ODESSA, FLA. & SINGAPORE—Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, and Greenview, a leader in advancing hotel sustainability, have released the Green Lodging Trends Report 2016. The report details the results of the first annual Green Lodging Survey conducted earlier this year and is available at no cost by clicking here. The report is based on data from more than 2,000 hotels in 44 countries and covers topics ranging from air quality to energy management to staff involvement. The report includes results of more than 100 questions asked in 11 categories. Supporters of this year’s survey include The Arbor...

ARLINGTON, VA.—Schupp Companies announced that it has achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification for its Hyatt Place Courthouse development in Arlington, Va. Schupp pursued LEED as part of its commitment to sustainability with attention to reduced energy and water consumption, and a focus on optimal air quality to enhance the guest experience. Located at 2401 Wilson Blvd., the new Hyatt Place Arlington Courthouse is situated in close proximity to the metro, allowing for community connectivity. At 93,000 square feet, the hotel features approximately 1,200 square feet of street-level retail space, including a bar and café on the first...

SAN FRANCISCO—Last week, General Manager Clif Clark of the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront drove a truckload of pumpkins to the San Francisco Zoo for animals to enjoy as a nutritious Thanksgiving treat. Lions, giraffes, grizzly bears, rhinos, hippos and mandrills are just a few of the species that feasted on the pumpkins. Most hotels install their holiday decorations the day before or after Thanksgiving. This practice leads many pumpkins, the former stars of festive fall displays, straight to landfill. In 2013, Clark began the tradition of donating the pumpkins to the San Francisco Zoo in an effort to reduce...

DALTON, GA.—J+J Flooring Group, a leading manufacturer of commercial specified flooring, announced it has been recertified as a Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWL) manufacturer by GreenCircle Certified, LLC, a prominent third-party certifier of environmental claims. J+J Flooring Group was originally certified by GreenCircle as a ZWL manufacturer in 2015. This marked the first time a commercial floor covering manufacturer had achieved ZWL status and went the extra step to have its waste diversion efforts audited and verified by a recognized, third-party certifier of environmental claims. GreenCircle’s certification covers J+J’s waste diversion at its Dalton, Ga., corporate campus, which includes both its...

STAMFORD, CONN.—While the majority of consumers believe many of the issues related to recycling have improved since the 1970s, such as “ease of recycling” and the “amount of waste” that is recycled, most consumers feel the amount of waste in landfills and oceans is worse, according to the first “Consumer Tracker Recycling Survey,” released by national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful and Natural Marketing Institute (NMI), a national market research firm. The national recycling survey, conducted online among a representative sampling of 1,000 American adult consumers, focused on measuring consumers’ recycling attitudes and behaviors and, ultimately, what prevents consumers from recycling....

BROOKLYN, N.Y.—1 Hotels, the mission-driven luxury lifestyle hotel brand, announced last month that the newest addition to its portfolio, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, will make its debut in February 2017. Green Lodging News ran the press release on the 10-story sustainable ground-up development that will feature 194 guestrooms. As a follow-up to the press release, Green Lodging News sent a list of questions to Waad El Hadidy, Designer at Starwood Hotels Worldwide, to learn more about the project. The following are the questions and answers: 1. What about the building's structure itself will ensure a high degree of energy efficiency?...

LANCASTER, PA.—Somat Co. recently announced the addition of a cold weather option, available on the Somat DH-100 Dehydrator system. Used to reduce the volume and weight of food waste and compostable disposables by a ratio of 8 to 1, the DH-100 Dehydrator can now be located and operated in environments where temperatures can fall as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit. “Our dehydrators are sold globally to a variety of segments including universities, hospitals, hotels, casinos and correctional facilities,” said Doug Cole, Business Development Manager for Somat Co. “On occasion, operators elect to place our equipment near the loading dock or...

ROCKVILLE, MD.—Choice Hotels International announced it has entered into a partnership with Clean the World to collect and recycle hotel soap and bottled amenities that will help fight the spread of hygiene-related illnesses. Clean the World is a social enterprise dedicated to changing lives while simultaneously diverting hotel waste from landfills. The discarded items collected from Choice properties will be hygienically recycled and then distributed to people who are at risk of contracting preventable diseases. “At Choice, we have a comprehensive platform—Room for Responsibility—that outlines our key corporate social responsibility initiatives,” said Steve Joyce, CEO of Choice Hotels. “One of...

RESTON, VA.—Being environmentally friendly is a growing trend, and the Westin Reston Heights walks the walk, taking home the 2016 Green Travel Leader Award. The award was given by the Commonwealth of Virginia’s travel arm, the Virginia Tourism Corp. Located just outside of Washington, D.C., the hotel is managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts, an operator of over 100 hotels throughout North America, including 14 in the Washington, D.C. area. “We are so proud to have won this award among the countless hotels in the state of Virginia,” said Don Anderson, Complex General Manager, who oversees the hotel and the adjacent Sheraton...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) and the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council (USZWBC) announced that they are formally joining forces to advance zero waste business practices. USZWBC will be integrated into the global GBCI community that drives sustainability across all sectors. GBCI will assume responsibility for the ongoing management and evolution of the Zero Waste Facility Certification and Zero Waste Business Associate programs created by USZWBC, and the zero waste principles will be aligned with GBCI’s offerings. “GBCI is taking another important step toward creating a holistic strategy for green business that began when the U.S. Green Business Council...