Ian Schrager/Marriott Create Eco Boutique Brand

Ian Schrager and Marriott International have announced the name of their new boutique eco-friendly lifestyle hotel brand, "Edition" Hotels. The joint venture also announced that agreements have been made with developers for the first nine hotels planned for Paris, Madrid, Costa Rica, Miami, Washington, Chicago and Scottsdale, AZ to name a few.

The company expects as many as 30 agreements for hotels by the end of 2008. The properties will range in size from 150-200 rooms and will be designed to reflect the cultural and social hallmarks of their individual locations in addition to being environmentally conscious.

Marriott International

Ian Schrager Company

Accor Makes Impact with Sustainable Approach

Motel 6, the largest corporately owned and operated hotel chain in North America, just announced the completion of its roll out of the first national fluorescent light bulb and battery recycling program within the hospitality industry. Motel 6, with more than 900 properties across the country, is the first U.S. hotel chain to implement this type of recycling program at its corporate properties nationwide without a federal mandate.

Hotel flourescent light bulbs consume 75% less energy than a property's conventional bulbs resulting in significant energy savings. Motel 6 estimates it will recycle roughly 60,000 fluorescent light bulbs each year.The initiative is part of Accor North America's Earth Guest Program rolled out in 2007, which consists of extensive and ongoing environmental initiatives including:

- Planting of 20,000 trees for each Accor employee in North America
- Implementing a 65-point environmental check list at all properties
- Donating $375,000 to educational and charitable groups

Accor's brands include Sofitel, Novotel, Studio 6 and Motel 6 in the U.S. and Canada.

Accor North America

Mauna Lani Resort, Hawaii Earns Top Green Honors

Located off the Kohala Coast, Hawaii, the Mauna Lani Resort has just been named one of the "World's Top Earth-Friendly Getaways" by Conde Nast Traveler magazine in the Jan. 2008 issue.

Mauna Lani Resort

Mauna Lani’s eco-friendly solar energy innovations have earned the resort the distinction of generating the most solar electric power of any luxury resort in the world. Covering 3 acres, the Power-Light photovoltaic system provides operating power and supplies the majority of the resort’s water pumping power requirements. It is estimated that over the 25 year lifetime of the environmentally friendly system, emissions of carbon dioxide will be reduced by almost 12,000 tons.

In addition, more than 50% of the electricity required by the Hotel's expansive golf operation is solar. On the greens, the use of drought resistant Salam Seashore Paspalum grass requires
considerably less fertilizer, contributing to the resort’s environmentally friendly golf operation.

At Mauna Lani Spa, a photovoltaic system operates a lava watsu pool where spa goers can experience an aquatic body therapy complete with underwater acoustics and mild temperature salt water.

Mauna Lani Resort has also been recognized by The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, and Center for Resource Solutions for significantly advancing development of the green power market.

Eco-Boutique Hotel in Jackson Hole Open Jan 08

The new six-story, 72-room , LEED Certified eco-boutique hotel has a fitness center, rooftop hot tub, two restaurants, and a snowboard and ski rental shop. The guest rooms include organic linens and organic amenities such as shampoo and lotion. Hotel Terra Jackson Hole is the first in a set of luxury Green hotels launched by the Terra Resort Group. The resort group was formed in November 2006 in order to bring a sense of environmental responsibility and an evolutionary approach to the hospitality industry.

Hotel Terra Jackson Hole

In addition, Hotel Terra uses renewable, reclaimed or recycled materials, including lumber, bamboo, marble or granite chips, crushed glass, teak, and even seatbelts in finishes throughout the Hotel. The use of technology such as touch screens was implemented to reduce guest paper use and the use of dual flush toilets, low flow water fixtures, waterless urinals and native landscaping were utilized to control water usage.

Abu Dhabi To Create Carbon Neutral City

Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates has committed $15 billion to developing alternative energy and clean technology. Plans will support solar, wind and hydrogen power projects as well as carbon reduction, sustainable development, education and R&D.

The investment coincides with the develop of a new master planned city, Masdar City, which will have a massive mass transit system connecting to Abu Dhabi and will not allow automobiles. The high density city plans to have zero carbon emmissions and zero waste, the first of its kind. The 1,483-acre, walled community is going to be master planned by London-based Foster + Partners, which will be the front running expert on sustainable urban planning.

Abu Dhabi To Create Carbon Neutral City

Foster + Partners

Hotel Spotlight: Soneva Fushi Resort, Maldives

Soneva Fushi Resort & Six Senses Spa, Maldives

The Soneva Fushi Resort, a collection of refined, castaway-style villas, has pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half by next year and achieve carbon neutrality by 2010. This is one of the first resorts to come out and make this pledge.

To meet this goal, the resort is planning on capturing waste heat from power generators, encouraging guests to offset the emissions of their (long) flights, and transitioning to renewable energy sources. One of the major initiatives will be creating a deep-sea air-conditioning system that circulates cold water pumped up from 985 feet under the sea, which could be a boon for island resorts looking to green in the future.

To Check Out The Resort's Website, Click Here: Soneva Fushi Resort

Five Leading Hotel Certification Programs

A recent Travel and Leisure Survey indicated that there are now Five Hotel Certification Programs being utilized to date in the U.S. and Internationally.

Energy Star

The U.S.-based EPA program rates the energy efficiency of appliances used in businesses. More than 241 hotels participate in the United States. A score of 75 out of a possible 100 is the minimum to be considered energy-efficient. You can search for certified hotels on energystar.gov.

EU Eco-Label

This for-profit consulting company certifies hotels and campsites for all of the European Union’s 25 member states, and its searchable Web site, eco-label.com, offers an eCatalogue of eco-designated accommodations.

Green Globe

Based on stringent guidelines, Green Globe certifies properties in more than 80 countries. Its Web site, greenglobe.org, lists certified hotels by region and country.

LEED

The U.S. Green Building Council created this program to certify that buildings meet standards of energy efficiency, conservation, and community sensitivity. Go to usgbc.org.

Sustainable Tourism Certification Network of the Americas

This joint effort of the Rainforest Alliance and the International Ecotourism Society links five different green certification programs in the Americas. eco-indextourism.org.

According to Travel and Leisure and the U.S. Green Building Council, there are 118 hotels that have registered for LEED certification. Of these properties, only one hotel, the Gaia Hotel Napa Valley has earned the gold certification (the highest level).

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Largest Green Hotel in the World in Las Vegas

A joint venture between Dubai World and MGM Mirage has spurred the development of the $7.4 billion Las Vegas CityCenter mixed-use project. Currently under construction and scheduled to open in November 2009, the project boasts a 61-story 4,000 room resort and casino, 550,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space and 2,650 condominium units and condo-hotel units.

Some of the most notable measures the property is taking to meet LEED certification is recycling 80 percent of its construction waste and building a monorail to the Bellagio to increase guests foot traffic decreasing their use of vehicles.

See the Development Here:

Las Vegas CityCenter

How Green is Your Next Vacation?

A recent study comparing the green commitment of tour operators, airlines and cruise lines in the U.K. unveiled five useful factors in testing how green your next vacation may be:

Carbon Reduction: The use of green fuels, alternative energy, modern vehicles/aircraft and eco-friendly hotels, the management of waste and energy reduction.

Carbon Offsetting: Are offsetting schemes available? Does the company make financial commitments of its own?

Conservation Schemes: Efforts to minimize harm done to the environment by tourism.

Responsible Tourism (RT) Policy: A strong policy, staff to put it into practice and independent audits and targets?

On the Ground: Sourcing of local produce, services and employment of local staff; support for local social projects; efforts to ensure good relations between tourists and local people.

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