Sustainable Travel

Global Data ExchangeApparent climate change is pushing green issues higher up the agenda of MICE decision-makers, according to the third annual ‘focus group’ survey on the environment that is undertaken by the IMEX exhibition. Buyers in 10 countries in Europe and Scandinavia were consulted.

Significant majorities now display evidence of eco-awareness, with 75% reporting that they, or colleagues, ‘have taken environmental considerations into account’ when planning a meeting or incentive programme. A total of 66% believes that ‘they, or colleagues, probably would ‘deliberately avoid destinations/venues known to have a poor environmental record’.

Survey participants were asked to rank in order those green practices that they have applied to their events, and replied as follows:

1st Recycled conference material
2nd Selected an hotel known for its environmental programme
3rd Viewed wilderness or animal conservation areas
4th Encouraged delegates to travel by public transport at the host destination
5th Involved an inspirational speaker on the environment
6th Undertaken fund-raising or other support for green causes
7th Chosen an airline/cruise company/car rental firm for its green credentials
8th Paid for carbon emission offsets to neutralise the greenhouse gaseffect of delegate travel

Eco-tax

Buyers are still broadly equivocal as to whether an eco-tax is desirable, but a growing proportion (54% compared to 46% in 2005) are now in favour of discussing the idea. Typical comments in support include: ‘yes, but the amount should be small and hardly noticeable’ … ‘yes, if used strictly for environmental activities’ … ‘yes, because it will make participants more aware’. Typical comments against, include: ‘no, because such funding should be paid by taxes in the host country’; ‘no, because the money may not be spent on green projects, and instead be lost through corruption’.

The Bigger Issue

A higher proportion than in 2005 (80% compared to 76%) agree that ‘the environment will become a bigger issue in the coming years’. This they explain characteristically as a consequence of ‘television reports, almost daily, that warn of unstoppable changes to the climate’; and as an ‘outcome of increasingly frequent national disasters’. In contrast, doubters argue that climatic change is due to ‘natural cycles, not pollution’, and that ‘this is simply a current fad in which interest will gradually level off’.

None of the above has had much influence on the perceived potential of electronic communications / video-conferences to become a viable alternative to face-to-face events. Fewer than 15% feel that this is likely to happen, citing factors such as the importance of inter-personal chemistry, trust, and relationship-building. Generally it is suggested that such ‘virtual contact’ has now already peaked.

Top 10 Countries

Voting for the top 10 countries that they identify currently as displaying most environmental leadership, the IMEX survey respondents reported (in alphabetical order): Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, Greece, Ireland, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Sweden, and the UK.

Greener Values in RFPs

The IMEX research concludes that, generally speaking, the MICE sector has taken another step forward over the last 12 months towards embracing the environment in its planning. Quoted is a pertinent comment from one particular agency which noted that major corporate clients ‘increasingly are now looking for evidence of green values in the contractual RFP documents that they issue, and in the implementation of the events that we organise on their behalf. ‘ IMEX recognises that this may still be only an example of ‘early adopter’ practice, but that it nevertheless represents a significant raising of the stakes for the whole industry.

IMEX Research can be downloaded at: www.imex-frankfurt.com

Source: eTurboNews.com

Posted by BrianM at 3:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A report launched today by the University of Oxford presents new evidence, which shows to what extent the Government's policies on aviation fly in the face of policies on climate change. It says that by 2050, carbon dioxide emissions from UK aviation could be four to ten times higher than 1990 levels, representing up to two thirds of the government's total emission target for that year.

The report `Predict and Decide' is being launched by the All Party Parliamentary Sustainable Aviation Group at the House of Lords to an invited audience of MPs, aviation industry representatives, policy makers and other stakeholders from the tourism industry. It brings together, for the first time, a range of forecasts of future aviation emissions and shows that, even when all realistic options for improvements in technology and air traffic management are considered, climate change targets can not be met without controlling demand.

Current Government policy supports an expansion in airports which will enable passenger movements to more than double – from 200 million in 2003 to 470 million in 2030. But all forecasts of the associated changes in emissions suggest that this will make official government targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by 2050 almost impossible to achieve.

