LAS VEGAS—Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has signed into law a bill supported by the Southern Nevada Water Authority that requires the removal of “useless,” or purely decorative, grass throughout the Las Vegas Valley by the end of 2026. The Valley has been undergoing a severe drought as indicated by the U.S. Drought Monitor. The law does not apply to grass in homeowners’ yards, or to grass used for recreation at schools and parks. Useless grass, also known as nonfunctional turf, is found around Southern Nevada business complexes (including hotels and resorts), along streets in HOA communities, and in traffic circles and...

NATIONAL REPORT—Sustainability in hospitality is good for business. In Booking.com’s Sustainable Travel Report, 73 percent of global travelers indicated their intentions to stay at least once in a green accommodation within the coming year. Booking.com’s report also revealed that over half (55 percent) of travelers are more set on making sustainable travel choices this year and adopt sustainable travel habits, indicating the increasing call for the bed and breakfast owners to get on board. In response, the company has rolled out its sustainability program and reaffirmed its commitment to help properties make sustainable changes. For the bed and breakfast properties listed and...

If you could name the top five items on your property that are saving you on water consumption, what would they be? Please feel free to share them with me at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. I will share them with my readers. I thought of that after a look at the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor. If you visit the Drought Monitor site, you will see how severe the drought is in the west. Take a look at a series of maps in The New York Times and you will see how conditions have worsened over the years and gotten especially bad...

SPRINGFIELD, MASS.—MGM Springfield recently hosted U.S. Green Building Council CEO & President Mahesh Ramanujam, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and other government and community leaders for an Earth Day ceremony celebrating the resort’s multiple certifications under the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. MGM Springfield is the first private sector hospitality development to earn LEED Neighborhood Development certification at the site level. This recognition was partly earned due to MGM’s decision to convert a brownfield site hit by a tornado in 2011 and create a human-scale, compact and walkable development with...

TROY, OHIO—Hobart announced the new AM16 Advansys Door Type Commercial Dishwasher, redesigned from the ground up. The new dish machine is loaded with technology and features designed to revolutionize dish room performance, efficiency, and productivity for moderate-sized operations with mid-range volumes. Engineered to deliver the legendary Hobart Clean with less labor and the industry’s best lifetime value, the AM16 dish machine is loaded with advanced technology that removes more tough food soil with less effort and lower cost of operation. “We have brought the best technologies and features from across our dish-machine portfolio into this machine to improve performance and simplify...

CHICAGO—Between energy cost savings and equipment rebates, Werewolf American Pub saved more than $10,000 by switching to energy-efficient equipment. Energy-efficient cooking and commercial kitchen ventilation (CKV) systems save money. That is a lesson experts and organizations like the California Energy Commission (CEC) have been preaching for years. To prove it in the real world, the CEC awarded a Building Natural Gas Technology (BNGT) grant to Frontier Energy, Inc., operator of PG&E’s Food Service Technology Center (FSTC), San Ramon, Calif. “We wanted to do more than just swap out standard equipment for energy-efficient models,” says David Zabrowski, Vice President, Frontier Energy. “We wanted to...

PHILADELPHIA—Element Hotels—part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 leading brands and designed for today’s healthy, active traveler—announced the opening of Element Philadelphia, marking the brand’s debut in the city. Developed by Conshohoken-based Chestlen Development, the hotel will be the newest addition to Philadelphia’s reemerging hospitality scene, with travelers planning an average of 2.7 trips this year, according to a recent Visit Philadelphia report. Designed with a focus on sustainability and well-being, Element is ideal for families, groups and business travelers who want to maintain a balanced lifestyle while on the road. “Bringing the Element brand to Philadelphia was a strategic decision to appeal...

SOLON, OHIO—Tarkett, a worldwide leader in innovative and sustainable flooring and sports surface solutions, has released its 2020 Corporate Social & Environmental Responsibility (CSR) report. Fully audited by an independent third-party organization, KPMG, this report showcases the company’s ongoing sustainability performance. “In the last ten years, we have achieved strong progress in sustainability. In many cases we have exceeded our 2020 objectives, developing circular economy initiatives, reducing our carbon footprint and eco-designing our products with healthy materials,” says CEO Fabrice Barthélemy. “Opening a second chapter in its sustainability strategy, Tarkett is leading the way in its industry. As part of our ‘Change...

ATLANTA—Element Hotels, part of Marriott International, along with Atlanta based RevPAR Development LLC, recently announced the opening of the Element Atlanta/Buckhead, marking the debut of the stylish and eco-focused hotel brand in Georgia. The hotel, which is in the heart of Buckhead, aims to fuel a balanced life for travelers on the road. Designed for today’s healthy, active traveler, Element Hotels has redefined the longer stay experience with a clean, modern, and bright nature-inspired design philosophy featured throughout the hotel. The Element Atlanta/Buckhead boasts 164 suites including spacious studios and the new, innovative Studio Commons concept consisting of multiple rooms...

CHEVY CHASE, MD.—One of the fastest growing hotel management companies in the United States—PM Hotel Group—also happens to be one of the ones most committed to corporate responsibility. The Chevy Chase, Md.-based company has its own Director of Sustainability + Facilities (Christie Berlin), manages four LEED hotels, including one LEED Platinum (Home2 Suites by Hilton Silver Spring, Md.) and purchases 100 percent green energy. “We started 10 years ago with 11 hotels,” Berlin says. “We now manage 51 and are working on three development projects at the moment.” “This company has always been committed to corporate responsibility,” Berlin adds. “It definitely...