ORLANDO, FLA.—The 2,000-room Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center recently received the distinguished Two Palm status in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Lodging Program. “Adopting effective eco-practices is a winning combination for everyone,” said Tim Pyne, director of sales and marketing at the property. “Collectively our guests, meeting planners and staff are all participants in making a positive difference to preserve the environment while saving resources.” A total of 380.55 tons of recycled material in 2008 saved 3,186 trees. In addition, Hawk’s Landing Golf Course received Audubon Bird Sanctuary Certification. From green key cards to Earth...

I have heard and read quite a bit about what is or is not biodegradable in the past week. One reason is the article I wrote about utensils that are made from plant-based materials. Another reason is an ad that ran recently in Green Lodging News that touted a product’s biodegradability. What I learned is that you cannot truly feel good about buying a biodegradable product unless after its life you are 100 percent sure that it will be in an environment that will allow it to quickly biodegrade—an industrial composting facility, for example. When a supplier promotes the...

When China’s Mayland Group invited architect Narendra Patel to offer his opinion on the company’s design for the Mayland Seaside Hotel project in Guangzhou, he asked them if they really wanted to hear what he thought. He told them the project needed to be redesigned and that if they were looking for a hotel that would truly become a landmark along the Zhujiang River, he would be happy to come up with a concept. They agreed to work with him and what he and his colleagues at Rancho Mirage, Calif.-based Patel Architecture have come up with is a design...

SARASOTA, FLA.—Vista System International, a fast growing leader in Modular Curved Frame Technology (MCFT) with U.S.-based operations in Sarasota, Florida, has launched an environment friendly information sign that is easy to install and update. The new eye catching sign is constructed in a way that allows breaking it down for shipping and minimum packing volume, thereby reducing shipping-related energy use and cost. The sign consists of a metal stand that is assembled from two parts. The stand holds a Vista frame designed to hold A4 or letter size inserts. The assembly of all sign components requires only a screwdriver. The...

LAGRANGE, GA.—Fortune announced that Milliken & Company has been ranked No. 64 on the 12th annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. Milliken also ranked No. 17 on the Best Medium-Sized Company list. The full list and related stories appear in the February 2 issue of Fortune, available on newsstands and at www.Fortune.com/bestcompanies. “Making Fortune’s ‘100 Best Companies to Work for’ list for a fifth time is great recognition for all our associates,” stated Joe Salley, Milliken & Company president & CEO. “Their constant engagement and dedication to building a strong culture of integrity, innovation, and excellence...

NEW YORK CITY—Central Park South (CPS) Events at The Plaza, manager and operator of The Plaza Grand Ballroom, the exquisitely restored and glamorous site of countless memorable New York affairs and events, recently hosted a 100-Mile Menu dinner for a select crowd of New York City insiders. Serving a menu comprised solely of ingredients sourced within a 100-mile radius of New York City, CPS Events indulged more than 250 invited guests with a “Country Chic” buffet dinner featuring locally grown food, wines and spirits. The evening celebrated CPS Events’ partnership between Delaware North Companies and Great Performances, two companies known...

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS—The Hilton Palacio del Rio hotel is located on the famous River Walk in beautiful downtown San Antonio, Texas, and is surrounded by cultural and historic attractions. With more than 480 guestrooms, the hotel provides an enjoyable experience, whether traveling for business or pleasure. As with most businesses in the hospitality industry, water provides a vital resource for maintaining a company’s existence. Many cities and states have water restrictions, and finding ways to conserve water has become critical. The City of San Antonio and the surrounding areas are no different. They have an ongoing housing boom and year-round...

MURRIETA, CALIF.—Green Globe International, Inc., which has acquired 88 percent of Green Globe, Ltd., a British company that owns the Green Globe brand—the premier international brand for sustainable travel, tourism and related businesses—announced the initial launch of the company’s new corporate website. The new site prominently features news related specifically to the company and to the sustainable travel and tourism industry, including links to Green Globe International’s strategic partner for industry awareness, TravelMole. TravelMole is the largest global online community for the travel and tourism industry with more than 450,000 registered travel and tourism professionals worldwide. Green Globe has entered...

SANTA MONICA, CALIF.—The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows announced that it has been named one of the first hotels in Southern California to receive the Green Hotel Certification. With more than 200 certification requirements focusing on environmental issues, energy, corporate responsibilities and conservation, The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows is taking one more step to preserve the environment. The Green Hotel Certification program was founded in 2006 by Guido Bauer, an entrepreneur and hospitality industry veteran. The program uses the baseline criteria of the Sustainable Tourism Certification Networks of the Americas, Agenda 21 and principles for sustainable development endorsed by...