HotelChatter - Tag: green hotels

Wolgan Valley: Emirates Plants Trees at Wolgan Valley Resort

amandak — 2008-08-29T09:15:18-05:00

The Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, the resort that Emirates is building in the middle of three national parks west of Sydney, isn't due to open until 2009, but that hasn't stopped the publicity machine pumping out praise for the green efforts of Emirates.

One of the features of the resort will be a conservation area that is only accessible to resort guests, plus the Emirates group have a range of plans to do some carbon offsetting.

Denver: Wooden Electronic Key Cards at DNC Hotels Still Getting Mixed Reviews

juliana — 2008-08-28T13:28:17-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/DNC_keycard2.jpg" class="imgborder"><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Wooden%20Key%20Cards">Wooden Electronic Key Cards</a>--do they work or do they not work? That is the question going on around hotels in Denver during the Democratic National Convention. As you might know already, the NY Sun said the key cards were a bust and <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/8/25/14735/5321/hotels/So_About_Those_Sustainable_Wooden_Key_Cards_at_the_DNC_">we wrote about that</a>. Then a PR rep for the key cards said that wasn't true and the general manager of the Sheraton (where the cards were reported to be abandoned) backed up that claim, saying the key cards were working just fine after an initial "user error." The Sun then issued an <a href="http://www.nysun.com/blogs/latest-politics/2008/08/update-hotel-says-green-key-card-problem.html">update.</a>Yesterday, we got word that the key cards were working just fine at the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/8/27/152112/590/hotels/DNC_Wooden_Key_Cards_Update_Not_So_Bad_at_All">Hotel Gold Crown</a> near the

Fairmont: Fairmont Scottsdale Asks, "Got Grease?"

ChristineM — 2008-08-28T09:20:17-05:00

Hats off to the Fairmont Scottsdale for their new initiative to convert the hotel's kitchen grease to low-emission alternative fuel.

In making the announcement, the hotel claimed that the effort will help to prevent more than 100,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere thanks to 700-plus gallons of used cooking oil that local manufacturer AZ BioDiesel will use to create almost 600 gallons of biodiesel each month.

It doesn't take a Beautiful Mind to do the math; the Fairmont Scottsdale is making a concerted effort to minimize their carbon footprint and certainly, we like that.

Denver: DNC Wooden Key Cards Update :: Not So Bad at All

Jenna — 2008-08-27T17:01:52-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/Sustainable_Cards___2_card.jpg" class="imgborder"> This week, hotels all over Denver served to host the world premiere of the sustainable wooden hotel key cards we'd <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/8/19/114137/768/hotels/Democrats_Will_Be_Using_Sustainable_Key_Cards_Next_Week">heard </a>so much about. First, we heard they <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/8/19/114137/768/hotels/Democrats_Will_Be_Using_Sustainable_Key_Cards_Next_Week">sucked</a>. But then the source we'd consulted had issued a correction (rumors happen!) saying all was fine and dandy with the cards -- but we wanted to wait and hear from someone who had actually used the cards before we allowed ourselves to remain hold out hope for eco-friendly keycards to catch on. So we were delighted when reader Amy, who used the new keys at the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Hotel+Gold+Crown+Dtc/ian/271227">Hotel Gold Crown</a> just south of Denver, wrote in to give them the thumbs up: <blockquote>I used the wooden

RockResorts Thinks Global, Eats Local

annie0007 — 2008-08-27T11:39:45-05:00

With all the ink over green hotels and LEED-certified buildings, it's kinda refreshing to see a hotel chain implement green food. Not with food coloring, but with an approach to cuisine that is local, sustainable, and trans-fat free.

The RockResorts chain has just rolled out its Appetite for Life program -- which translates to exclusively offering Coleman natural products (all free-range, organic, natural meats and poultry), Horizon Organic Dairy products, sustainable seafood and fish, and fairtrade coffee (including organic Starbucks Serena coffee).

And no trans fats! Anti-trans-fats Mayor Mike Bloomberg of New York City would be so proud.