The report also points out that the vast majority of flights are made by better-off sections of society and the recent growth in flights has come mainly from existing travellers flying more often, particularly for holidays. Three out of every four leisure passengers at major UK airports are from the top three socio-economic groups and there is little evidence that the less well-off are really benefiting from the low price of air travel.

The conclusion of the report, commissioned by the government-funded UK Energy Research Centre, is that politicians are going to have to radically alter their strategy in order to cut emissions sufficiently, by looking at ways of curbing air travel overall.

Dr Brenda Boardman, the project leader from Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute, said: `The Government has to confront the contradictions in its policies. Unless the rate of growth in flights is curbed, the UK cannot fulfil its commitments on climate change. If government wants to be confident about achieving its targets, it has to undertake demand management. Relying on technological fixes alone is totally unrealistic.'

Dr Sally Cairns, one of the report's authors from the Transport Research Laboratory, said: `If the government wants to reduce aviation growth, it has the power to act now. Raising air passenger duty would help to counter reductions in fares – which are estimated to have been responsible for at least 40 per cent of recent aviation growth.'

Co-author, Dr Carey Newson, said: 'Opinion polls should encourage the government to revisit its aviation policy. A majority now favour airlines paying higher taxes to reflect environmental damage, even if this means higher airfares.'

For more information, please contact the University of Oxford Press Office on 01865 280534 or email press.office@admin.ox.ac.uk. For a full copy of the report `Predict and Decide', visit:

www.eci.ox.ac.uk/research/energy/downloads/predictanddecide.pdf

Source: Oxford University Press

Posted by BrianM at 3:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Johannesburg, South Africa - October 18, 2006: Conservation Corporation Africa (CC Africa), the premier purveyor of sustainable, luxurious safaris in Africa, is setting a new standard once again with the launch of a new test kitchen in Johannesburg.

The kitchen’s purpose is to evaluate thousands of recipes and choose those best suited not only to CC Africa’s guests, and to the company’s worldview, standards and ethos, but also to the practicality of cooking in parts of Africa where the supply of fresh produce is limited.

The test kitchen staff is made up of highly experienced CC Africa chef trainers. Once the best recipes are selected, the testing crew will refine the directions, photograph the stages of preparation and then distribute them not only to the chefs at CC Africa’s 40 luxury lodges, but also to the “mobile” chefs that accompany guests on “Under Canvas” safaris and safari expeditions.

“Once again, CC Africa is in the forefront of innovative training techniques,” says Nicky Fitzgerald, CC Africa’s Marketing Director. “Our chefs work hard every day to exceed guests’ expectations, and the new internal cookbook will be used to define our food for sustainability and ease of training as well as for our guests’ delight. We hope it will become the most valuable tool for our fabulous chefs.”

The first edition of CC Africa’s Internal Cookbook is expected to be completed in late 2007. To know more about CC Africa, visit www.ccafrica.com.

Source: eTurboNews.com

Posted by BrianM at 3:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By David Cogswell

Tourism Cares, the charitable offshoot of the National Tour Association and the U.S. Tour Operators Association that preserves and maintains historic and natural treasures, chose Virginia City, Nev., as its next volunteer cleanup site.

The organization will take about 300 volunteers to the historic mining city May 17 to 19 to help restore some of its historic sites.

Situated on a mountainside on top of Comstock Lode, the largest silver deposit in North America, the historic mining city was known as "the richest place in the world" during the Gold Rush days of the 1800s. It produced so much wealth from gold and silver mines that the federal government annexed the territory to help fund the Civil War.

According to its history, it was a colorful city of saloons, bordellos, instant millionaires and the home of one Samuel Clemens, who was the city editor of the Territorial Enterprise newspaper in the early 1860s.

Once a thriving boomtown of 30,000 people, Virginia City now has a population of only 1,100, and not enough of a tax base to fund the necessary maintenance of its historic sites, which include Piper's Opera House, the Storey County Court House and the 1866 First Presbyterian Church.

"It so fits our mission to protect historic sites," said Lisa Schmiemann, director of development of Tourism Cares. "If we don't do it, nobody will."

To contact reporter David Cogswell, send e-mail to dcogswell@travelweekly.com.

