PORTLAND, OR—The Courtyard by Marriott – Portland City Center has opened here in the dowtown district. Developed by Sage Hospitality and designed by Portland architects SERA, the hotel is the first Courtyard designed to receive LEED Gold certification.

With 16 floors and 256 guestrooms, the hotel features 5,310 square feet of meeting and event space, including the Sequoia Ballroom, a business library with computers, docking stations and printers, and a fitness facility.

Other features include a collection of locally commissioned artwork and a new concept restaurant/diner called The Original from the Sage Restaurant Group.

The hotel also offers new hotel lobby design, including the signature Courtyard GoBoard, a 46-inch, LCD touch screen offering local information about restaurants and attractions, as well as maps, weather, and news, business and sports headlines.

Located in the former Toronto National Building, the hotel went through a complete exterior and interior renovation. The property is expected to receive the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the US Green Building Council, making it the first Courtyard in the country to receive such a high level of recognition for its eco-friendly design.

The property is designed to lower overall energy consumption by 28% (equivalent to the energy consumption of 42 households per year) and reduce carbon emissions. Water consumption was reduced by 26% through the use of dual flush toilets and over 75% of the construction waste was recycled and re-used. All of the hotel’s electricity comes from renewable sources, including wind and hydroelectric. To further reduce the waste, recycling containers will be situated in each guestroom and on each floor. Additionally, kitchen grease from the Original Restaurant will be recycled into biodiesel fuel and food waste from the restaurant will be composted.

The interior design uses ergonomic office chairs and features a smoke-free environment and green housekeeping products. Also non-PVC wall covering, low VOC paints and low urea-formaldehyde casework in the guestrooms are used.

Courtyard by Marriott - Portland City Center

BETHESDA, Md., May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- In support of its environmental strategy to address climate change, Marriott International (NYSE: MAR) has announced that its global Headquarters building and more than 30 of its hotels in design, development or under construction are expected to achieve LEED(R) (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Marriott was the first major hotel company in the U.S. with a LEED certified hotel -- The Inn and Conference Center by Marriott at the University of Maryland in College Park.

"LEED certification gives these hotels a 'green' stamp of approval that our customers recognize and look for," says Arne Sorenson, Marriott's newly appointed President and Chief Operating Officer and co-chair of the company's Executive Green Council. "Saving energy and reducing waste saves money and helps the environment -- it's good for business and a key part of our growth strategy."

LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest green building and performance measures. LEED-certified buildings: reduce waste sent to landfills; conserve energy and water; are healthier and safer for occupants; and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Scheduled for a July 2009 grand opening, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Baltimore Downtown/Inner Harbor expects to achieve LEED-Silver status. The hotel will offer a range of eco-friendly amenities, including eco-suites, bicycle storage and changing rooms, and preferred parking for fuel-efficient vehicles. The hotel's breakfast area features solar tracking skylights, and the outdoor courtyard includes turf made of recycled tires and rainwater cisterns (former brewing barrels from the site's original occupant, the Baltimore Brewing Company).

Other Marriott LEED-certified hotels expected to open this year include: The Ritz-Carlton Highlands Lake Tahoe in Truckee, Calif.; the Residence Inn Arlington Courthouse in Va.; and Courtyard hotels in Chevy Chase, Md., Portland, Ore., and Pittsburgh, Pa.

In 2010, several other LEED-certified hotels are expected to open. These include the Renaissance Crystal City Potomac Yards and the Residence Inn Crystal City Potomac Yards in Arlington, Va.; the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway; and the JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles and The Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles, both part of the L.A. LIVE sports and entertainment destination.

The company is actively pursuing LEED-Existing Building status for its global headquarters office in Bethesda, Md., by the end of the year. Actions taken toward this goal include: diverting 64 percent of its total waste (450,000 pounds) from the landfill; shifting to biodegradable disposable containers in its cafeteria, and then ultimately migrating to all permanent-ware; converting used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel; and providing Connect by Hertz cars for employees who use public transportation or carpool to get to the office, but need to run an errand or attend an off-site meeting mid-day.

In another symbol of its commitment to build greener hotels, Marriott was the first hotel company to join the USGBC in 2007 and expects that 20 of its Architecture and Construction associates will be LEED-accredited by year-end. This thorough understanding of green building practices and principles is valuable during the design and construction process.

In addition, Marriott hotels worldwide have been recognized for incorporating environmentally-friendly practices into their business:

* Approximately 275 Marriott hotels have earned the ENERGY STAR(R) label from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for conserving waste, water and energy.

* The Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront, the Portland Marriott City Center and the Philadelphia Airport Marriott are certified by Green Seal, a non-profit organization that provides science-based environmental certification standards.

* The Newcastle Marriott and Manchester Marriott in the United Kingdom, the Sydney Marriott and Melbourne Marriott in Australia, and the Okinawa Marriott in Japan are certified by Green Globe, the premier international brand for sustainable travel.

