Glamping is basically a mesh of Glamour and Camping and offers a very green, low carbon footprint alternative to hotels. What a fantastic concept! You are able to blend the best things about hotels, luxury and glamour and enjoy nature without all the unnecessary guilt that you’re wracking up your carbon footprints.

We are going to explore a few venues in various continents but this is really a small glimpse at the options available. Be sure to check out Go Glamping for an abundance of destinations.

United Kingdom

Cornwall: Ekopod

Ekopod in Cornwall serve up a refreshing take on luxury camping with their stylish geodesic tent complete with private kitchen and bathroom. Furnished with chic modern classics, the pods, as they are known, feature large clear windows in the front to frame the open countryside and unpolluted clear night sky. There are also adjacent en-suite bathroom and kitchen tents offering the best in luxury camping kit for the exclusive use of each pod. The pods are perched on the edge of Bodmin Moor in 3 acres of wild flower meadow directly above the Old Vicarage in St Clether, between Camelford and Launceston.

East Devon: Higher Manor Farm

For romantic couples wanting to relax and enjoy the unspoilt countryside at any time of year, this genuine shepherd’s hut is situated in the top field of Higher Manor Farm. Secluded in its own paddock with views over mares, foals and lambs, the hut has only one ‘neighbour’, the yurt, a good distance away, which may also be rented independently or together with the shepherd’s hut. Access is via a little woodland path, 50 yards from the farm entrance, a gentle stroll up a tiny lane, so you have no pollution or noise from any vehicles. The hut has a separate shower unit with loo and washbasin nearby, just a short stroll away and lit by solar lights at night. The owners are happy to get shopping in with ample notice and free range eggs are on the house, hens permitting of course! Although technically a few hundred yards into East Devon, the farm is situated only 5 minutes in the car from Lyme Regis in Dorset and the Jurassic coast, a World Heritage site.

Africa

Cape Town: Grand Daddy Hotel

Uniquely set on the rooftop of the Grand Daddy Hotel in Cape Town, the Airstream Penthouse Park is a collection of vintage Airstream trailers personally sourced in the USA. Lovingly revamped by a group of local artists, each of the seven trailers has been given a new lease of life through playful, eccentric and dazzling décor. Each Airstream is enclosed by a neat garden complete with US Postal Service mailboxes. All of the Airstreams are air-conditioned, incredibly well-insulated, have hot and cold running water, flushing toilets and showers. The communal areas include a comfy tented sky bar with generous couches and heaters to keep you warm during winter.  The trailers are connected by a series of timber walkways and indigenous gardens. There is also a fully equipped open-air cinema, ideal for screening corporate videos or family movies.

Tanzania:  Serengeti Migration Camp

A perfect example of old-world style mixed with contemporary luxury, the Serengeti Migration Camp is a collection of twenty spacious elevated safari tents each with hard-wood floors, rain showers and lavish furnishings. The camp is located at the starting point of one of the world’s natural travel wonders: the Serengeti, host to the largest overland mammal migration. Each of the luxurious tents are surrounded by private decked verandahs with rocking chairs from where guests can enjoy a 180 degree view of the Serengeti. Fully furnished, the tents are equipped with either king or twin beds, comfortable leather armchairs, coffee and writing tables, en-suite with showers and double vanities. Guest can enjoy romantic dining in the privacy of their own tent or in the camp restaurant overlooking the Grumeti River, where inventive dishes are served using locally sourced produce whenever possible.

Americas

Ontario: WildExodus Glamorous Camping

Open from May to November each year, Glamorous Camping by WildExodus is a rich and natural eco-tourism experience in the Boreal Forest, the wilderness region of Ontario. This luxury campsite is a genuine, nature-based, cultural and learning experience; wilderness exploration espousing to the principals of responsible travel and eco-tourism. The adventure is infused with natural history and laced with potent memories. A premier quality tourism product, it is uniquely identifiable and offers a high level of service. Rekindling of kinships; harmony with the elements of nature and a strengthening of bonds with those in your company is what can be expected from this experience.