Posted by BrianM at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By Justin Frances of ResponsibleTravel.com

Getting it all in proportion

Reading the papers you would think that air travel is the single biggest cause of global warming. In fact air travel accounts for less than 5% of carbon dioxide emissions.

We must look to every sector to reduce emissions but if you really want to target the biggest culprits then look to our power stations (our largest coal fired power station wastes two thirds of the energy that it generates) and our homes, which account for nearer 25% of emissions. We've shown before how a few simple changes made in your home can save double the carbon emissions of a return flight to Egypt here.

In seeking to reduce our emissions we need to examine our entire lifestyles, not just our flying habits. The trouble is that it's sexier to write about planes than lagging your loft. To get results fast every person and every industry needs to focus on the big wins, and we all need accurate information about where these opportunities lie rather than just more sexy copy about planes.

However do not think that this is permission to keep on flying as we have done. The simple fact is that aviation is the fastest growing cause of global warming. The amount of carbon dioxide emitted by air travel doubled between 1990 and 2004. That is totally incompatible with the need to reduce carbon emissions by 60% by 2050 (or nearer 70% by 2035 according to the latest research from the Tyndall Centre).

I believe we've been the first travel agent in the world to say that we must fly significantly less. In fact that makes responsibletravel.com even more radical than Friends of the Earth who are less equivocal about the need to fly less at all. However, before I go on I believe that there are critical points that some environmentalists miss.

The first is that it is not enough for everyone in Europe and America (the big tourist originating countries) to reduce our carbon emissions. People in Asia and Africa - who are more dependent on tourists - must do the same if we are to halt global warming.

What happens if we all stop flying?

The United Nations World Tourism Organization states that one in 10 jobs around the world is in tourism, and adds that tourism is growing fastest in developing countries. In 10 of the worlds poorest 50 countries tourism is a significant and growing. Many of these countries lack any real alternative to tourism as their only real assets are their cultures and natural environments.

So if we were to ground most of the aeroplanes as suggested by George Monbiot in The Guardian last week then we'd create massive global unemployment, and the worst impacts would be felt in developing countries in Asia and Africa.

I'd argue that increased unemployment globally and worsening poverty in many developing countries is not conducive to creating new lower carbon technologies and lifestyles. It's only consumers with the benefit of an education who will understand the need for change. People in poverty cannot afford to take decisions for the longer term. Businesses in recession cannot afford to invest in research and development and the cost of switching to new lower carbon technologies.

Tourism supports conservation of forests which absorb carbon dioxide

There is another often ignored issue. When I visit Ethiopia I'll be visiting local communities in the Bale Mountains National Park. The German Development Bank has funded a tourism project there to create a new local economy based on tourism and designed to replace illegal logging of the forests. The idea is that tourists like me pay communities to come and see the forests and mountains. No forests, no tourists - and there lies the incentive for local people to halt deforestation.

Trees of course absorb carbon dioxide. James Lovelock, creator of the Gaia theory, believes that if we had not deforested the planet then in fact we could emit the level of carbon that we are now with out causing global warming. For Ethiopia, read dozens of countries with forests in National Parks that are directly supported by tourism revenues. If we all stop flying, many Parks will lose their incomes, deforestation will increase and global warming will accelerate faster.

To put it crudely analysing the impacts of flying without examining the impacts of the holiday in the destination is only looking at half of the pie. We must join up our thinking and look at the positives and negatives of the tourism industry as a whole, and not just flying.

Offsetting your carbon emissions

ResponsibleTravel.com has been telling people that their flights are contributing to global warming and offering carbon offsets with our partner Climate Care since 2001. The idea is that you pay extra to support lower carbon dioxide initiatives (such as low energy light bulbs or more efficient wood burning stoves in tourism destinations) to compensate for the amount of carbon dioxide that your flight emits.

Although carbon offsetting must not create permission for us to keep on flying to anywhere near the level that we do now, and the calculations required are still being improved, it does serve to neutralise the emissions of flights. If it was made compulsory across the airline industry rather than being an option for tourists it would provide a short term alleviation to the problem (at least until we can't find enough low cost carbon reduction schemes to support).

Will future technology save us?

