As the United Kingdom’s Glastonbury Festival approaches, we look at an exciting new hotel stay concept. Introducing The “transient” Pop-Up Hotel, which allows them to pop-up at the best locations throughout the year.

The Pop-up Hotel, based in the United Kingdom, provides luxury accommodation with great service at some of the best festivals and most gorgeous locations in Britain. The concept blends the romance and thrill of camping with the luxury and service you would expect at a top boutique hotel.

They are a small family owned and managed company based in beautiful rural Somerset, United Kingdom. The concept of The Pop-up Hotel has been formed by their 14 years experience of luxury property development in the Caribbean, married to their love of the British countryside and culture.

With prices starting from £65 per night for their rooms and with all they have to offer, there really is no point looking further. The rooms on offer are pure indulgent luxury with all the green credentials to keep you coming back for more. The rooms are bell tents with full double beds and sofas, wooden flooring rugs, led solar powered lighting. Each bell is capable of sleeping 4 comfortably.  It is far more than conventional touring camping but far less than a conventional hotel room – and so much better!

The essence of The Pop-Up Hotel in the United Kingdom is green because they don’t cause a massive co2 footprint and untold damage by building a conventional concrete hotel.  They are transient and all their sites are in their natural state for at least 11 months of the year.  They will be very strict on food sources as this helps their eco credentials and gives their guests a true local flavour.  The energy they use in comparison to a conventional hotel is minuscule, there are very few electrical appliances, with led lighting energy being renewed from solar.

It is a tough line to walk launching a hotel product where you want your guests to really enjoy the experience but also to be environmentally responsible.  The Pop-Up Hotel team stems from a very young company but  does have a lot of property experience mainly in the Caribbean (they are developing a low impact resort there for investors).

“The concept is fully realized but some of the details are work in progress! I think there is a market for guests wanting to really experience a location or event, being in an insulated concrete box from a generic hotel just doesn’t allow you to do that.”, explains Mark Sorrill, The Pop-Up Hotel MD.

For further information on The Pop-Up Hotel and to book your gorgeous Bell Tent at the Glastonbury Festival in the United Kingdom, visit The Pop-Up Hotel website.

Samantha Minogue

Editorial Director

Guest writer, Isabel Clift from AnyTrip.com has chosen a low-cost lodge from each that tries to educate travellers about their natural surroundings and give back to local communities, here’s the top three:

The Raintree Lodge, Fiji

Fiji’s first purpose-built eco lodge and great for green budget travel, The Raintree near capital Suva was built with care to keep its amazing lake-and-forest surroundings undisturbed (in the end, only one tree was felled in the building process). The lodge has been designed with sustainability in mind, using a grey water filtration system which partly uses wetland plants to supply fresh water back to the two lakes outside (home to shoals of tilapia and grass carp).

To enjoy your surroundings, go boating in the larger lake in “Bottles Up”, the lodge’s own boat made from recycled plastic bottles. You can also spot indigenous wildlife by following trails at the nearby Colo-I-Suva Forest Park, which shelters hundreds of different tropical birds including golden doves, honeyeaters and Fiji white-eyes. Dorm stays start at €9.45, and private rooms start at €12.80.

Sueño Celeste B & B, Costa Rica

The family-run Sueño Celeste B&B eco lodge near Costa Rica’s Tenorio Volcano National Park is perfect for nature-lovers on a budget. Sitting on three acres of reforested land within the World Heritage-protected Bijagua de Upala, the lodge has forest trails where you can observe over 490 species of bird as well as stunning volcano views. You also can go on guided tours to find out about local livelihoods, including visits to agro-ecological farms and cane sugar mills, as well as buy artwork, homeware and furniture made by locals at the lodge’s coffee house. Breakfasts are prepared with eggs from the neighbouring farm, and there’s freshly-picked fruit and homemade bread, cakes and marmalade available daily. Private rooms start at €24.80.

Heliconia Amazon River Lodge, Peru

Found on the banks of the Amazon within the protected Yanamono Reserve, Heliconia Amazon River Lodge works with local communities to conserve the river and surrounding jungle’s natural habitat. Visit riverside communities, go on jungle excursions to spot indigenous sloths and anacondas, or go on boat rides to spot pink and grey river dolphins – all with guidance from local experts. The lodge is made up of traditionally-built palm-thatched huts, and ingredients for meals are regionally-sourced – expect to tuck in to local delicacies like catfish and lots of papaya, mango and melons. Rates for a three-day, two-night stay start from €108.30 per person and include all meals and excursions.

About our guest author: Isabel Clift is a travel writer and blogger for AnyTrip.com, a travel company based in the UK. She lives in London, loves vintage fairs and organic food, and tries her best to balance a love for travel with an eco-conscience!

For further information on Anytrip and for reservations, visit Anytrip.com. Want to travel greener? See more eco travel tips.

Samantha Minogue

Editorial Director

The annual BT Visit London Awards take place to highlight and celebrate the attractions, people and businesses that make London a world-class city.

Last year, umi hotel London was awarded the bronze medal within the Budget Accommodation of the Year category of the 2010 Visit London Awards.  It’s a tough category, especially for a hotel, so umi London was delighted that the panel of judges recognised them for their efforts within the budget accommodation market.  umi London’s  mission is to provide the best service at the best possible price for all customers and winning an award helps them to continue to do this.

umi London’s mission is to provide a service-led environment known for its welcome, its passion for fun, its great value and a desire to unite people and cultures.

What is Umi all about

To build a unique hotel they employed a unique approach. The focus was on building a brand with meaning behind it as oppose to just another hotel. They worked closely with a young branding agency called the youth conspiracy ltd. who were given the brief to create something different and revolutionise the industry. Their process had young people at the heart of all development. It was this bohemian nature found in cities all over Great Britain from London to Brighton to Liverpool which really connected with a diversity of characters and personalities.

What does Umi mean?

The ‘umi’ interlinking logotype expresses the fusion of cultures, ideas and people. The name ‘umi’ has a huge Asian influence. Meaning sea in Japanese, the name itself acts as our synapse-joining staff, guests and nationalities, breaking down boundaries and allowing a continual flow of communication with everyone who comes into contact with the umi brand.

umi London is a fantastic concept. It is a great option for the budget conscious traveler and cares about their carbon footprint too.

Have a look at their all-embracing green policy.

umi hotel London is located in one of the greenest cities in the world. Two-thirds of London are parks and lakes, and they want to keep it that way. They are aware that all our actions influence the environment, and they therefore strive to be as environmentally friendly as possible. They try to accomplish this by working all together with several ‘green’ companies, and implementing environmentally friendly actions in their hotel.

Energy:

• usage of low energy light bulbs for all the main lights in hallways and rooms.
• turn the central heating off every summer and during day in the winter.
• the central heating works on a timer and a temperature sensor, so the heating in the building will only turn on when it’s late and cold enough.
• guests are asked to turn off their TV’s at the socket so no energy is wasted.

Water efficiency:

• they do their laundry twice a week unless requested otherwise.
• the toilets in offices and the public toilets in the lobby are flushing on a timer so they save water

Purchasing:

• the cleaning products used are environmentally friendly and concentrated
• in rooms they provide guests with Fair-trade coffee and sugar
• they believe in local products for the kitchen, they serve fresh food in their restaurant that has been grown and produced in the UK where possible
• In their café they serve Fair-trade coffee, tea and sugar

Reusing and recycling:

• housekeeping uses their cleaning products in reusable bottles so they produce less waste
• all the bin bags in the hotel are made of recycled materials
• housekeeping washes their dusters themselves, so they do not have to buy new ones every day
• the used cooking oil in the kitchen is collected and converted into environmentally friendly biodiesel

For further information on umi London and for reservations, visit umi London.