California: Rosa Muerta

The brainchild of Robert Stone, a former punk rocker turned architect, Rosa Muerta is a unique open-air dwelling offering you the chance to re-frame and re-create your own world, if only for a weekend. This minimalist structure is made from concrete blocks and has four rooms: a spacious outdoor living room with spa, fire pit and barbecue; a bedroom; a bathroom; and a small but well equipped kitchen. Located just 10 minutes from the National Park the house is tucked against a rock outcropping just outside the edge of the city of Joshua Tree.

Europe

Hautes Pyrénées, France: The Yurt

This secluded eco-friendly yurt is completely private and ideal for nature lovers or those seeking a romantic retreat. The location is excellent for hiking in the mountains, bird watching, star-gazing, Thalasso Spas, cycling, or simply relaxing. The Yurt is a spacious hand-made Turkish style Ger, made out of sweet chestnut, oak and willow positioned on a wooden platform. A well-equipped kitchenette is located in the timber framed entrance, with kitchen sink, fridge, 4 ring gas hob and microwave. The yurt has it’s own private decked area, with patio table and chairs and BBQ fire pit. The bathroom has an eco-friendly, composting dry toilet and waste water is filtered through reed beds. The bathroom is also a “hide” for birdwatching, with viewing directly into the forest. Home-cooked meals made with the freshest local produce can be ordered from the owners for dining in the yurt. Located close to the National Parks of the French Pyrenees, The Yurt is ideally located for a memorable hike in the mountains, or a picnic by a lake surrounded by stunning scenery.

Sweden, Västmanland: Kolarbyn Eco-lodge

Sweden’s most primitive hotel is this collection of twelve cosy little huts located in a forest by the beautiful Lake Skärsjön. A natural refuge for silence, wilderness and adventure, the Kolarbyn Eco-lodge is set in dense forest by the beautiful Lake Skärsjön, just a couple of hours away from the capital Stockholm. There’s no electricity in these cosy little huts but that’s all part of the appeal. Families with kids seeking true adventure, and fun, will find it all here.

Spain, Andalucía: Altiplano Tipis

An intimate tipi campsite situated in a rugged area of Andalucia known as the ‘Lake District’ of Spain. Surrounded by an abundance of flora and fauna, Altiplano Tipis is a small alternative campsite offering accommodation in three tipis for no more than 6 guests at any one time. Each tipi has its own private shower, sink and toilet set within one of the nearby cave structures – an architecture that is very common in the region.

What beautiful places to enjoy a short breakaway or a lengthy holiday. With the variety of destinations available, there is sure to be something for everyone’s tastes. Remember that glampsites, like regular campsites, differ greatly. And luxury is defined differently at each commercial glamping venue. When considering a glampsite, here are a few important questions to ask yourself:

• What does the rental rate include? (Example, some offer free Wi-Fi, others don’t.)
• Is the rate per person or per night? Is there a minimum stay requirement?
• What special events and activities are offered, and at what cost?
• Are children and/or pets welcome?
• What are the food/cooking options? If campfires or barbecues are available, what in the way of utensils, cookware, plates are provided? Will you have a table or are tables shared? Distance to nearby restaurants? The rules governing alcohol consumption?
• If location and type of toilet and shower facilities are a concern, ask (they vary).

Remember, glamping — although comfy — is still a form of camping, so don’t forget the bug repellent, sunscreen and Band-Aids.

Happy Glamping!

For more information, visit Go Glamping.

Source: Go Glamping

Samantha Minogue

Editorial Director

The Malaysian hospitality group is aiming to revolutionise the European hotel market by applying Ryanair-style pricing to rooms, including charging for everything from towels to room cleaning.

Tune Hotels is set to open its first UK hotel in Central London at then end of this month. It will offer standard rooms with ensuite at £35 a night. It plans to generate the bulk of its revenue from supplementary charges. Towels will cost £1 a throw, room cleaning £7.50 (or you can do it yourself), luggage storage £2 and using a hair dryer £2.

Following the opening of the Westminster Bridge Road hotel on August 30, there are plans to roll out a further 15 hotels across the capital by 2017. This will create an additional 1,500 rooms and represent a £150million investment in the London’s hospitality sector.

The company’s chief executive Mark Lankester said: “It’s all about choice. We say consumers should assemble the experience as they see fit.

“We aim to provide whatever suits the customer in terms of timing, price and the comfort people require.
“If you want to stay in a five-star hotel there are plenty of them in London. But if you are worried about price then we are going to be relevant.”

The hotel chain’s founder Tony Fernandes is also behind budget, long-haul airline AirAsia as well as a string of budget hotels in Malaysia and Indonesia, which offer rooms for as little as £2 a night.

Lankester added: “While London’s global reputation as a leisure and business destination will be enhanced by the Olympic Games in 2012, sterling’s current weakness works in London’s favour in attracting overseas visitors and spend.”

“And in times of continuing economic uncertainty, superior value for money remains key.”

“Our limited service concept encourages guests to spend less within the hotel itself, driving more spend outside the hotel, within the local business community.”

Lankester expects half his London hotel’s visitors will be British, with the remainder being European and Malaysian.

The basic concept of Tune Hotels is that they offer 5 star beds at 1 star prices.

The Tune beds feature high quality spring mattress beds with pillows, pillowcases, bed sheets and 250-thread count duvets, custom-made by bedmakers who supply 5-star hotels – the basis of their promise for a 5-star bed.

Each of their rooms feature ensuite (attached) private bathrooms with high-pressure, heated Power Showers. So even though you’re paying minimal room rates, you’re still enjoying premium showers in maximum privacy.

All Tune Hotels.com hotels are strategically located close to major shopping, sightseeing and business destinations. Nearby each hotel, you’ll find established convenience store operators and food & beverage outlets to give you reliable facilities within easy reach.

They provide housekeeping services to ensure you have a clean and pleasant stay.

Through their affordable pay-as-you-use system of add-ons for energy-consuming facilities and amenities, they try to help you conserve both your funds as well as the earth’s resources.

The hotels use electronic key card access into rooms, CCTV cameras, round-the-clock on duty reception staff and no access to the main lobby without a keycard past midnight.

Tune Hotels in concerned about energy consumption and the environment and therefore rewards you depending on how much or how little electricity and energy you use. If you spend most of your day out of your room, you are charged accordingly. You are able to reuse your towels and bedding and save water in the cleaning process. All lighting is controlled by your rooms keycard to optimal light usage is upheld.

For more information, simply visit Tune Hotels.com.

Source: Tune Hotels

Samantha Minogue

Editorial Director

Deregulation of electricity and natural gas markets in Pennsylvania is giving residential and commercial consumers (including green hotels) the opportunity to choose their utility providers – and save big money on their energy costs as a result.

Green hotels in Philadelphia are beefing up their energy efficiency strategies in order to maximize the savings they can achieve thanks to deregulation. That’s a smart move, because estimates are that hotels lacking an energy efficiency strategy that also bypass this chance to pick their utility provider will end up paying as much as 36% more for energy than they have to.

In response, people like Francine Cohen of PhilaGreen Hospitality Association are promoting sustainability in hotels, restaurants and facilities in the City of Brotherly Love. The association held a seminar on July 13th presenting practical ways for Philadelphia’s green hotels to save on their water and electric bills. One seminar speaker from Villanova University discussed practical ways green hotels can lower the new storm water fees.

EcoGreenHotel, an Energy Star Partner, has also taken action to assist the Philadelphia hotel industry by educating hotel professionals on their choices of electric and gas service suppliers and implementing energy efficient strategies throughout the property.

Another shining star in Philadelphia green lodging is Marvin Dixon, director of engineering at the fabulous Four Seasons. Anyone who thinks that sustainability can’t be opulent should go talk to Marvin. He and the property’s green team are reducing energy costsat their luxury property by maintaining a rooftop garden, using microturbines to create their own energy, and operating a heat recovery system that warms water for laundry and the swimming pool, among other things.