George Monbiot again argues that there will not be a new fuel or technology to replace airline fuel - kerosene. Sir Richard Branson scientific advisors obviously disagree as he is prepared to invest over £1 billion in researching how bio fuels might provide a low carbon alternative to kerosene. While it's unwise to allow flying to continue to grow, I think it's equally unwise to assume that no new solution will be found - literally billions of dollars are there to encourage scientists and businesses to do just that.

Are people like us advocating more responsible travel green washing?

We give people who have already decided to fly the choice of a more responsible holiday. We stress the benefits of responsible tourism to local people without hiding the consequences of flying and global warming. We believe that people should fly significantly less, but that it would be detrimental if we were to stop flying altogether. You make up your mind if that's greenwashing.

What needs to happen and will people listen?

Well we all need to fly less, a lot less. One way to do this is to cut out the dramatic increase in short breaks on cheap flights. The only way that this will happen is if the price of flights rises considerably. We need to tell the politicians that we will only vote for parties that are prepared to make the tough choices required to make this happen.

We'll all need to holiday closer to home, and travel by train more. Over the next 3 years responsibletravel.com will very significantly increase the number of lovely eco places to stay to enable you to do just this. When we do fly we need to ensure our holiday benefits local communities and reduces other environmental impacts, and we need to offset the emissions.

We do not need to stop flying altogether - that will contribute to sending us back to the dark ages with massive unemployment, business recession, increased poverty and no way forwards. Creating change is very urgent and while many of us might feel slightly uncomfortable about it capitalism is the only system that we'll have for the foreseeable future. In the short time that we have the solutions lie in using the system that we have to improve technology, set tough targets for business and change consumer behaviour.

And finally

The problem with many advocates of sustainable development is that they fatally ignore people's beliefs and emotions when trying to persuade us to change. Telling us that we are evil; that those who fly are worse than paedophiles; or that we must all stop flying now really isn't going to stop families flying off on holiday next summer.

In fact the carbon dioxide that we already have put into the atmosphere is going to cause us immense global problems. There is no way back from that now and we'll need all the tolerance that we can find to work together across the planet to manage the impacts as best we can. Maybe the cultural understanding that 60 years of global travel has created can help.

About the Author

Justin Frances is the co-founder and CEO of ResponsibleTravel.com, an online sustainable travel portal based in Brighton, England launched in 2001 for travelers looking for authentic holidays that benefit the environment and local people.

Posted by BrianM at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Entire Greenhouse Gas Impact of Trips to be Offset at No Added Cost to Customers; Hailed as a First among U.S.-Based Adventure Travel Companies

Travelers to some of the world's most remarkable destinations for once-in-a-lifetime vacations with REI Adventures will be guaranteed to have a "green” experience – whether traveling to the Alps or Antarctica, and all points in between. Through the company's new 100 percent carbon-neutral (also known as "climate-neutral”) offering announced today, outdoor enthusiasts will now be able to "green” their travel – including the air travel to and from their destinations – at no added cost to the just-announced 2007 REI Adventures trips.

Outdoor retailer Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) and its adventure travel company, REI Adventures, have entered into a partnership with Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) to compensate for the greenhouse gas impact of all REI Adventures trips and REI Outdoor School outings. BEF is a leading nonprofit environmental foundation that markets green power products and funds new renewable energy projects.

Starting in 2007, REI Adventures will purchase BEF Green Tags, or renewable energy credits, to offset the greenhouse gas impacts of air, water and ground travel associated with all excursions. BEF Green Tags are created when renewable energy such as solar and wind power are substituted to local utilities for energy generated by burning fossil fuels which are linked to global warming. Each BEF Green Tag offsets the carbon produced by 1,030 miles of air travel, and is equivalent to 1,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy.

REI Adventures expects to purchase more than 52,000 BEF Green Tags in the coming year, offsetting more than 36,000 tons of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels are the largest source of climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions. This amount equates to the annual CO2 emissions of approximately 6,200 average gas-powered cars, or powering nearly 5,000 typical U.S. homes for a year with 100 percent renewable energy. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of top renewable energy purchasers, today's announcement would place REI among the 20 largest purchasers nationally.

"REI Adventures is a long-time proponent of responsible travel and our partnership with Bonneville Environmental Foundation supports REI's commitment to environmental stewardship to reduce our overall impact on the planet,” said John Sheppard, REI Adventures general manager. "We are pleased to partner with BEF to bring carbon- neutral travel to our customers. The organization is one of the country's most innovative social enterprises because it combines the business and mission of supporting renewable energy.”

"In the growing field of sustainable travel, REI Adventures stands out for its level of commitment. Some travel providers are offering green travel at a more modest level, or as an optional purchase, but REI Adventures is the first to automatically offset the global warming impacts of its entire catalog of trips – including air travel to and from the trip destination,” said Tom Starrs, vice president of marketing and sales for BEF. "In addition, REI Adventures' pioneering initiative will increase awareness of the environmental impacts of travel and tourism, encouraging others – individuals and businesses alike – to follow its lead. This program really is a different, deeper shade of green.”

Beyond travel, BEF is offering REI customers the opportunity to purchase BEF Green Tags to offset the environmental impacts of the energy they use in their homes and for commuting. In return, customers will receive a $20 REI Gift Card from BEF for a Green Tag purchase of $120 or more, and a $40 REI Gift Card for a purchase of $200 or more. To buy Green Tags through the REI Adventures/BEF offering, visit www.greenadventures.org or link from www.reiadventures.com. The activities of an average U.S. household can result in more than 35,000 pounds of CO2 and other pollutants each year.

As part of the REI Adventures partnership, beginning next year BEF will donate 10 percent of its revenue from REI Adventures and all REI customer purchases to annually fund a renewable energy project – including the development of a local infrastructure for ongoing maintenance and support – in a country where REI Adventures leads trips. REI and BEF will collaborate on each project which is expected to bring much-needed electricity to classrooms, health clinics, and other public facilities in developing countries.

All BEF Green Tags are 100 percent Green-e certified by the Center for Resource Solutions. This independent, nonprofit, third-party organization administers the Green-e Renewable Electricity Certification Program, ensuring that the products it certifies meet specific product and quality standards.

"Carbon dioxide emissions are the leading cause of global warming. REI Adventures has recognized that its customers want to balance their passion for traveling to exciting, exotic locations with their desire to reduce their contribution to global warming pollution. With its new carbon-neutral travel program, REI Adventures is making it easy to travel without worrying about the climate-related impacts,” said Dan Lieberman, the Green-e program manager for the Center for Resource Solutions. "This is a significant step for any company, even one with REI's tradition of environmental stewardship. REI has found a new way to give back to its customers and the global community, one that will provide ongoing benefits for the environment.”

REI Adventures has offered active travel vacations featuring climbing, cycling, hiking, rafting, skiing/snowboarding and multi-sport excursions, including adventure travel cruises, to all corners of the globe since 1987. REI Adventures caters to active travelers of all abilities with more than 100 small-group trips worldwide, including weekend getaways. All REI Adventures trips include the finest in outdoor gear and expert local guides who go off the beaten path to provide travelers with unique experiences down wilderness trails and cultural back-roads. The 2007 REI Adventures catalog is available beginning today at www.reiadventures.com or by calling 1-800-622-2236.

REI Outdoor School is operated in five cities where REI has retail locations. The program offers classes and one-day outings with professional guides who teach the basics of hiking, cycling, kayaking, geocaching and more. The program, which was piloted last year in several of REI's Northern California stores, will see continued expansion in 2007.

As part of REI's overarching stewardship efforts, the retailer has been active in protecting the environment, giving back to communities, and encouraging responsible outdoor recreation for decades. This year, REI earmarked $3 million for outdoor recreation and conservation grants, with an additional $1 million for the preservation and maintenance of community parks; and converted 20 of its 85 stores to 100 percent green power through renewable energy contracts with local utilities (20 percent of REI's national electricity use); and received LEED-CI Silver® certification for its Pittsburgh store by the U.S. Green Building Council.

For additional information about REI Adventures carbon-neutral travel program, visit www.reiadventures.com or www.greenadventures.org. Comprehensive information about REI's stewardship efforts is available on www.rei.com in the "About REI” section.

