PORT CLINTON, OHIO—Approximately 120 feet above the grounds here at the McKenna’s Inn Bed and Breakfast, a 10-kilowatt wind turbine catches the breezes coming off of Lake Erie. For the owners, Joe Jessen and his wife, Becky, the turbine represents more than an alternative source of power for their four-room inn. It is their way of helping to create a better future for their daughter—one where renewable energy is the rule, rather than the exception. The wind turbine at the McKenna’s Inn Bed and Breakfast just went “live” a few weeks ago. It is something Joe says he and his...

ATLANTA—The Rittenhouse, a AAA Five Diamond luxury hotel on Rittenhouse Square in the heart of downtown Philadelphia, has selected The Refinishing Touch, a world leader in providing environmentally-safe, on-site furniture refinishing and re-upholstery services, to refinish more than 700 pieces of furniture in its 98 rooms. While planning an upgrade of the televisions in its guestrooms, The Rittenhouse discovered that the rooms’ existing armoires would be unable to house new 42-inch screens. Rather than go to the expense and waste of replacing them, the hotel worked with The Refinishing Touch to modify the armoires by removing the top of each...

LAS VEGAS—NaturesCast, Inc. of Las Vegas, a member of the Sustainable Furniture Council, has entered the U.S. hospitality market with a line of chic and modern furniture, and décor accessories made from agro-forest waste. A Filipino-based eco-friendly master furniture and décor accessories manufacturer, NaturesCast functional and artistic décor products are unique in that they are constructed from agro-forest waste including dry leaves, dead twigs and barks from the forests around Compostela, Province of Cebu, Philippines. The collected materials are shredded through a special machine and bonded together using an odorless water-based binder and then shaped into a variety of unique...

WHITE HAVEN, PA.—Thanks to a grant from the State of Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Program, the Inn at Hickory Run here is getting closer to its goal of erecting a 6.6-kilowatt wind turbine. Construction is expected to begin within the next two weeks. Combined with its use of geothermal heating and air-conditioning, as well as high efficiency lighting and computer control systems, the turbine will help the inn achieve 80 percent of its energy from off-grid, renewable energy sources. David Pfeil, who owns the inn with his wife Nancy, says the wind turbine will cost $60,000, with the State of Pennsylvania...

NEW YORK—The creation of a Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council (STSC) moved a step closer to becoming a reality recently as a coalition of international organizations agreed to establish a body that will increase credibility around sustainable tourism certification programs, and ultimately help protect the environment, rights and livelihoods of local communities. The United Nations Environment Program, the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the United Nations Foundation are among the supporters of this initiative. As part of this joint scheme, they will work with the Rainforest Alliance, an international environment organization, and other NGOs and industry groups, to raise...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—More than 150 hospitality leaders from industry, academia and the trade media gathered last month to hear a panel of experts address the need to further develop sustainable business practices. Hilton Hotels executive and panel member Christopher Corpuel framed the discussion by presenting his definition of sustainability. “’It is addressing your needs today, without negatively impacting your needs for tomorrow,” said Corpuel, vice president of global sustainability for Hilton. “As we question why we do what we do, we must always ask, ‘Is there a better way?’ said David Stipanuk, associate professor at Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration and...

LAS VEGAS—Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc., a subsidiary of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., and NativeEnergy, an international marketer of high quality carbon offsets and renewable energy credits (RECs), announced an agreement to provide Harrah’s guests the opportunity to mitigate the global warming impact of their travel to Harrah’s managed resorts by purchasing carbon offsets from new renewable energy projects. “We are continually looking for innovative environmentally sustainable practices to implement throughout our portfolio of 40 domestic properties,” said Gary Loveman, chairman, CEO and president of Harrah’s Entertainment. “Environmental stewardship is an important component of our Code of Commitment, the casino entertainment industry’s...

SANTA CRUZ, CALIF.—Environmentally-conscious furniture design company Maria Yee, Inc. marked its first shipment of select products made with 100 percent Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified hardwood last month. “Five years ago our China factories started looking into using hardwood that was FSC-certified,” said Maria Yee, president. “To finally have our efforts validated by such a well-respected organization is incredibly gratifying.” The FSC is an international organization that promotes responsible management of the world’s forests. Maria Yee began researching FSC certification in 2003 while the FSC was working with Chinese authorities on certification matters. During that time, Maria Yee continued to enforce...

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.—The Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority (ACCVA) announced that it has awarded Pepco Energy Services, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc., a 20-year power purchase agreement with the Atlantic City Convention Center (ACCC) to install the largest single roof-mounted solar array in the United States. “With each step we take, the ACCVA continues to embrace green initiatives and stand at the forefront of the environmental movement,” said Jeffrey Vasser, executive director of the ACCVA. “Following Governor Jon S. Corzine’s lead in taking a proactive look at environmental issues, our outstanding team has worked in conjunction with Pepco...

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.—Doubletree Hotels announced that it has received the prestigious 2008 “Promise to the Earth Award” from the Arbor Day Foundation. The Promise to the Earth award is presented annually by the world’s largest nonprofit tree planting organization to corporations for outstanding commitments to environmental stewardship and education. The award also recognizes organizations that support the Arbor Day Foundation’s mission to “Inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.” The Arbor Day Foundation acknowledged Doubletree for their continued and growing dedication to three major projects: • Doubletree Teaching Kids to CARE Community Outreach Program. Since the spring of 2004, Doubletree has...