Another grand green hotel with a Philadelphia address is the Palomar, a boutique Kimpton property in the Center City area. Energy efficient lighting, low flow fixtures and a long list of additional earth-friendly features make the Palomar one of the city’s most sustainable lodging choices for eco-savvy travelers.

With all the changes on the horizon for Philly, we’re wishing everyone a satisfyingly sustainable summer– and big savings on those energy bills!

For more information, visit EcoGreenHotel.

Source: EcoGreenHotel

Samantha Minogue

Editorial Director

Marriott International, Inc. celebrated the opening of the 403-room Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway, a newly constructed hotel adjacent to the Georgia International Convention Center and connected to Atlanta’s Hartsfield -Jackson International Airport.

Contemporary in feel and filled with natural light and vibrant colors, the hotel’s facilities for business and relaxation represent the latest design and innovation of Marriott Hotels & Resorts. The Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway is on track to earn LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification silver from the U.S. Green Building Council.

“We are so proud to introduce this state-of-the-art hotel to the Atlanta market as a shining example of our iconic Marriott Hotels brand,” said Erika Alexander, area vice president, Marriott International. “Having had a major presence in the community for over 45 years, we recognize Atlanta as one of the most dynamic cities in the United States. This new Marriott hotel reflects the future of this vibrant community.”

Just two minutes from the airport via the ATL SkyTrain and part of the vibrant Atlanta Gateway complex, this eco and tech savvy meeting destination features more than 21,000 square feet of flexible meeting space which includes the 12,000 square ft Gateway Ballroom, the largest hotel ballroom in the Airport area. The hotel is connected by a covered walkway to the adjacent Georgia International Convention Center. Together, both venues provide 321,000 square feet of meeting space. The Gateway Marriott hotel is also equipped with a GoThere Virtual Meetings studio, in partnership with AT&T TelePresence Solution, using Cisco TelePresence™ technology making it the only hotel in Atlanta to provide this virtual meeting technology.

The hotel is uniquely designed for the achiever who makes the most out of every opportunity – whether traveling for business or pleasure. The stylish hotel lobby is a social hub showcasing a Media Zone with complimentary Wi-Fi to work alone, catch up with clients, friends or co-workers. Relaxing spaces provide the ideal place to dine or to enjoy the day-to-night bar which transitions from coffee and pastries in the morning to cocktails and appetizers in the evening.  The menu design allows guests to order food based on how quickly they need it – in 5, 10 or 20 minutes!

Following are some of the hotel’s outstanding amenities:

• 403-sound proof guest rooms including 18 suites are designed for relaxing work and restful sleep, all equipped with high definition LCD televisions, Plug-In panel, wired and wireless DS3 fast internet, swivel desks, iHome docking station, refrigerators, laptop safes, individual reading lights on the headboards and Marriott’s signature bedding.
• Champions Restaurant serving a classic American menu as well as regional favorites like shrimp and grits, smokey joe barbeque and signature organic beverages, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Champions offers free Wi Fi and numerous high definition televisions.
• Concierge level and concierge lounge located on the top floor overlooking the beautifully landscaped Gateway complex and the ATL SkyTrain is designed for optimum relaxation and work.
• 24-hour spacious fitness center overlooking the SkyTrain and adjacent indoor swimming pool offers an abundance of natural light and features more than 20 state-of-the-art Life Fitness strength and cardio equipment.
• The self–service Business center open 24 hours a day is equipped with work stations, copier and fax.
• Hertz Rental Car Desk for easy pick-up and return.

The Atlanta Marriott Gateway will apply for LEED Silver status upon opening.

For further information and to find out rates, visit Marriott Gateway.

Source: Marriott

Samantha Minogue

Editorial Director

All their hotels take part in a dedicated Responsible Business program. Each hotel has a unique RB Action Plan covering areas such as community outreach, environmental improvement, employee well-being and health and safety.

The Radisson Blue Royal Hotel Brussels has recently obtained the “Green Key”, an international eco-label awarded to leisure organizations and facilities that demands the fulfillment of a list of environmental requirements. This Radisson Blu Royal Hotel is the first hotel in Brussels to obtain the Green Key. Besides environmental demands, the criteria for a Green Key include demands on policy, action plans, education and communication and showing a sense of responsibility for surroundings and society.

Some of the other Responsible Business activites of the Radisson Blu in Brussels include:

ISO 9001

Since January 2009 the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel has been ISO 9001 certified, which is a quality management system label. This is the first hotel in Brussels to achieve this certification, and the hotel is now working toward the environmental management system, ISO 14001.

Ecodynamic Enterprise

In the year 2007, The Radisson Blu Royal Hotel has been awarded for its environmental efforts with its first star as Enterprise Eco Dynamique by the Brussels’ Government. Since then we continuously improved our actions and truly integrated environmental sustainability into our daily operations and are now awarded with three stars, working towards the maximum third star in this environmental certification being the only hotel in Brussels to attain this!

Community involvement/charities:

• Annually, a full team runs 20 km for Childhood
• Donations to the local charity NASCI
• The hotel organize several actions in benefit for Childhood: e.g. concerts, selling soup at the Christmas market
• Donations are made to orphanages

Waste generation control:

• Reduce Hotel suppliers are asked to decrease the amount of packaging in their deliveries.
• Reuse Corks for “bouchon de liege” are recycled in both restaurants; papers are printed recto-verso; furniture/ bedding/equipment is donated to charity groups.
• Recycle Paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, metal cans, oil, printer cartridges, fluorescent bulbs, used CD ROMs and magnetic cards, batteries, metal hangers

Energy efficiency:

• The hotel uses energy-efficient light bulbs
• Elevators work with counterweight to reduce energy consumption
• General switch off/on for lightening in the room

Other achievements:

• Over 70% of the hotel’s staff use public transportation to help reducing urban air pollution
• Once a year, the hotel staff plant trees
• Responsible business is included in all job descriptions
• Monthly reporting of copies and prints

How Guests Can Help:

• Use public transport
• Put used batteries in one of the hotel’s battery boxes
• Bring corks to one of the hotel restaurants for recycling
• Reuse towels
• Save energy by switching off any appliances when they are not in use
• Donate unwanted items like toiletries, towels, and clothes; simply leave them for the housekeeping staff or drop them off at the reception.
• Offset stay as GoldPoint member and help environmental projects in cooperation with a carbon free company.

Why Responsible Business is important to the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Brussels:

Preserving the environment has become more important as more species of plants and animals become endangered or extinct. Half of the world’s population lives on less than 2 USD per day, and by 2025, it is expected that food production will have to double to be able to feed the growing population. Companies like ours have the resources to make a change… Yes we can!

The Green Key

The Green Key® is a worldwide available eco-label awarded to leisure orgnaisations, as hotels, youth hostels, conference- and holiday centres, campsites, holidayhouses and leisure facilities. To obtain The Green Key the company has to fulfil a list of environmental requirements. These requirements are contained in a number of criteria. Besides environmental demands ( by example to control the production of waste and the use of water, electricity, etc.), the criteria include demands on policy, action plans, education and communication. Obtaining The Green Key shows the sense of responsibility a organisation has for its surroundings and society.

For more information, visit Radisson Blu.

Source: Radisson Blu Royal Hotel Brussels

Samantha Minogue

Editorial Director

Be tree-ted to a green spa experience and indulge in a relaxing, luxurious treatment that also pampers the planet.

Committed to a spa philosophy that inspires wellness and wholeness and celebrates healthful and sustainable choices, Four Seasons Resort Langkawi announces its latest treatment, Green Glow. This eco-friendly rejuvenation features the spas signature restorative Urut Melayu massage of long, rhythmic strokes and gentle kneading applied with soothing, nutrient-rich, virgin coconut oil.

Caring for one’s body and the earth are two things that go hand-in-hand. For every Green Glow Tree-tment performed, the Resort will dedicate a little gift to Mother Earth by planting a tree sapling in its Resort gardens; guests will also receive a take-away spa gift of a 100 ml bottle of organic coconut oil.

