ORLANDO, FLA.—The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently welcomed the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center into the Florida Green Lodging Program. The 1,406-room resort is one of the largest in the state to participate, and the first in Osceola County’s popular Kissimmee resort corridor. In addition, the resort announced the upcoming rollout of a new guest communications program, called “We’re Eco-Logical,” designed to share the spirit of the resort’s eco-friendly initiatives with guests and meeting planners, while encouraging them to take an active role in the programs. “Together with the citizens of Osceola County, we have created one of the most successful meetings and conventions resorts in Florida,” said Kemp Gallineau, senior vice president and general manager. “And now, we are leading the way to creating a more logical blueprint for the county’s largest industry, as we develop these sustainable ‘eco-habits’ for our business.”

Are you interested in creating healthier work environments? Using your garment or textile care budget to support truly environmentally friendly services and technology? What about adding an additional item to your checklist for becoming a green hotel? Able to dissolve most organic materials, perchloroethylene (commonly known as perc or PCE) is the most widely used dry cleaning solvent nationally. It has been estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency that approximately 85 percent of cleaners use PCE as their primary solvent. However, some studies suggest that long-term frequent over-exposure to organic solvents such as PCE may cause lasting and possibly permanent central nervous system effects. Fatigue, lack of muscle coordination, loss of concentration as well as short term memory loss, and personality changes exhibited as nervousness, anxiety or irritability are some of the potential permanent long-term effects of chronic and frequent exposure.

FREEPORT, MAINE—Rates will be reduced by 50 percent at some of Maine’s finest inns and resorts this spring in support of Hospitality for Habitat, a Maine Innkeepers Association (MEIA) program designed to raise funds for local chapters of Habitat for Humanity while encouraging spring travel to Maine, announced Greg Dugal, executive director of MEIA. This year, after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, a portion of the funds raised will be distributed to Habitat for Humanity projects in Haiti as well. Innkeepers all over the state, participating in the seventh annual Hospitality for Habitat, will reduce their room rates by half between April 26 and May 28 in exchange for a $35 donation check payable to Habitat for Humanity. “Hospitality for Habitat offers visitors to Maine a terrific opportunity to experience our very best B&Bs, hotels and resorts at deeply discounted rates, while giving back in a significant way,” Dugal said.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As demand for natural products continues to rise, the Natural Products Association (NPA) is extending its natural seal and standard to include home care products, such as household cleaners, laundry detergents, and concentrated and ready-to-use hard surface cleaners. Until now, there was no standard definition of the term “natural” used by the home care industry. Now, an easily identifiable seal will help consumers discern which products are natural. Shoppers can expect the seal to begin appearing on certified home care products in the coming months. “A number of products that are mainly synthetic are being positioned as natural,” said Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the NPA. “This leads to significant consumer confusion about the category and products people are choosing.” The brand new standard comes amidst growing consumer confusion about what makes a product natural.

DANA POINT, CALIF.—Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment (AOTE) program will launch at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel on Earth Day, April 22, 2010. AOTE includes an environmental and cultural education center with excursions led by expert naturalists. “The launch of AOTE demonstrates our strong commitment to our community and our planet,” said general manager Bruce Brainerd. “The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel will be the first luxury resort in the continental United States to offer a comprehensive program that provides guests the opportunity to become advocates of protecting and preserving the planet for future generations through social responsibility and stewardship.” AOTE is designed to give guests of all ages the most fun and enriching experience possible in nature. This is achieved through excursions, games, multimedia presentations, discussions and activities. Each day will be dedicated to different aspects of Southern California’s natural wonders.

HONG KONG—Demonstrating its commitment to protecting the environment and mitigating climate change, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel groups, announced that it will participate for a second consecutive year in Earth Hour, a global Worldwide Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) climate change initiative. On March 27, 2010, between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m., more than 60 Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts worldwide will turn off their lights in most back-of-the-house areas and dim the lights in public areas, restaurants and hotel exteriors. Guests will be encouraged to participate by turning off the lights in their guestrooms. Shangri-La estimates that for each hour of shutting off or dimming lights per hotel, it can save up to 60 megawatts of electricity, which is equivalent to providing the lighting energy requirements of a city of 500,000 residents for 24 hours.

ORLANDO, FLA.—The biggest news coming out of Carlson Hotels’ Global Business Conference from March 3 to 5 was its Ambition 2015 growth strategy focused on expanding the company’s property folio by at least 50 percent to more than 1,500 hotels in operation. From a corporate social responsibility perspective (CSR), the news at the conference may not have been as grand but it certainly was as important. Beathe-Jeanette Lunde, executive vice president of human resources for Carlson Hotels, The Americas, unveiled Carlson’s 2010 CSR strategy to Carlson stakeholders. Included in it is an Americas commitment to the United Nations Global Compact, employee training in responsible business, the launch of a Carlson Hotels Responsible Business Award, assistance with green certification, and the rollout of a program to collect environmental performance data.

SAN FRANCISCO—Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants has introduced Wines That Care during its hosted nightly wine hour at nearly 50 hotels nationwide. For guests in the mood to mix and mingle in the living room-style lobby with a glass of red or white, every savored sip will come from a featured winery of the month chosen for its dedication to the earth and local communities. Hand-picked by Kimpton’s wine director and master sommelier, Emily Wines, Wines That Care will offer pours from a different winery each month that has a unique story and genuine commitment to environmental preservation and sustainability. “Partnering with like-minded companies through Wines that Care allows us to provide guests with more than complimentary wine each night, but a way to support the environment and their communities when they stay at Kimpton,” said Emily Wines, director of wines and master sommelier, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.—CMC Media Inc., publisher of the Green Building Journal and host of GreenBuildingPro.com, a social media community for green building professionals, has announced Green Building Expo 2010. The online conference and exposition, which will take place May 19 to 20, 2010, is available free to attendees anywhere Internet connectivity is available. According to Conservation International, online events can eliminate more than 300 tons of CO2 per 1000 attendees. Green Building Expo is a virtual conference and showcase with wide-ranging exhibits, conference sessions, panel discussions and keynote presentations by Jack Canfield, originator of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series and by the Organic Architect, Eric Corey Freed, author of “Green Building for Dummies” and “Sustainable School Architecture.” Because of its online nature, people, who would never be able to participate in such an event, can participate at their leisure from the comfort of their home or office.

LAS VEGAS—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas, two Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., Las Vegas resorts, the agency’s WasteWise New Partner Gold Achievement Award. The Gold Achievement Award is presented to new partners that implement successful comprehensive waste reduction programs that epitomize the objectives of the EPA’s WasteWise program. The first casino entertainment company to be awarded an EPA WasteWise Gold Achievement Award, Harrah’s is also the only national casino entertainment company to belong to the EPA’s WasteWise member list. “Harrah’s Entertainment employees at the Bally’s Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas hotel implemented an impressive array of programs that continue to have a positive impact on the environment and help educate employees and the general public alike,” said Ronald Vance from the EPA’s Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery.