Marriott Breaks Ground on "Green" Hotels in Virginia

The JBG Companies and Marriott International, Inc. officially broke ground on two major hotels, the Renaissance Crystal City Potomac Yards and the Residence Inn Crystal City Potomac Yards. The hotels are owned by The JBG Companies and will be managed by Marriott. Both properties are also anticipated to be LEED® certified “green” buildings when complete – the first hotels of such distinction in Arlington County.

The properties will also feature an energy saving “green roof’ with plants and trees, providing a relaxing space for guests overlooking the U.S. Capitol and Potomac River. Guests at the ground breaking ceremony were offered blue spruce saplings as gifts - but were given the opportunity to donate the tree on their behalf to the Arlington County Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources. Over 50 trees were donated to Arlington County to be planted in parks in the area.

Anticipated to open in winter 2010, The Renaissance Crystal City Potomac Yards Hotel and The Residence Inn Crystal City Potomac Yards will create approximately 500 new jobs. The location adjacent to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will also appeal to guests visiting the Washington, D.C. area for both business and pleasure. In addition to bringing 625 new hotel rooms to Arlington County, the hotels will offer 10,000 square feet of meeting rooms to satisfy the rising demand for conference space, with additional amenities that include 10,000 square feet of retail space and over 500 underground parking spaces.

The 13-story, 300-room full-service Renaissance will feature an expansive lobby, restaurant, branded coffee shop, and an amenity floor with a 10,000 square foot grand ballroom and 10,000 square feet of meeting rooms. The property’s design includes a large glass façade along Potomac Avenue, which will provide picturesque views of the Capitol and Potomac River.

The southern end of the building will house the 325-room Residence Inn, Marriott’s popular extended-stay brand. Rooms will be equipped with kitchens providing full-size refrigerators, coffee makers, microwaves, and dishwashers as well as full silverware and dishware sets. The lobby will feature a lounge and business center, and an outdoor hearth will be centrally located in the park at Potomac Yards. The Residence Inn’s lobby has been designed for unique identification by its large tower which will be at the corner of Potomac Avenue and 29th Street.

For More Information on Green Hotels, Go To Greenlodge.Org

Proximity Hotel achieves LEED Platinum Status

Proximity Hotel and its Print Works Bistro in Greensboro, North Carolina, have achieved the highest-level LEED status, putting them among the country’s “greenest” buildings. The hotel and restaurant are the first U.S. venues in the hospitality industry to receive platinum certification.

Here is a sample of what the Proximity Hotel did to achieve LEED Platinum Status:

- Recycled 87% of the hotel construction debris
- Sourced more than 40% of building materials locally
- Sourced more than 90% of the furnishings locally
- Uses 40% less energy than a typical hotel
- Uses 30% less water than a comparable hotel
- Uses geothermal energy for restaurant refrigeration units
- Solar panel roof heats 60% of hotel's hot water
- Restored 700 feet of an adjacent stream

Proximity Hotel

For More Information on Green Hotels, Go To Greenlodge.Org

"Eco Friendly" Hilton to be Built in Bariloche, Argentina

A new eco friendly hotel project is in the planning pipeline vital for the development of tourism in the Patagonia, Argentina area. The hotel will demand a 120 million USD investment and is expected to be open in 2011, adding 350 rooms and 240 houses with hotel service, three restaurants, two pools, a spa and a convention center for 2,000 people to the city.

Towns and cities in the south of Argentina have higher environmental awareness than Buenos Aires, and that is why the project for the hotel had to consider green actions and was presented as "eco friendly."


The eye-shaped building was designed by well known Argentinean architect Mario Roberto Alvarez, also father of the Buenos Aires Hilton, and will cover 60,000 square meters of the 50 hectares the IMOCOM group owns in the Dos Hermanos hills (25 kilometers from the center of Bariloche).

The investors behind the hotel project say it will have the following green features:

-A green roof that will integrate it to the mountain colors thorough seasons,
-Efficient use of water and energy,
-The largest private plant of liquid waste water treatment in the area
-The hotel will occupy 60,000 square meters of the 51 hectares area, leaving the rest of the space with the natural wildlife,
-The building will be located in an area of semi-volcanic rock and no native species will be cut down, the trees that will have to be cleared are mostly pines (as said by Imocom CEO to ANBariloche)

For More Information on Green Hotels, Go To Greenlodge.Org

Element Hotel Planned for Orlando Airport

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announces plans to open an Element Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Element Orlando Airport is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010 in a convenient location close to downtown, theme parks and Orlando’s business community. Inspired by Westin™ Hotels & Resorts, Element is Starwood’s newest hotel concept and the first hotel brand to mandate that all hotels pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED certification. The new-build hotel owned by JHM Hotels and developed by JHM Enterprises Inc. will offer a new extended stay experience with inspiring public spaces, modern style and eco-friendly design.