Made with organic ingredients harvested in an eco friendly way, virgin coconut oil is deeply hydrating and moisturising. Widely celebrated for its therapeutic properties, warm virgin coconut oil is excellent as a massage oil, and its evocative fragrance and silky texture revitalises both body and soul. While the heady scent and smooth texture of coconut oil smothered on the skin may feel like pure indulgence, coconut is actually a very nourishing ingredient for the skin and body. Perfect for dry and devitalised skin, the rich natural healing properties of coconut hydrate and restore.

Tapping into Mother Nature’s bounty, the Spa focuses on the use of locally-sourced organic herbs, spices, flowers and fruits to create its menu of holistic treatments in harmony with nature. Healing as they are rejuvenating, the natural properties of these native botanicals have inspired many of Malaysia’s time-honoured spa rituals. The Green Glow treatment is amongst a full-line of exclusive island-inspired therapies in development at the Spa. These indigenous herbs, fruits and spices are commonly used to make oils, wraps and scrubs that characterise the island’s traditional spa treatments.

Drawing on other the rich natural traditions of the island and surrounding sea, treatments such as rejuvenating exfoliation scrubs and soothing body wraps make the most of ingredients from the Resort’s own gardens with freshly harvested and blended tropical fruits such as papayas and pineapples. A face massage with nourishing fruit enzymes or a richly-hydrating papaya body cream leave guests in tropical bliss when these naturally exfoliating fruits are massaged over the body to polish the skin to silken perfection.

The holistic nature-inspired approach to spa therapies at Four Seasons Resort Langkawi is also complimented by high quality plant-based essential oils and skin care products from a premium eco-concious spa line, Sodashi.

An oasis of tranquillity set amid forested limestone hills and reflecting ponds, the Spa at Four Seasons Resort Langkawi offers a myriad of holistic therapies inspired by Malaysia’s own indigenous traditions and nature’s healing embrace, all nurtured in the personal care of Four Seasons. Cocooned amid 15,000 square feet of serene gardens, the Spa features six double indoor treatment pavilions, each with a dedicated soaking tub, private changing room, steam room, outdoor rain shower and Yoga bale.

For more information, visit Four Seasons.

Source: Four Seasons

Samantha Minogue

Editorial Director

Marriott International is making it easier for guests to volunteer and support the local community while traveling for business or vacation. Beginning August 3rd, guests who book the “Spirit To Serve New Orleans” voluntourism package can partner with New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity or Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans, through the end of the year, to help rebuild homes hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina and provide food to families impacted by the Gulf oil spill. Rates start at $99.

“August 29th marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the oil spill has created a new challenge; but the city of New Orleans is resilient,” said Gil Zanchi, General Manager, New Orleans Marriott. “Thanks to great partners, we can extend our company’s ‘spirit to serve’ philosophy to our guests and provide the opportunity to make a difference while they’re visiting with us because there is still more to do.”

The “Spirit to Serve New Orleans” voluntourism package is available at the nine hotels in downtown New Orleans, La. and includes: a dedicated concierge to coordinate volunteer efforts; deluxe accommodations; box lunch for two (2); transportation to and from the volunteer site; and two (2) commemorative t-shirts. The participating hotels are: New Orleans Marriott; JW Marriott New Orleans; New Orleans Marriott at the Convention Center; Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette Hotel; Renaissance New Orleans Arts; Courtyard New Orleans Downtown near the French Quarter; Courtyard New Orleans Convention Center; SpringHill Suites New Orleans Convention Center; and Residence Inn New Orleans Convention Center.

Marriott International plays an active role in the communities where our guests and employees live and work. It’s a philosophy that began with our founders, J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott, more than 80 years ago called “Spirit to Serve Our Communities.” Each year, Marriott employees donate more than 320,000 volunteer hours to local charities and organizations.  With nearly nine million visitors to the city of New Orleans annually – according to the New Orleans Convention Visitors’ Bureau – Marriott guests now have the opportunity to make a difference in this community.

