SILVER SPRING, MD.—With 13 years of building to LEED standards under its belt, it is no surprise that The Duffie Companies’ first hotel project would be a LEED one. With the Home2 Suites by Hilton Silver Spring (Md.), however, The Duffie Companies has gone far beyond basic LEED certification; the hotel is on the way to becoming one of just seven LEED Platinum hotels or resorts in North America. Unique to the hotel is its location, says Shane Pollin, Director of Development for The Duffie Companies. “This community has no other hotels nearby,” he says. The property is located on...

LAS VEGAS—Diamond Resorts, a global leader in the hospitality and vacation ownership industries, has partnered with the We Are Water Foundation to launch an initiative that encourages travelers to make a rational and sustainable use of water. As part of the initiative, Diamond Resorts will be educating members, owners, guests and team members to make a reasonable and sustainable use of water within all of the company’s European properties. With help from We Are Water, Diamond Resorts will hold programs aimed at informing people of their water usage and encouraging them to make simple changes, such as reusing bath towels...

Name: Emily Smith Title: Director, Corporate Strategy Company: Park Hotels & Resorts Years in Current Position: 2.5 years Primary Responsibilities: “I am in the corporate strategy group—a two-person team. I help investors invest in our company, work on our earnings reports, and help maintain our website. Over the past six months my job has evolved to include ESG (environmental, social, governance). ESG has become about 50 percent of my duties.” Organization’s most significant sustainability-related accomplishment: “The installation of Melink Intelli-hood systems in all kitchen exhaust and make-up units at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The savings have been incredible—an annual energy reduction savings of more...

LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA—Situated on the island of Langkawi in Malaysia, The Datai Langkawi is a luxurious ecotourism resort nestled in the heart of a 10 million-year-old rainforest. In an exciting milestone, The Datai Langkawi is the first in the world to join the EarthCheck ECO (Terrestrial) Certification Program. EarthCheck ECO is the culmination of a journey that began in 1987 and continues to this day. Using a science-based approach, the program helps travel and tourism organizations increase efficiencies, reduce their environmental footprint, support local communities and maximize guest experience. “Over 500 million years ago, Mother Earth created what is known as...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International announced that MGM Springfield, located in Springfield, Mass., has received the world’s first United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) New Construction Platinum level certification for a gaming resort. MGM Springfield, which opened in August 2018, is the company’s most recent development. Working closely with state and city officials, as well as the local community, MGM Resorts committed to designing and building a property that exemplifies the company’s values in support of environmental sustainability and positive social impact while honoring local history and architecture. A significant enabler of the LEED Platinum rating...

For those of you not familiar with Hersha Hospitality Trust, it is a real estate investment trust that invests in hotels (48 hotels, 7,644 rooms). The company is organized in Maryland, with its principal office in Harrisburg, Pa. Hersha created its award-winning sustainability program, EarthView, in 2010. Hersha just released its 2018 Sustainability Report. According to Hersha, since 2010 it has seen a $65 million increase in portfolio value thanks to EarthView. It has also experienced $11 million in savings. Compared to 2010, Hersha has seen a 15 percent reduction in energy per square foot, 41 percent reduction in greenhouse...

Hotels, motels and other lodging facilities frequently wash thousands of pounds of sheets, towels, pillow cases and other linens each day. While just 8 to 12 percent of the laundry operation represents initial equipment costs, a staggering 87 percent of the total laundry budget consists of operating costs: water, chemicals, electric, gas and labor. For lodging entities embracing green and other technologies to reduce costs, the laundry operation should be a focal point. Reducing Water Use  While today’s commercial washer-extractors are far more efficient than decades ago, manufacturers continue to fine tune operation. More innovative manufacturers have designed special spray heads...

NATIONAL REPORT—Yes, the hotel industry is always urging us to reuse our towels, for decades now. But, we’re gradually moving beyond that. Fairmont St Andrews Bay, for instance, is replacing disposable plastic water bottles with “special refillable water pitchers.” What’s the ripple effect? Well, they’re driving down the number of bottles dumped each year by a reasonable 55,000. In the meantime, Melia debuted as the third most eco-friendly hotel on the planet (behind InterContinental and Hilton) according to RobecoSAM, a sustainable investment agency. The long and short of it is that the hospitality industry is going green. So, if you’re serious...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News welcomes NuTek International to its Green Product & Service Directory in the Laundry/Ozone Systems category. NuTek’s Ozone Laundry Support Systems is a sustainable, On Premises Laundry installation that reduces water usage, conserves energy and provides superior disinfection—backed by 2018 microbial testing results verifying 99.99 percent disinfection against all common bacteria and viruses, including the CDC’s Top 9 Superbugs. As the only ozone laundry system to earn UL Recognition specifically for use with commercial washers, NuTek can connect to any programable, commercial washer. NuTek’s ozone technology generates an...

ClearWater Tech, LLC EcoTex from ClearWater Tech: Proven Technology, Proven Results The EcoTex name reflects the advanced laundry oxidation systems designed, engineered, manufactured, and distributed by ClearWater Tech, LLC. EcoTex systems enable commercial laundry professionals to replace expensive multi-step wash programs that use excessive chemicals and hot water with cold-water programs that use the power of ozone for disinfection and detergent activation. EcoTex reduces environmental impact, improves laundry quality, saves money, energy and detergent, while providing superior disinfection. Call ClearWater Tech at (805) 549-9724. ClearWater Tech, LLC » Email for Details »