About REI
REI is an outdoor retail co-op dedicated to inspiring, educating and outfitting its 2.8 million active members for a lifetime of outdoor adventure. Founded in 1938 by a group of Pacific Northwest mountaineers seeking quality equipment, REI operates retail stores nationwide, two online stores – REI.com and REI-OUTLET.com – and an adventure travel company, REI Adventures. REI offers products from all of the top brands for human-powered outdoor recreation, including its own line of award-winning gear and apparel. While anyone may join or shop at REI, members pay a one-time $15 fee and receive a share in the company's profits through an annual member refund based on their purchases. As an active supporter of communities in which it does business, REI is committed to promoting environmental stewardship and increasing access to outdoor recreation through education, gear donations and financial contributions.

About Bonneville Environmental Foundation
The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was established in 1998 to restore watershed ecosystems and further the development and use of new renewable energy resources. Through revenues generated from the sales of green power products such a Green Tags, BEF funds projects that restore damaged watersheds and support new renewable energy products from solar, wind and biomass. BEF pioneered the sale of Green Tags in 2000 and has helped establish national standards for certification and trading. www.b-e-f.org or www.GreenTagsUSA.org.

Posted by BrianM at 8:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Those of us who travel know being on the road has its fair share of limitations, especially when we're trying to be environmentally conscious. Opportunities to do right by the environment are few and far between...until now. aloft, a Vision of W Hotels, has announced a "see green" program with guest awareness in mind.

The aloft "see green" program was created to introduce and promote ecologically friendly products and services, and highlights options both inside and outside the hotels. Guests will notice the elements of the program before they even enter the hotel...the aloft landscaping plan takes what used to be the standard parking lot and re-imagines it as a outdoor park-like environment, with a variety of deciduous trees and shrubbery. Depending on the location, the plan also includes a grassy area appropriately named the "backyard." Together, these elements help to reduce noise pollution and provide guests with an opportunity to stop and take a breath of fresh air.

The "see green" program also features a special area of parking spots that will be reserved specifically for hybrid cars, raising awareness of the benefits of environmentally friendly vehicles. To take it a step further, the aloft team is currently in discussions with a number of car companies to provide a hybrid aloft "house car" at each location, available to interested guests. Whether you drive a hybrid or not, all guests can take advantage of aloft's self-service car-washing station, aptly named, rinse. When guests want to tidy up their cars, they'll be provided with eco-friendly cleaning agents as well as reusable cleaning cloths instead of paper towels.

A major portion of aloft's eco-friendly approach lies inside the hotel and starts with the guest rooms. Instead of offering the typical bathroom amenity packaging, which usually comes in individual plastic bottles, all aloft guest rooms will feature eco-friendly dispenser units in the oversized showers. The dispensers hold shampoo/conditioner and body wash - created specifically for aloft by bliss(TM) - and help to reduce the use of non-biodegradable plastic materials. Of course, the aloft "see green" program allows guests to conserve water by simply indicating whether they want to re-use their guest towels and change the linens daily. The brand has also chosen eco-friendly construction materials like recycled teak wood which is used throughout the property in both the guest rooms and the public space.

The aloft team didn't stop at the front of the house and have implemented ecologically minded solutions for the back of house. Each aloft hotel has its own laundry facilities where Seventh Generation eco-friendly detergent has been established as the brand standard. The "splash" pool will be cleaned with Clarity Water Products or Sal-Chlor cleaning agents.

"Our vision is to empower each guest to make ecologically-responsible choices and to provide the operators the tools to help reduce our overall impact on the environment," says Brian McGuinness, vice president of aloft hotels. "aloft raises awareness of eco-friendly options, and offers a refreshing alternative to what's currently available."

aloft, with its' friendly "aloha" vibe, aims to take care of guests during their stay ...and take care of their future as well.

Carrying the DNA of W Hotels, aloft delivers stylish design, accessible technology and a hip urban attitude to another outdated hotel segment. Starwood anticipates the first aloft hotels to open in early 2008, with 500 properties worldwide expected by 2012.

Source: Business Wire

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 850 properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood® Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, Sheraton®, Westin®, Four Points® by Sheraton, W®, Le Meridien and the recently announced aloft(SM). Starwood Hotels also own Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

Posted by BrianM at 9:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)