You are viewing items 1-10 (Page 1 of 249)
6/17/2013
BANGKOK—Six Senses Laamu has become the first resort in the Maldives to establish and implement a Code of Conduct for dolphin watching in order to protect the local spinner and bottlenose dolphins, and to ensure the future sustainability of their populations. Fully committed to developing a sustainable business and eco-tourism, the resort has developed policies and procedures in line with the Green Globe 21 standards: Energy Conservation, Waste Reduction, Nature, Island & Reef Protection, and Social Responsibility. These policies and procedures are renewed at least annually. Now, expanding on this commitment, the Code of Conduct for dolphin watching rounds out the Six Senses Sustainability Policy for Six Senses Laamu: “To improve the ecological footprint of biodiversity conservation, preservation and restoration within the resort as well as nearby surrounding areas.” The Code of Conduct has been implemented by Rachel Lambert, Six Senses Laamu’s resident biologist. After working with Sea Watch Foundation on their Cardigan Bay Bottlenose Dolphin Monitoring project, Rachel Lambert has created Six Senses Laamu’s program.
6/17/2013
DEARBORN, MICH.—Adoba Hotel Dearborn/Detroit announced it has been accepted as a Gold Level GreenLeader in the new TripAdvisor GreenLeaders program, which helps travelers plan greener trips by identifying environmentally-friendly accommodations across the United States. The Adoba Hotel has also earned the Green Key Eco-Ratings certification.
6/14/2013
NATIONAL REPORT—This year could be a landmark year for mattress recycling. Time will tell if other states will follow their leads but three states—California, Connecticut and Rhode Island—are getting closer to creating the infrastructure for statewide mattress recycling. Late last month, California’s State Senate approved SB 254 which creates a used mattress recycling program. Assembly hearings on that legislation, according to Ryan Trainer, president, International Sleep Products Assn. (ISPA), are expected to begin early next month. Earlier this year, with Public Act 13-42, Connecticut became the first state to pass comprehensive mattress recycling legislation. In Rhode Island, Trainer says, “There is one active bill patterned like Connecticut’s.” That bill is expected to be considered by the Rhode Island Senate in the next couple of months. In California, where SB 254 has enjoyed a broad range of support from industry, retailers, cities and counties, local elected officials, and waste management organizations, a nonprofit mattress recycling organization would be created.
6/14/2013
ORLANDO, FLA.—Clean the World, the largest global recycler of hotel amenities, has expanded to Asia. The organization’s new soap recycling facility in Hong Kong provides an essential service to a region quickly running out of landfill space. It is projected to divert 110 tons of soap from landfills in the first year.
6/13/2013
NORWALK, CONN.—The Department of Energy recognized HEI Hotels & Resorts late last month for its continued success and leadership as a participant in the Better Buildings Challenge, announcing the company is on track to meet goals of reducing energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency. Since baseline year 2008, HEI Hotels & Resorts has reduced energy usage by 9 percent across more than 10 million square feet.
6/12/2013
NEWPORT NEWS, VA.—The Magnuson Hotel & Convention Center at Oyster Point, a JSK Motel Management property, celebrated the grand opening of its new restaurant and bar, Green House. It features modern American cuisine with an emphasis on the finest, seasonal ingredients from local farmers. The restaurant supports several local food sources, including Rain or Shine Greenhouse Gardens, Oliver Farms Produce, Whitener Farms, Dave and Dee’s Mushrooms, and Sam Rust Seafood, Inc. “Green House is a great addition to our current hotel model and will fit well with the development initiatives planned for the near future,” said Ray Patel, president, JSK Motel Management. “The restaurant provides us with a unique opportunity to work with other local businesses and farms, and at the same time, offers a new concept to dining in the Oyster Point area.” Heading the culinary team is executive chef Damon Covington, who has earned a stellar reputation as an instructor at Stratford University and Tidewater Community College, as well as the former executive chef of The Chamberlin Hotel in Hampton, Va.
6/12/2013
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed two rules to help protect Americans from exposure to the harmful chemical formaldehyde, consistent with a Federal law unanimously passed by Congress in 2010. These rules ensure that composite wood products produced domestically or imported into the United States meet the formaldehyde emission standards established by Congress.
6/11/2013
OQUNQUIT, MAINE—A year after installing one of Maine’s largest solar thermal projects, The Cliff House Resort & Spa reports saving 20,000 gallons of propane, 82 percent more than originally projected. Owner Kathryn Weare anticipated saving 11,000 gallons of propane based on equipment specifications and is pleased with the nearly double first-year results. Located on a cliff abutting the Atlantic Ocean, the resort’s solar panels productivity benefits from the reflective surface of the water. The installation comprising 2,100 tubes on 70 collectors was initially estimated to provide solar-heated water for the 32 guestrooms in Cliff Spa, the spa building along with the entire spa facility and common area heat. Now the solar collectors heat the spa building as well as the 104 guestrooms and kitchen facilities in the resort’s original Cliffscape building. The energy created from the solar thermal system is equivalent to that required for generating hot water for about 50 households a year. Other green initiatives include energy efficient lighting and natural cork flooring.
6/11/2013
NASHVILLE, TENN.—The Courtyard Nashville Downtown is anything but a garden-variety hotel. The century-old high-rise in the heart of Music City boasts a completely reimagined lobby with cozy sitting areas and state-of-the-art technology. But what’s on the roof three floors up makes it truly unique among other hotels in downtown Nashville. A new rooftop garden planted in early April is just about ready to bear its first bounty—something that will be music to the ears of diners at The Bistro—Eat. Drink. Connect.
6/10/2013
WASHINGTON, D.C.—According to a new global analysis led by researchers at the University of British Columbia and other scientists, shark watching is a major economic driver for dozens of countries, generating $314 million annually. Citing the study’s projections that shark-related tourism could more than double within 20 years, generating more than $780 million annually, The Pew Charitable Trusts is calling for greater protections for sharks through the designation of sanctuaries around the world. Shark-related tourism is a growing business worldwide, with established operations in at least 83 locations in 29 countries. Although places such as South Africa, the United States, and Australia have typically dominated this industry, shark ecotourism is becoming an economic boon to countries across the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean regions. The study finds that shark watching attracts 590,000 tourists and supports more than 10,000 jobs each year. The increase in shark ecotourism and its economic value can lead to interest in establishing sanctuaries for sharks, which play a critical role in the health of marine systems.
Jump to a specific page: