Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announces plans to open an Element Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Element Orlando Airport is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010 in a convenient location close to downtown, theme parks and Orlando’s business community. Inspired by Westin™ Hotels & Resorts, Element is Starwood’s newest hotel concept and the first hotel brand to mandate that all hotels pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED certification. The new-build hotel owned by JHM Hotels and developed by JHM Enterprises Inc. will offer a new extended stay experience with inspiring public spaces, modern style and eco-friendly 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 and enjoy savory food and a glass of wine or a draft microbrew beer.

“Every aspect of Element Orlando Airport will be designed to help guests recharge and be at their best while they are traveling,” said Brian McGuinness, Vice President of Element and Aloft Hotels. “Our guests will be able to experience a whole new perspective on extended stay travel in the vibrant Orlando area with easy access to the area’s best shopping, dining, and premier family entertainment.”

The smart design and clever use of space in the hotel’s 140 guest rooms will rejuvenate and energize guests for work or play. Guests will be 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 will 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 shower.

Element Orlando Airport will offer guests an ideal location, just minutes from the Orlando International Airport and a 20-minute drive from downtown Orlando. The hotel will also offer proximity to the leading theme parks including Sea World, Universal Studios and Walt Disney World Resort.

“We look forward to introducing this forward-thinking brand to the Orlando International Airport,” said HP Rama, Chairman & CEO, JHM Hotels. “The sleek modern spaces and use of natural influences at Element Orlando Airport will provide guests with just the right atmosphere for both work and relaxation.”

A signature breakfast offering, state-of-the-art fitness center and uninterrupted indoor/outdoor public spaces will deliver everything the guests need to work, relax or socialize on their schedule. Intuitive staff will provide guests the personalized attention they need and the space they desire to maintain balance while away from home.

Element Orlando Airport will also feature 838 square feet of meeting space, an integrated technology center and library, as well as café seating, a workspace and a flexible lobby space.

Element is making history by requiring all its hotels to pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED certification. The 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 will be 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 will be rewarded with priority parking. Even the ubiquitous “Do Not Disturb” sign will be replaced with an environmentally-friendly magnet.

Element Hotels

NEWTON, MASS.—TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel community, announced the results of its annual travel trends survey of more than 3,000 U.S. travelers. The primary trends identified are that travelers appear to be going lean and green by visiting national parks, hiking, and engaging in adventure activities. A greater amount of Americans said they will be environmentally conscious in their travel decisions in 2009, and more plan to visit eco-friendly hotels in the coming year. TripAdvisor also unveiled its TravelCast list of emerging hotspots for 2009, and atop the list is Budoni, in Sardinia, Italy. The top emerging hotspot in the United States is St. George, Utah.

Seventy-three percent of U.S. respondents said they plan to visit a national park in 2009, up from 62 percent one year ago. Fifty-three percent will go hiking in the coming year, up from 50 percent last year. Forty-seven percent of those surveyed plan to engage in an adventure activity, an increase from 40 percent in 2008. Thirty-three percent of travelers will go cycling and biking, up from 28 percent, and 11 percent of travelers are likely to participate in an extreme sports activity, compared to 8 percent one year ago.

Thirty-four percent of U.S. respondents said they will visit an environmentally-friendly hotel or resort in the coming year, up from 30 percent in 2008. Thirty-two percent of those surveyed said they will be more environmentally conscious in their travel decisions this year, as compared to the year before. Last year, 26 percent said they would be more environmentally conscious.

We all know that our consumer habits have some impact on the environment. Now, Dr. Ellis Jones, who teaches sociology at UC Davis, has developed a shopping guide that helps us make better choices for the planet and humanity.

The book is called "The Better World Shopping Guide". It ranks every product on the shelf from A to F so you can quickly tell the “good guys” from the “bad guys” — turning your grocery list into a powerful tool to change the world.

As an example, I've attached the rating for airlines. To find out more, you can buy the book ($10) and see other ratings at www.betterworldshopper.com

Based on questions added to the Market Metrix Hospitality Index survey, performed by Market Metrix LLC, guests weighed in on the importance of green initiatives and which brands in their eyes have the best green programs.

As more hoteliers get on board the sustainable operations movement, their efforts are not only improving the environment, but cutting their electricity costs and other expenses. Based on the survey, “Eco-friendly” or "green" initiatives are most compelling to Luxury hotel guests with 20% of these travelers claiming these programs are “Very Important” when selecting a hotel.

Least affected by these program are guests in the Midscale w/o F&B segment (9% consider these programs “Very Important”). Therefore, it appears that customers who can afford to care about green are more willing to change their behavior. Across all hotel segments 12% of guests rate these programs “Very Important” when picking a hotel. This level of general market acceptance signals an opportunity for brand differentiation, especially among lower priced hotels.

Market Metrix