Starwood’s Element Hotels have a ‘Vision’

The popular “green” hotel brand has officially been named as a Travel + Leisure Global Vision Award Winner for its efforts in environmental conservation.

The popular “green” hotel brand has officially been named as a Travel + Leisure Global Vision Award Winner. The Awards, now in the fifth year, recognize the latest and best efforts at cultural preservation, environmental conservation, and community building as selected by a jury of eight members including Dan Barber, Céline Simone Cousteau, Bruce Mau, and Dr. Joseph E. Stiglitz.

Element, owned and operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, has consistently ramped up the expectations for sustainable hospitality with a cool and modern flare. Element is also committed to achieving LEED certification at all of its properties.

Other winners include the Rainforest Alliance for its outstanding efforts in sustainable travel, Ecoventura for charting a new course for travel to and in the Galápagos Islands, and Sassi di Matera Albergo Diffuso in Italy for transforming abandoned cave dwellings of a UNESCO World Heritage site into guestrooms.

Profiles of all 17 winners along with insights from the jury are featured in Travel + Leisure’s November issue, available on newsstands October 23.

“The individuals and organizations recognized in T+L’s 2009 Global Vision Awards epitomize the idea that travel is a force for good,” says Nancy Novogrod, editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure. “Even in these challenging economic times, it is encouraging to see that important issues for our world and our industry are a priority for this year’s winners. We applaud their outstanding efforts and hope that they provide inspiration for both travelers and others in the travel world.”

Global Vision Award Winners in the Environment category include: Corporate Sustainability, Walt Disney Worldwide; Eco Certification, Rainforest Alliance, New York City; Wildlife Tourism, Northern Great Plains Restoration, United States; Green Cruising, Ecoventura, Galápagos Islands; Green Hotels, Element Hotels, United States; and Habitat Restoration, Vane Farm Sanctuary, Scotland.

The winners in the Culture category included: Arts Education, Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar; Cultural Heritage, Awamaki, Peru; Architectural Restoration, Qianlong Garden, Beijing; Culinary Heritage, Southern Foodways Alliance, Oxford, Mississippi; Historic Preservation, Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia; and Creative Redevelopment, Sassi di Matera Albergo Diffuso, Italy.

The winners in the Community category included: Community Empowerment, Koiyaki Guiding School, Masai Mara, Kenya; Voluntourism, GAP Adventures, Toronto; Job Training, Sala Baï, Cambodia; Disaster Relief, Asia Transpacific Journeys, Boulder, Colorado; and Grassroots Philanthropy, Spear of the Nation, Johannesburg, South Africa.

For more information, visit www.travelandleisure.com.

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awards, ELEMENT Hotels, green hotels, Hotels, LEED, Starwood, voluntourism