Source: umi London

Samantha Minogue

Editorial Director

The Green Hotels and Responsible Tourism Initiative is an education resource that has been developed in partnership with respected tourism sustainability and hotel greening experts, Dr Sonya Graci and Jacqueline Kuehnel. The project is specifically designed to help hoteliers, travellers, and local communities develop and promote environmental, social, and cultural sustainability by increasing awareness of issues affecting tourism and showcasing best green practices for hoteliers.

Spokesperson, James Ferguson, who heads up the initiative, commented, “At HotelsCombined.com, we believe there is a moral obligation to conserve the natural environment and give back to the communities where we travel. The guides we’ve created on Green Hotels Combined provide suggestions and solutions, to help hoteliers become more environmentally friendly, and for travelers to enhance their enjoyment of the destination they visit while also being responsible tourists.”

Dr Sonya Graci, sustainable tourism specialist and director of Accommodating Green, said, “It is necessary for hotels both large and small to move towards greening their operations, not only to save money, but to protect the resources that sustain the industry. Hotels have to be forward thinking and understand the impact that their business has on the environment and that the environment is necessary for their business.”

The focus is not just on hotels, but raising awareness with travelers and fostering a sense of responsibility. The traveler’s guide – The Responsible Traveler Guide is an easy to read guide that shows travelers how to improve their travel experience while being environmentally responsible and improving the livelihood of the local communities. The guide follows the traveler’s lifecycle offering valuable suggestions for each stage – pre-planning, whilst traveling and post-travel.

Jacqueline Kuehnel, corporate social responsibility, climate change, and travel industry veteran, remarked, “HotelsCombined.com recognized that an informed traveler and a green supply chain are the beginning of a more sustainable tourism industry. These guides demonstrate leadership and a genuine effort to do their part in preserving the wonderful places we love to visit.”

To find out more information on Hotels Combined and for bookings, visit HotelsCombined.com. To learn more about green and responsible travel with Hotels Combined, visit the Green Hotels Combined website.

Source: HotelsCombined.com

Samantha Minogue

Editorial Director

onefinestay is London’s first unhotel. The concept is something between houseswap, Glamping and a hotel. Guests can stay in a high-end London home for a few days while the owner is out of town. onefinestay offers a new category of accommodation that is spacious, characterful and better value than a hotel. And it offers a unique experience, the opportunity to ‘live like a local’.

This is the best eco-friendly hotel experience because onefinestay in using space and resources that we already have (people’s homes) in London in order to fill a demand for accommodation in an overcrowded urban space. Far better than building new hotels! The team also offers all guests information on recycling and provides recycling bags to encourage them to recycle during their stay.

onefinestay can also be a low cost option for travellers. The unhotel is finding themselves very popular with families, who enjoy the benefits and comfort of a shared home, but for a fraction of the cost of multiple hotel rooms.  Talk about lowering your carbon footprint, guests will not travel far to get to the unhotel, most guests could use public transport and staff at onefinestay use scooters when necessary.

So what’ll it be? A luxury apartment in aristocratic Mayfair, a family home in stately Holland Park or a bachelor pad in leafy Primrose Hill? How about a houseboat on the River Thames? Or, perhaps the answer to your prayers is a converted Victorian church in trendy Islington?

The unhotel suits everyone, regular business travellers to London, professional couples seeking a better way to experience the city, or families with children. For two nights to two weeks, it’s a compelling alternative to traditional hotels, and neatly avoids the hassles and compromises of vacation rentals.

Although onefinestay does offer many services which mirror your stay in a hotel. You have the choice to use these services or to leave them out and truly enjoy a green eco-friendly stay in a magnificent property, guilt free. Some of the special services on offer include transport from local airports, free wifi for those carbon free conference calls, nanny services, fridge fill, onefinestay staff on call 24/7 and many more. Services that will be available in the future include concierge services, affiliate gym memberships and maid services.

To find out more information on the best hotel experience out of a hotel and to reserve your London apartment, visit onefinestay.

Source: onefinestay

Samantha Minogue

Editorial Director

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