SAN DIEGO—Planners of the Eighth Annual Resort Conference, the only conference planned by resort executives for resort executives, are educating attendees about ways to incorporate sustainable practices into their own day-to-day operations while taking steps to become more environmentally friendly. Conference planners are cutting down on paper use at the three-day conference April 16-18 at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego. Attendees will receive an electronic show program on a specially produced jump drive that will replace the traditional printed program. The drive will contain session descriptions, sponsor information, speaker bios, attendee directory and copies of session presentations. “It’s a...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—WaterPure International, Inc. announced an agreement to place two Atmospheric Water Generators (AWGs) test units at a major international hotel chain. The two AWGs are part of a WaterPure environmental green initiative program targeting the lodging industry. The company is offering AWGs for evaluation at various hotels and expects to strategically position units throughout the lodging industry. AWGs from WaterPure produce three to five gallons of absolutely pure chilled or heated healthy drinking water each day using a condensation process that extracts moisture from the atmosphere. Similar in appearance to a traditional bottled water stand, the AWGs contradict...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc. announces the rollout of a new fabric collection from West Coast designer Thomas Schoos. Schoos’ earthy collection will debut at the Hospitality Design Exposition and Conference in Las Vegas on May 15. The collection will feature approximately 20 different hand-drawn patterns in 20 colorways with complimentary textures. “The FRESH line is a collection combining texture and color with lifestyle,” Schoos said. “Nature, when combined with these elements, is what I used to create the new look and feel of FRESH by Thomas Schoos. I think it’s very important to get this product out. I...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. and the state of Amazonas signed an agreement to support the first project of its kind to help protect 1.4 million acres of endangered rainforest. This innovative partnership between government and the private sector is one of the first in the world to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation. Marriott has committed $2 million to fund an environmental management plan administered by the newly created Amazonas Sustainable Foundation. By year end, Marriott guests and group customers will also be able to offset the greenhouse gas emissions generated from their hotel stays by contributing to this rainforest...

NAPA VALLEY, CALIF.—Napa Valley’s Silverado Resort has expanded its recycling program to include food scraps and grass clippings. The resort had already been recycling items such as plastic and paper. After six months of testing the program, the resort reports significant results: a reduction in generic garbage of almost 50 percent and a 50 percent savings on composting costs. The brainchild of long-time executive chef Peter Pahk, the program reflects the resort’s evolving and comprehensive approach to sustainability in all aspects of the resort’s operation—from farm to waste stream. The new recycling initiative is made possible with the help of...

ADELPHI, MD.—The UMUC Inn and Conference Center by Marriott (a Marriott managed property) was the first conference center and hotel in North America to be granted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in October of 2005. In 2008, to further demonstrate its commitment to the environment, the hotel has relaunched its recycling program and added a composting initiative to its food and beverage practices. “You cannot pick up a newspaper, magazine, or turn on the TV without seeing a company’s commitment to safer environmental practice,” said Mike McCarthy, general manager. “We have got to do the right thing...

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN—Scandic has decided to stop selling bottled water in its restaurants and during conferences. The hotel chain calculates that this move will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 160 tonnes per year. Scandic currently sells around 1.2 million litres of water, equating to 3.6 million 33cl bottles, every year. Last autumn Scandic decided to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its direct activities to zero by 2025, with an interim target of halving emissions by 2011. Bottled water is being phased out at Scandic as part of the next focus, which in part is on shipments to the hotels. “After careful consideration,...

NEW YORK—ecoEnvelopes, the developer of innovative reusable envelopes designed to conserve natural resources and reduce costs, has received a key National Customer Ruling from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). It is the first time USPS has issued such a certification for a line of reusable envelopes and solidifies ecoEnvelopes’ position as a leader in a bold new effort to green the U.S. mail. The USPS National Customer Ruling is issued after an official testing and approval process. The ruling provides customers with increased confidence that ecoEnvelopes’ unique designs meet the most stringent qualifications for use in the U.S. mail. In...

LONDON—NewspaperDirect, the leader in multi-channel newspaper content distribution, has launched Hotel PressDisplay.com. Hotel PressDisplay.com brings more than 550 newspapers and magazines from 72 countries and in 37 languages to the laptops of hotel guests. Using the hotel’s high speed internet service, Hotel PressDisplay.com can be configured to serve guest laptops in-room or in the common areas of the hotel property. In most cases, guests will be able to view a digital facsimile of any newspaper in the system before it has even arrived at public newsstands. Hotel PressDisplay.com is the latest addition to NewspaperDirect’s PressDisplay.com product family, which attracts millions...

NATIONAL REPORT—In meeting rooms, back of house and other areas of your hotel, chances are great that you are using T-12 fluorescent lamps or the more efficient T-8s to illuminate large spaces. At least two companies—ilumisys, Inc. in Troy, Mich., and LEDdynamics, Inc. in Randolph, Vt.—are trying to replace these linear fluorescents with LED alternatives that are more energy efficient and safer for the environment. Fluorescent tubes include mercury and despite recycling efforts, 500 million to 600 million lamps end up in landfills each year. LED alternatives do not include mercury. “LED lamps also last longer, which means you throw...