Meeting News - February 11, 2008 - (Page 13)

Edited by Rayna Katz rayna.katz@nielsen.com Hotels/Resorts Boutique Hoteliers Prepare for First Edition Marriott, Schraeger partnership issues the name and rollout markets of new brand Los Angeles—Seven months after hoteliers Marriott International and Ian Schraeger announced a partnership to create a boutique brand (see July 16, 2007 MN, p. 6), the two took a step toward furthering their new hotel line last month by announcing its name: Edition. The moniker serves multiple purposes, said Marriott Chairman and CEO Bill Marriott. “You can use it as the new Edition or the 14th Street Edition or the Wall Street Edition. Anything you want to put in front of it ties in with the name,” said Marriott. The name also connotes the plan to vary each hotel, added Schraeger, pioneer of the boutique concept.“Each city, each location will be its own separate edition," he said. Schraeger and Marriott also announced the first nine markets where Edition will appear; they plan to eventually have more than 100 such properties in the portfolio. The first Edition is to open around 2010 in Paris, followed shortly after by a property in the hip South Beach area of Miami. Another is planned in Washington, DC, though a timetable has not been set, and two in Los Angeles. Other markets in Marriott and Schraeger’s sight line include Chicago; Scottsdale, AZ.; Costa Rica; and Madrid. Fairmont Tackles Carbon Emissions Toronto—In another showing of the hospitality industry’s battle on climate change, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has struck a partnership with conservation group WWF (formerly the World Wildlife Federation) over the next few months to measure the hotel company’s current carbon dioxide footprint and set a world-class reduction for those emissions by June of this year. The company will then develop a brandwide emissions reduction plan. The hotelier plans to reduce emissions through improved energy efficiency, increased conversion to renewable energy supply, promotion of conservation practices among its colleagues, and continuing to share best practices with other companies. For the WWF, responsibility for cleaning up the environment isn’t going to end with Fairmont, said Mike Russill, president and CEO of WWF-Canada. “Travel is one of the key drivers of the world’s economic engine but with international trips expected to top 1.5 billion by 2020, carbon dioxide emissions released into our atmosphere are growing unacceptably,” he said. After the WWF’s work with Fairmont is completed, Russell said, “WWF will challenge others in the sector to follow suit.” Fairmont President and CEO Chris Cahill issued a similar challenge to his peers.“Fairmont has always embraced its role as an environmental ambassador and encourages others to follow its lead,” he said. Kimpton Hotels Goes Cause-Conscious Meetings packages make social and environmental decisions easier Under the new offering, “Great Meetings, Great Causes,” meeting planners who book business at any of the more than 40 Kimpton hotels across North America will be given a choice of five rewards to accept. They are: • A $100 donation by Kimpton to one of the hotelier’s not-for-profit partners, or the client’s charitable partner of choice • A greensender.com box with items such as an eco-friendly aluminum water bottle, reusable grocery bag, and energy-efficient light bulb • One complimentary night at a Kimpton hotel, all of which maintain eco-friendly practices • A $50 gift certificate to KimptonStyle, an online retailer that donates all proceeds to not-for-profit partners • A complimentary meeting upgrade to Kimpton’s EarthCare meeting, which includes: s Meeting agenda, etc., printed on recyclable paper s Meals using organic and locally grown ingredients s Organic, fair-trade coffee s Earth-themed activities for meeting breaks s End-of-meeting toast with organic beers and wines Good causes are packaged for planners at 40 Kimpton hotels in North America, like Washington, DC’s Hotel Palomar above. Kimpton Hotels, based in San Francisco, last month launched a new program that gives environmentally conscious groups several options for making their meetings greener. “Meetings are the next frontier in bringing together companies that share a commitment to environmental and social responsibility,” said Jesse Suglia, corporate director of hotel sales. “Kimpton is taking the next step toward sustainability by offering greener meetings.” Hotel Restaurant Chain Looks to Meet Varied Needs Memphis—In keeping with hotel brands that are making their lobbies more user-friendly, Embassy Suites continued on page 14 www.meetingnews.com February 11, 2008 MeetingNews 13 http://www.greensender.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - February 11, 2008

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