For information on Marriott’s corporate social responsibility, visit Marriott.

Source: Marriott

Samantha Minogue

Editorial Director

The Courtyard Charleston/Summerville in South Carolina will be the first hotel built using Marriott International’s (NYSE: MAR) green hotel prototype, in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC.)  This will dramatically accelerate the company’s goal to have 300 LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) hotels by 2015.  Marriott is the first in the hospitality industry to launch a green hotel prototype that has been pre-approved by USGBC as part of its LEED Volume program, meaning that any Marriott hotel that follows these plans will earn basic LEED certification, or possibly higher, upon USGBC final approval.

The new Courtyard hotel will open in early 2012 as a part of a joint venture between Blanchard & Calhoun Commercial of Augusta, Ga., and MeadWestvaco of Summerville, S.C. The hotel will introduce the first phase of The Parks of Berkley, a community consisting of 5,000 acres and one of the largest planned developments in the Southeastern United States.

“This new program packages all the basic requirements for LEED certification in a prototype,” said Karim Khalifa, senior vice president, architecture and construction for Marriott International. “It saves our owners valuable time and money in the planning process and allows us to provide a greener portfolio of hotels for our guests.”

Last fall, Marriott announced plans to develop a green hotel prototype for its Courtyard brand that will save roughly $100,000, six months in design time, and up to 25 percent energy and water savings for its owners.  To develop the green hotel prototype, Marriott was guided by the Courtyard Pittsburgh Settlers Ridge in Pennsylvania, which will open this fall and is registered for LEED certification.  The company partnered with the USGBC and Marriott suppliers — Kohler Company and Philips Lighting – to test fixtures that save energy and water and measure results.

Based on the results of the Courtyard brand, Marriott has plans to create similar green hotel prototypes for Residence Inn by Marriott, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott and Fairfield Inn by Marriott.

Currently, Marriott has nearly 50 hotels across all brands that are LEED-certified or registered by the USGBC, including the following:

• The Inn & Conference Center by Marriott at the University of Maryland, the first LEED-certified hotel in North America
• The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte in North Carolina in North Carolina, LEED Gold-certified
• Courtyard Chevy Chase in Maryland, LEED Gold-certified
• Courtyard Portland City Center in Oregon, LEED Gold-certified
• Fairfield Inn & Suites Baltimore Downtown/Inner Harbor, LEED Gold-certified
• Atlanta Marriott Gateway, applying for LEED certification upon opening
• SpringHill Suites Atlanta Airport Gateway, LEED-registered, applying for certification
• JW San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, LEED-registered, applying for certification
• JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles LA Live, LEED-registered, applying for certification
• The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles at LA Live, LEED-registered, applying for certification
• The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe, in Nevada applying for certification
• TownePlace Suites Baltimore BWI Airport, applying for LEED-Existing Building certification

Additionally, Marriott International, Inc. headquarters in Bethesda, Md., achieved LEED for Existing Buildings Gold certification earlier this year.

Building on more than 20 years of energy conservation experience, Marriott is committed to protecting the environment.  The company’s Spirit To Preserve® environmental strategy calls for:  Greening our $10 billion supply chain; further reducing energy and water consumption by 25 percent per available room by 2017; expanding our portfolio of green hotels and buildings, including 300 LEED® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design)-certified hotels, by 2015; educating and inspiring employees and guests to support the environment; and investing in innovative, large-scale conservation projects worldwide.

USGBC’s LEED rating system is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. For more information, visit USGBC.

For more information on Marriott International’s environmental strategy and initiatives, visit Marriott.

Source: Marriott

Samantha Minogue

Editorial Director

Not only are green hotels better for the environment, travelers overwhelmingly prefer them. This week Travelocity announced that eco-friendly hotels get higher consumer reviews than their non-green counterparts. To celebrate this, the company has kicked off the It’s Good to Be Green sale with special deals on green hotels that have great reviews.

