LONDON, ENGLAND—Recent months have given evidence of a marked increase in the world’s determination to address environmental challenges. Above all, a tipping point has been reached on climate change and in particular its impact on the environment. In response, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched an international campaign to call to dialogue the issues on climate change. The campaign will run full pages in authoritative publications including The Daily Telegraph, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal and travel trade media around the world. An online forum has been created to encourage open dialogue on the issues...

SAN JUAN, P.R.—Key players from the U.K. tourism industry had the opportunity to exchange views on climate change with the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), its environmental division the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST), and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) at a meeting held in London last week. The encounter, organized by the Caribbean Council for CHA and CTO, enabled representatives from tour operators, airlines, travel associations and government officials to exchange views on how best the industry in the Caribbean might develop a carbon-neutral approach. CAST Director Deirdre Shurland set the stage by tabling two fundamental...

DALLAS—In January, when Pineapple Hospitality and Lodging Hospitality revved up their planning for their first Green Hospitality Conference, they expected about 75 people to register. On Wednesday, March 14, however, about 175 people attended—many signing up the day of the event. That surprise surge in attendees proved that owners and operators are hungry to learn about environmental trends and how to operate more profitably while conserving natural resources. “We were extremely pleased with the attendance,” says Ray Burger, President of Pineapple Hospitality, Saint Charles, Mo. “The number of hotel companies represented was impressive and we appreciated the support...

SAN FRANCISCO—The Serrano Hotel in San Francisco’s theater district has partnered with two unique Bay Area green businesses—3 Phases Energy and DriveNeutral—to offset its output of carbon dioxide and support renewable energy efforts. “We are totally committed to making effective changes in our environmental and socially responsible practices, without compromising the quality, service or integrity of the experience we provide our guests,” says Michael Pace, general manager at the Serrano Hotel, one of 41 Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants throughout the country. “Renewable energy and offsetting our CO2 output are two effective ways for our hotel to make a...

SAN FRANCISCO—Walkwire, a leading provider of automated lobby PCs, business centers and boarding pass PCs, announced that it is working with Carbonfund.org to not only offset their own energy consumption but also that of every new PC that the company deploys in its client’s hotel properties. “We’re in the business of providing critical guest amenities,” says Gregor Gomory, Director of Sales and Green Business Initiatives at Walkwire. “Recent studies show that the vast majority of hotel guests want to know that hotels are operating in an environmentally-conscious way. Today’s travelers want to stay connected and they truly appreciate...

SANTA MONICA, CALIF.—A Partner Member of the Green Hotel Assn. and a Santa Monica Sustainable Works Business Greening Program participant, The Ambrose hotel here is doing what it can to “Leave Only Footprints Behind.” It is that phrase that the 77-room property uses in its stylish logo. In every area of the hotel’s operations, a commitment to sustainability is clear. That commitment stems from the owner, The Ambrose Group L.L.C., as well as the “all concierge” team of employees at the property. The Ambrose first got involved in greening the hotel’s operations by participating in Santa Monica’s Sustainable Works Business Greening...

BERLIN, GERMANY—The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) says that the world must respond in a holistic way to the twin challenges of climate change and poverty and that the tourism sector can effectively contribute to the solutions. UNWTO issued a statement at the opening of the ITB international tourism fair in Berlin. “In recent years world leaders have identified a range of challenges of truly global impact with extreme poverty and climate change as the most trenchant issues,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli in his keynote speech at ITB. “They require innovative and changed behavior to effectively...

GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST, B.C.—King Pacific Lodge, A Rosewood Resort has announced a plan to reduce its carbon footprint by half and offset the carbon emissions of all lodge operations and employee travel. The resort also plans to offset guests’ air travel to and from the lodge—creating a truly carbon-neutral vacation. “We are the first hotel in Canada, and perhaps anywhere, to offset the carbon emissions of guests’ round-trip air travel,” says Michael Uehara, president of King Pacific Lodge. “We believe this is a very important step, but it is only the first step in a multifaceted plan to...

BROOMFIELD, COLO.—Vail Resorts Inc. announced one of the most ambitious green development projects in the North American resort industry to date, to be called Ever Vail. The $1 billion project will transform the 9.5-acre site, currently known as West Lionshead, into a truly green multi-use resort village consisting of residences, a hotel, offices, retail shops and restaurants, mountain operations facilities, a public parking garage, a new gondola and related skier portal, and a public park. The name, Ever Vail, was thoughtfully chosen to reflect the project’s guiding principle of sustainability—that is, pairing Vail Mountain’s enduring preeminent position in the resort...

PORTLAND, ORE.—The Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center Portland-Lloyd Center announced that the property has created an innovative carbon offset program with The Climate Trust. This carbon offset program is the latest accomplishment in the Doubletree’s systematic efforts to build sustainable practices into its entire operations. The 476-room Doubletree is the first lodging property in Oregon to be certified with a Green Seal “green hotel” designation. “Our entire team at the Doubletree Hotel Portland-Lloyd Center clearly understands how our everyday duties throughout our hotel can ultimately have a measurable impact on the world in which we live,”...