RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO—Nestled in the heart of the Riviera Maya, Tres Ríos, a 326-acre luxury eco-friendly resort, announced that Hacienda Tres Ríos will begin welcoming guests for the first time on July 2. Hacienda Tres Ríos has 273 suites ranging from 645 up to 2,063 square feet with views of the sea, fresh water canals, or lush tropical gardens. Each suite makes extensive use of local materials including furniture constructed from local cedar and Mexican marble floors. The suites feature 300-count Egyptian cotton linens, living areas with sofa beds, a pillow menu, terrace or private balcony, flat-screen satellite TVs, air-conditioning,...

SAN FRANCISCO—3Degrees, a leading carbon solutions company, is one of the first providers selling international carbon offsets certified under the new Green-e Climate program launched by the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS). “We’re pleased that 3Degrees joined Green-e Climate right from the start,” said Lars Kvale, Green-e Climate Manager. “By selling offsets that have been independently verified under this program, 3Degrees is showing industry leadership and a real commitment to transparency for its customers.” Green-e Climate is a consumer-protection program requiring that greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions be verified according to strict project-level certification (including the credible and independent Clean Development...

TORONTO—The Metro Toronto Convention Center (MTCC) announced that it is the first convention center in Canada to offer green electricity to clients and event planners to help them reduce the environmental footprint of their events. In addition, the MTCC will use green electricity to power its administrative offices and electronic signage. To achieve this, the MTCC is partnering with Bullfrog Power, a leading Canadian provider of 100 percent green electricity. The MTCC has a long tradition of providing leadership in the area of environmental stewardship, and has won numerous awards for its efforts in recent years. The MTCC has...

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—Mercure hotels across Australia have gone green on conferencing, with the hotel group being among the first to offer a national Carbon Neutral Conferencing product. The new initiative was unveiled at the Asia Pacific Incentive Meetings Expo (AIME) in Melbourne. Accor’s Mercure hotel brand is one of Australia’s largest, with 17 hotels in every state capital of Australia, as well as in a number of regional centers. Under the Mercure Meetings initiative, Mercure hotels will fully fund offsets for carbon emissions produced during a conference. This means the offset cost of making a conference Carbon Neutral is covered by...

DALLAS—Accor North America announced a new agreement between its Sofitel Hotels and wind energy supplier Community Energy, Inc. to purchase clean, renewable, wind energy for all nine Sofitel locations in the United States. This purchase of wind-generated power in the form of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) qualifies Sofitel Hotels as an EPA Green Power Partner, making them the first hotel chain to choose green power for each of the brand’s hotel locations in the country. “We’re proud to step up as a leader in our industry and to do our part for the environment,” said Robert Moore, Senior Vice President...

ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO—As consumers embrace ecotourism as “travel with ethics”, one resort is looking beyond simply reusing towels and installing compact fluorescent light bulbs, to actively investing in its community and strengthening the area’s long-term economic viability. Located on the west coast of Mexico near Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa in the town of Juluchuca, Playa Viva is demonstrating that a truly sustainable resort invests in people, in place, and in principles. “Buying their land and then employing locals as housekeepers is not a sustainable business model for anyone,” said David Leventhal, founder of Playa Viva. “We can only have a vibrant successful project...

OSHKOSH, WISC.—Hoffmaster introduces Earth Wise, an environmentally responsible line of recycled paper products that are now certified by Green Seal. All Earth Wise products are processed chlorine free and are 100% recycled with a minimum of 65% and up to 80% post-consumer content. Earth Wise products are tested to ensure that they meet stringent environmental leadership standards. The products are available in beverage, dinner or dispenser napkins and guest towels with the recycled symbol and message printed on each napkin. Green Seal is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to safeguarding the environment and transforming the marketplace by promoting the manufacture,...

CHERRY HILL, N.J.—Harbor Linen, a leading manufacturer and distributor of quality linen for the hospitality and cruise line industry, has gone green with its new Orchid Towel Collection made with Bamboo. Bamboo is one of the most eco-friendly textiles available. Bamboo thrives naturally without the use of pesticides. This natural cellulose fiber is converted into yarns without the addition of chemicals, and is 100 percent biodegradable. “This is an extremely luxurious, soft and rich, absorbent towel,” said Dennis Doucette, hotel manager of The Biltmore in Coral Gables Fla., which recently upgraded its entire resort and spa with the Orchid...

CITY OF INDUSTRY, CALIF.—Bentley Prince Street announced that its Cool Carpet program now comes standard on all of its broadloom and carpet tile products. Through the expanded program, every company product will now be third-party certified as carbon neutral, with zero net greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted during the entire life cycle. Expanding this program to all products is Bentley Prince Street’s latest step toward its Mission Zero goal of eliminating any negative impact it has on the environment by the year 2020. “Climate change is a significant issue for all of us, with consequences already evident across the...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Syndecrete LLC as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The Santa Monica, Calif.-based company’s Syndecrete countertops have the look of concrete but with an eco-friendly twist. Syndecrete is made of recycled carpet fibers, natural minerals and aggregates. It’s half the weight of ordinary concrete, yet has twice the compressive strength. Resistant to cracking and chipping, it contains no polymers or resins. Syndecrete comes in 8-foot slabs in several trademarked colors and aggregates. Syndecrete’s concrete tile alternative comes in three standard sizes: 12”x12” 18”x18” and 24”x24”. It is...