SEATTLE—Seattle-based O Ecotextiles will brings its “sensuous yet sustainable” textiles for the first time to West Coast Green’s conference and expo, September 25-27, 2008 at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, Calif. One of O Ecotextiles’ new prints also was chosen by EcoFabulous.com to grace the master bedroom of the Showhouse at West Coast Green. For the company, whose line with top British designer Emily Todhunter won a House & Garden magazine award at Decorex 2007 in the U.K., their message is simple, direct and firm: Being an “organic textile,” means not just that a fabric uses organic...

DALLAS—The Fairmont Dallas has unveiled the new Pyramid Restaurant & Bar. It features contemporary décor and new organic, sustainable menus created by Executive Chef j.W. Foster. The new Pyramid, at more than 7,000 square feet, resonates with a modern, sleek, contemporary look evoking a stylish vigor and energy. The look and feel are imaginative and engaging and feature a color palette in rich tones of celadon, taupe, gold, and moss with accents of polished bronze, walnut and mahogany against a backdrop of earth-toned wall coverings and dark mahogany flooring. Since his arrival in Dallas last year from his native Canada,...

ROSEMONT, ILL.—Chicagoland’s new eco-savvy and luxury destination hotel, the 556-room InterContinental Chicago O’Hare, is going above and beyond in its quest to lighten businesses’ impact on the environment. Not only does the sophisticated, design-forward property utilize 100 percent renewable energy credits from wind, but the InterContinental Chicago O’Hare also features a green roof, recycles all materials used throughout its hotel and convention area, and helps businesses and organizations support sustainability with its “Green Meetings” program. “The InterContinental Chicago O’Hare is dedicated to significantly lessening our carbon footprint on the earth, as well as raising awareness in our community about...

LANSING, MICH.—The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) has published the second edition of the textbook, “International Hotels: Development and Management.” Written by Chuck Yim Gee, dean emeritus of the School of Travel Industry Management, University of Hawaii at Manoa, with contributing author A. J. Singh of The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University, this new edition explores key issues in international hospitality. Readers will learn about new trends and developments that have changed the context of global hotel operations and management and explore international policies affecting travel, tourism, and hotel development. All exhibits and statistics have...

PRASLIN BAY, ST. LUCIA—The Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort, St. Lucia is aiming to be the Caribbean’s first fossil fuel independent resort when it opens in June 2009. The 554-acre resort is being developed with special consideration to social and environmental impacts, with the goal of improving the community in St. Lucia. Situated along the island’s east coast, The Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort, St. Lucia will feature 192 rooms, as well as an 18-hole Greg Norman Signature Golf Course and the Westin brand’s full range of services and amenities. “Protecting and preserving the local environment...

NEW YORK—The Network of Executive Women in Hospitality, Inc. (NEWH), a nonprofit network providing scholarships, education, and leadership opportunities for individuals in the hospitality industry, recently gathered leaders from across the hospitality industry to discuss and debate the top trends in green and sustainable design in its second leadership forum. The Sustainable Hospitality Leadership Forum was designed to spark creative ideas and strategies for how hospitality and design experts can incorporate environmentally-sensitive practices, while maintaining a luxury experience for guests. Moderated by Jeanne Varney, vice president, Host Hotels and Resorts, forum participants included some of the hospitality industry’s biggest...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Willard InterContinental Hotel here has released its first Sustainability Report. The report examines the Willard’s environmental and social performance, with comparisons of the progress of its sustainable development initiatives, started in 2005 as “Willard InterContinental, The Next 100 Years”. Based on its Triple Bottom Line strategy of Economic Prosperity, Social Responsibility and Environmental Protection, the report highlights the hotel’s strategy as well as its results. The report adheres to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), an internationally recognized standard for sustainability reporting. Encouraged by the direction of InterContinental’s commitment to corporate responsibility, the Willard sought out Washington, D.C.-based...

MIAMI—Blue Leaf Hospitality announced its participation in the Hospitality Design (“HD”) Boutique from September 17 to 18 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The Miami-based contract furniture company is putting its “green” foot forward at the event with a new product line born of recycled materials, an Art Deco vintage collection and a contemporary cabana concept. “We pride ourselves in catering to our clients, which means we create everything from a single sample to several thousand upon demand,” said Stan Shockley, president of Blue Leaf Hospitality. “Because we are constantly evolving, HD Boutique provides us with a platform...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Offering a detailed road map for sustainable operations, a new Green Hotel Industry White Paper from Cornell’s Center for Hospitality Research details the comprehensive program implemented by the Willard InterContinental Washington Hotel. The report, “Sustainable Hospitality: Sustainable Development in the Hotel Industry,” is written by Hervé Houdré, general manager of the Willard, and is available for download at no charge from the center’s website. In addition to explaining the Willard’s sustainable eco-friendly hotel development program, the Cornell Industry Perspectives paper outlines environmental efforts by several of the industry’s major companies—including InterContinental, Marriott, and Taj—all of which are partners...

HANCOCK, MASS.—After the price of electricity jumped 50 percent during the 2005-2006 ski season at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, management knew it had to do something significant. It could not just keep passing along rising costs to its customers; it would lose market share. According to Jim Van Dyke, vice president of sustainability at the Hancock, Mass.-based property, the resort had already installed compact fluorescent bulbs and taken other simple steps to reduce costs. “We had exhausted the low-hanging fruit,” he says. The resort was already using more than 2 million kilowatt-hours less of power annually thanks to its...