Travelocity allows consumers to rate its hotels on a scale of 1-5 smiley faces. When the company studied the reviews for green hotels, a fascinating trend emerged. Consumers gave 83 percent of non-green hotels three smiley faces or more–but they gave a whopping 94 percent of green hotels three smiley faces or more. “This data confirms something we’ve long suspected,” says Alison Presley, manager of Travelocity’s Travel for Good® program. “Our eco-friendly hotels care deeply about the entire experience they provide and that attention to detail translates into an awesome stay overall.”

The company has more than 2,000 hotels in its Green Hotel Directory and the company works with an elite group of certification programs to ensure that each hotel in its program is making significant strides in sustainability. Travelocity is the only major online travel company that flags green hotels site-wide with an eco-friendly tag and the company holds the line against “greenwashing” by not accepting “self-certified” hotels.

For the It’s Good to Be Green sale, travelers can save up to 30 percent on more than 160 eco-friendly hotels around the world that have an average rating of 3.5 smiley faces or higher.

Travelocity doesn’t just promote eco-friendly products–the company is also working hard to reduce its own footprint and to promote sustainability within the travel industry. The company’s sustainability efforts start at home with its LEED-certified Silver headquarters. And to date, Travelocity and its customers have helped The Conservation Fund plant more than 24,000 trees across five national wildlife refuges that will trap an estimated 25,400 metric tons of CO2 over the life of those forests. The company is also a founding member of the Tourism Sustainability Council, which is working toward a more sustainable future for the industry.

Source: Travelocity

Samantha Minogue

Editorial Director

Hyatt is offering guidance to ensure eco-friendly practices take place, thus enhancing meetings. Hyatt Hotels & Resorts has launched a new program, Meet and be Green, that encourages guests and planners to make green choices for their meetings. In order to “Meet and Be Green” at Hyatt, planners and meeting attendees will pledge to take these ten steps to “go green” during their meeting:

• Recycle during the meeting
• Use products with 100% recycled content
• Print materials locally
• Minimize shipping
• Rather than setting materials at every seat, place meeting materials, such as handouts, notepads, pens, etc., in a central location so attendees can take as needed
• Maintain room temperatures at an appropriate level
• Eliminate disposable water bottles
• Minimize use of other disposable products such as plates, cups, napkins, and utensils
• Select locally grown seasonal foods when planning the menu
• Plan ahead for the meeting to make it easier and more economical to keep the meeting green

Dedicated Hyatt meeting planners will help source products with 100% recycled content where possible, find local suppliers, and maximize efforts to reduce waste to create a meeting experience that exceeds expectations and helps the environment at the same time. To discuss Meet and Be Green options, meeting planners should contact a Hyatt sales representative.

For new meetings booked by December 30, 2010, and held by March 31, 2011 at full-service Hyatt hotels and resorts in the U.S. and Canada, groups participating in the Meet and Be Green program will be eligible for a 3% rebate on qualifying charges on the master bill. Meet and Be Green is one of the latest additions to Great Happens, Hyatt’s ongoing campaign to emphasize the power and importance of in-person meetings.

“We created Meet and Be Green as a way to reward businesses for helping reduce the environmental impact that can result from meetings,” said Jack Horne, vice president of sales for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts – North America. “By seeing how simple it can be to plan and participate in a green meeting, we are hoping to make green meetings a must-have for all businesses preparing and planning meetings.”

Meet and Be Green is one part of Hyatt’s larger pledge to conserve energy, minimize waste and create responsible, sustainable corporate practices to care for the earth and guests. By empowering guests to do the same, Hyatt and its planners can help minimize the environmental impact of meetings.

In addition to the launch of Meet and Be Green, Hyatt recently announced the rollout of new Seasonal Banquet Menus. These menu selections are updated quarterly and provide food and beverage enhancements for meetings and events that feature items from local and regional farmers, fisherman and cheese makers.

Hyatt was recently recognized as the top hotel chain for meetings in the 2010 Executive Travel Magazine Leading Edge Gold Awards.

For full details of the Meet and Be Green program and available promotions have a look at www.hyattmeetings.com.

Source: Hyatt

Samantha Minogue

Editorial Director