* The Dearborn Inn, Detroit Marriott Troy and the Detroit Marriott Livonia in Michigan have been certified by Green Lodging Michigan.

* The Calgary Marriott Hotel in Canada earned a "4 Green Key" rating through the Hotel Association of Canada's (HAC) Green Key Eco-Rating Program.

* Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa in Australia was named a "Sustainable Hotel" at the Hotel Investment Conference.

Last year, Marriott announced its environmental strategy to address climate change, which it calls its "Spirit To Preserve." The plan calls for: Greening its $10 billion supply chain; further reducing fuel and water consumption by 25 percent per available room, and installing solar power at up to 40 hotels by 2017; creating green construction standards for hotel developers to achieve LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council; educating and inspiring employees and guests to support the environment; and helping protect the rainforest.

For updates on Marriott's progress against its green goals, visit www.marriott.com/spirittopreserve, follow Green Marriott on Twitter and become a fan of Travel Green on Facebook.

Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for a company overview.

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.

For More Information on Green Hotels, Go To Greenlodge.Org

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announces the opening of Element Houston Vintage Park, the first Element hotel to open in Texas. Inspired by Westin™ Hotels & Resorts, Element invites guests to check-in to a new travel experience with comfortable public spaces, modern style and eco-friendly design. Owned by Condor Hospitality, LLC and managed by InterMountain Management, LLC of Louisiana, the newly constructed, 123-room hotel is a key part of the new Vintage Park lifestyle center located in bustling northwest Houston. The General Contractor for the Element is Benchmark Development Corporation of Dallas. This is the first of two Element projects between the ownership group, development team, and InterMountain Management. The Element Hotel in Lone Tree, Colorado will open in the summer of 2009.

Awaken to Smart Eco-chic Design
The Element brand’s unique design philosophy is evident the moment guests arrive. After passing through a signature portal that provides a literal bridge to the Element interior, guests will be greeted with streams of natural light from a multi-storied window wall. The vitality of the lobby will be matched by the energy of the hotel’s outdoor fire pit and barbecue, where a weekly evening reception allows guests to interact while enjoying a selection of savory food.

The smart design and clever use of space in the hotel’s guest rooms rejuvenates and energizes guests for work or play. Guests are able to customize their rooms to meet their needs with the multi-purpose, modular furniture, swiveling flat-screen televisions, large desks with open shelving and custom-designed closets. Rooms also offer a fully equipped kitchen that features modern, ENERGY STAR-rated appliances and all the utensils necessary to prepare a gourmet meal. Guests will rest soundly in the signature Heavenly® Bed, and wake up and recharge each morning in a sleek, spa-inspired Heavenly shower.

Great for the Earth, Great for Guests
Element Houston Vintage Park will be working towards LEED certification in its first year of operation, as part of the Element brand’s historic effort to require all its hotels to pursue this certification. The Element brand’s green features are cleverly designed to be as aesthetically appealing as they are eco-friendly, so guests never compromise on style and comfort. Element Hotels are equipped with energy-efficient, stainless steel appliances and lighting, amenity dispensers in the showers to reduce waste and water-efficient faucets and fixtures. Guests can continue daily routines such as recycling papers and plastics, as well as using green materials, while those driving hybrid cars are rewarded with priority parking. Even the ubiquitous “Do Not Disturb” sign has been replaced with an environmentally-friendly magnet.

Element Hotels

The Missouri Hotel & Lodging Association (MHLA) and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR)have just initiated a new green certification program as of Jan. 1.

The program will award green certification to hotels and bed and breakfasts that reach a certain level of environmental sustainability. The DNR will use a point system to measure things such as a facility’s efforts to lower water usage or maximize energy efficiency.

Ramona Mormann, executive director of MHLA, said Certified Green participants could earn their points by changing lighting, implementing recycling or green education programs for employees, and even mulching their grounds with eco-friendly material.

There is no cost to participate in the Certified Green program other than the cost for facilities to upgrade to green materials. Promotion of the program will be left to the individual hotels that meet green requirements.

“Going green is so important to our guests and to corporate America,” Mormann said. “Major companies like Johnson & Johnson won’t even consider hotels that aren’t green. We have to go green to keep our guests coming.”

The DNR will provide the official recognition for any hotel that meets its green point requirements, and the MHLA will offer enhanced award packages to its members that pass the Certified Green program. Packages will include distinctive signage and Certified Green branding opportunities.

The Missouri Hotel & Lodging Association is based in Jefferson City and has between 80 and 90 members in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Floyd Gilzow, deputy director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, said the first year would be used to gauge interest and participation in the Certified Green program.“I’d be willing to declare initial victory if 100 hotels joined,” Gilzow said. There are approximately 1,800 places of lodging in Missouri.