Earlier this year, I mentioned that our Division of Tourism, Culture and Development is a member of the state's Green Hospitality and Tourism Leadership Council, a committee comprised of representatives from tourism and hospitality-related groups as well as officials from the state Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM). The council has established an Environmental Certification Program, with an eye to helping industry businesses implement new programs or expand existing services in cost-effective, more environmentally-friendly ways.

I am pleased to announce that their efforts are already earning them accolades - the Travel Industry of America's National Council of Destination Associations (NCDA) recently awarded them their Destiny Award. These awards, created 25 years ago, recognize members for "excellence and creative accomplishment in travel marketing and promotion and foster the development of imaginative and innovative destination marketing promotion programs and activities."
The Green Council received its award in the "Special Projects" category, whose criteria, according to the NCDA, includes programs that focus on the "education, training or employment of current or future employees...and socially responsible efforts, such as hunger relief, community outreach activities and environmentally sensitive programs."
Coincidentally, the announcement of this award came only a week before government representatives and members of local and statewide tourism agencies joined the owners of NYLO Hotel for their official ribbon cutting on September 2.

NYLO Warwick, in the historic Pontiac Mills complex, is the first hotel in the state to run on 100% renewable energy. Through a partnership with People's Power and Light (PP&L), the facility uses a mix of wind, solar, biomass and hydroelectric power sources, locally and regionally, offsetting its entire electricity usage.
Additionally, according to NYLO Warwick officials, their green operating policies and construction requirements include using the most environmentally-friendly materials, of which at least 50% must be recyclable. Carefully designed room layouts and construction help to reduce electricity and heating use, lights and air conditioning units automatically adjust, recycling bins are located on each floor, and locally-grown and/or organic food and beverages are offered on site. Guests are also encouraged to take environmentally-friendly steps, such as choosing not to have their linens changed each day.

For more information about the Green Council, please call our director of tourism, culture and development, Karen Jedson, at (401) 738-2000, ext. 6402, or [email protected]. NYLO Hotels' website is NYLOHotels.com

Scott Avedisian is the mayor of Warwick.