The Element brand’s unique design philosophy is evident the moment guests arrive. After passing through a signature portal that provides a literal bridge to the Element interior, guests will be greeted with streams of natural light from a multi-storied window wall. The vitality of the lobby will be matched by the energy of the hotel’s outdoor fire pit and barbecue, where a weekly evening reception allows guests to interact and enjoy savory food and a glass of wine or a draft microbrew beer.

“Every aspect of Element Orlando Airport will be designed to help guests recharge and be at their best while they are traveling,” said Brian McGuinness, Vice President of Element and Aloft Hotels. “Our guests will be able to experience a whole new perspective on extended stay travel in the vibrant Orlando area with easy access to the area’s best shopping, dining, and premier family entertainment.”

The smart design and clever use of space in the hotel’s 140 guest rooms will rejuvenate and energize guests for work or play. Guests will be able to customize their rooms to meet their needs with the multi-purpose, modular furniture, swiveling flat-screen televisions, large desks with open shelving and custom-designed closets. Rooms will also offer a fully equipped kitchen that features modern, ENERGY STAR-rated appliances and all the utensils necessary to prepare a gourmet meal. Guests will rest soundly in the signature Heavenly® Bed, and wake up and recharge each morning in a sleek, spa-inspired shower.

Element Orlando Airport will offer guests an ideal location, just minutes from the Orlando International Airport and a 20-minute drive from downtown Orlando. The hotel will also offer proximity to the leading theme parks including Sea World, Universal Studios and Walt Disney World Resort.

“We look forward to introducing this forward-thinking brand to the Orlando International Airport,” said HP Rama, Chairman & CEO, JHM Hotels. “The sleek modern spaces and use of natural influences at Element Orlando Airport will provide guests with just the right atmosphere for both work and relaxation.”

A signature breakfast offering, state-of-the-art fitness center and uninterrupted indoor/outdoor public spaces will deliver everything the guests need to work, relax or socialize on their schedule. Intuitive staff will provide guests the personalized attention they need and the space they desire to maintain balance while away from home.

Element Orlando Airport will also feature 838 square feet of meeting space, an integrated technology center and library, as well as café seating, a workspace and a flexible lobby space.

Element is making history by requiring all its hotels to pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED certification. The brand’s green features are cleverly designed to be as aesthetically appealing as they are eco-friendly, so guests never compromise on style and comfort. Element Hotels will be equipped with energy-efficient, stainless steel appliances and lighting, amenity dispensers in the showers to reduce waste and water-efficient faucets and fixtures. Guests can continue daily routines such as recycling papers and plastics, as well as using green materials, while those driving hybrid cars will be rewarded with priority parking. Even the ubiquitous “Do Not Disturb” sign will be replaced with an environmentally-friendly magnet.

Element Hotels

For More Information on Green Hotels, Go To Greenlodge.Org

More Travelers to Seek Out Green Hotels in '09

NEWTON, MASS.—TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel community, announced the results of its annual travel trends survey of more than 3,000 U.S. travelers. The primary trends identified are that travelers appear to be going lean and green by visiting national parks, hiking, and engaging in adventure activities. A greater amount of Americans said they will be environmentally conscious in their travel decisions in 2009, and more plan to visit eco-friendly hotels in the coming year. TripAdvisor also unveiled its TravelCast list of emerging hotspots for 2009, and atop the list is Budoni, in Sardinia, Italy. The top emerging hotspot in the United States is St. George, Utah.

Seventy-three percent of U.S. respondents said they plan to visit a national park in 2009, up from 62 percent one year ago. Fifty-three percent will go hiking in the coming year, up from 50 percent last year. Forty-seven percent of those surveyed plan to engage in an adventure activity, an increase from 40 percent in 2008. Thirty-three percent of travelers will go cycling and biking, up from 28 percent, and 11 percent of travelers are likely to participate in an extreme sports activity, compared to 8 percent one year ago.

Thirty-four percent of U.S. respondents said they will visit an environmentally-friendly hotel or resort in the coming year, up from 30 percent in 2008. Thirty-two percent of those surveyed said they will be more environmentally conscious in their travel decisions this year, as compared to the year before. Last year, 26 percent said they would be more environmentally conscious.


For More Information on Green Hotels, Go to Greenlodge.Org