builds confidence and credibility with consumers. The commitment from these organizations demonstrates their...

ROSWELL, GA.—Kimberly-Clark Professional has received the 2011 Sustainability Award from Marriott International and is the first product supplier to receive the prestigious award, which recognizes organizations that help Marriott reach its environmental sustainability goals worldwide. “We are proud to partner with suppliers that share the same values as we do, particularly those like Kimberly-Clark Professional that support our more than 20-year commitment to conservation and preservation,” said John Adams, senior vice president—Global Operations Services, Marriott International. “With the increase in global travel, we have a responsibility to ease our business impact on our natural environment. Working in partnership with our...

ITHACA, N.Y.—With energy representing the single fastest-growing operating cost in the hospitality industry—some 3 to 6 percent of total facility costs—hotel operators can no longer ignore the need to implement strategic energy-efficient management systems. Guests, corporate clients, employees, and investors have demonstrated increasing interest in understanding a business’s approach to key environmental, social, and governance topics that widen the scope of performance. The Cornell School of Hotel Administration is addressing these needs with a new Certification in Hotel Properties Management and Sustainability. This certification focuses on sustainability in hospitality management by interweaving the key topics such as financial management...

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, COLO.—Its tracking mechanism may not be the most sophisticated in the industry—it consists of a master spreadsheet file—but there may be no better company in the world at tracking its environmental impact than Xanterra Parks & Resorts. For almost 11 years now Xanterra has been tracking everything from its carbon emissions to the percentage of solid waste diverted. Xanterra calls its tracking system “Ecometrix.” It falls under the company’s larger “Ecologix” program. Introduced in the company’s most recent sustainability report is yet another term—“Ecometabolism”—which is defined as “a measure of resource usage normalized by annual dollars of...

PORTLAND, ORE.—Sustainable Travel International (STI) announced that its STEP eco-certification standard has been officially recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). To achieve this recognition, STEP underwent a rigorous review and authorization procedure. As a result, STEP is now considered equivalent to the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, the worldwide minimum sustainability requirements for tourism businesses of all sizes. “We’re very excited that STEP is among the first global standards to be recognized by the GSTC,” said Bobby Chappell, STI’s director of Standards and Certification. “As we continue to build the case for sustainability in the travel and tourism industry,...