Tally has its first Green Hotel

Tallahassee Democrat: 

Article published Aug 28, 2007
Quality Inn allows visitors to go ‘green’

By Will Brown
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITERTallahassee has its first green hotel, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The Quality Inn and Suites on 2020 Apalachee Parkway was designated a green hotel by the Florida Green Lodging Program on Monday.

The program was established in 2004 by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to recognize environmentally conscious hotels.

The Quality Inn features energy-efficient lighting fixturess and appliances, timers on their outdoor lighting and low-flow water faucets and shower heads.

Dee Patel, general manager, said the hotel was challenged two years ago by its director of operations, Rick Bhula, to conserve energy.

Patel, who has been a hotelier for 12 years, said the program is the first of its kind that provides a “systematic method” for conservation.

There are 33 Green Hotels in Florida, accounting for more than 15,000 hotel rooms. In the Big Bend area, two Wakulla County hotels – the Wakulla Springs Lodge and the Inn at Wildwood – are also green hotels.

A workshop on the state’s green lodging program is being held today in Daytona Beach to discuss the criteria for becoming a Green Lodging hotel. More than 120 participants will address methods of conserving energy, linens, water and waste in an attempt to make a ecologically friendly for guests.

“It’s clear that the lodging industry has the opportunity to demonstrate environmental stewardship as well as raise awareness for the need to protect our fragile natural resources,” said Michael Sole, secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Last month Gov. Charlie Crist signed an executive order requiring state agencies that report to him to use hotels in the green lodging program. Crist’s order takes effect in January.

Patel said the designation was the work of the hotel’s 25 employees, and he was honored that his hotel was the first in Tallahassee to go green.

“It’s a good way to spread the word because once you get started hopefully (guests) will make a comment at other hotels and a green lodging program gets started,” Patel said.

He added it was important to obtain the designation before the fall, a historically busy season. Patel said the hotel has many repeat visitors during football season.

In November, Patel said he and his family plan to open a luxury hotel also designed to be a designated green lodging hotel. The Four Points by Sheraton will be located near Raymond Diehl Road and Capital Circle.

Wal-Mart says no

Tallahassee Democrat Article published Aug 25, 2007:

No Wal-Mart for Gaines Street

City: Corporation backs out of proposal

By Ferdie De Vega
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

A Wal-Mart grocery store will not be part of Tallahassee’s Gaines Street revitalization efforts, according to a city official.

The company recently told the city that it is no longer interested in acquiring more than four acres on Gaines Street for one of its 40,000-square-foot Neighborhood Market grocery stores, said Michael Parker, the city’s director of economic development. “At this time, we don’t have any direct negotiations with anyone on that particular site.”

Wal-Mart officials did not give a reason for their decision, he said, adding siting consultants for Wal-Mart first approached the city about four months ago.

Since then, the reaction from residents included people who were not pleased about Wal-Mart’s interest in the site and those who want a grocery store in the arts district, Parker said.

“I know that we need a grocery store on Gaines Street,” said Ruth Wharton, chairwoman of the Gaines Street Vitalization Committee. “I think we can find one that’ll do better than that one.”

The city, which has purchased several properties along the Gaines Street corridor, is seeking to revitalize the area with homes, stores and entertainment. The city has been trying to get a grocery store in that area for some time, Parker said. “We’re still trying to locate one.”

“We’ve approached different stores, and at least at this point, we don’t have anything firm,” said Roxanne Manning, director of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency.

And the winner is…

Estrella: Tallahassee Film Festival

We asked and you told! Estrella is the name you chose for the new annual Tallahassee film festival. Out of 1,565 responses, Estrella received an overwhelming 47% of the vote, followed by Tallahassee Film Festival at 23.8%. Thanks to Patrick Dallet for submitting the winning name!

VOTE NOW!

Tell us what you think we should name the film festival by voting via a poll posted at http://tallahassee.com/news! The poll will close at the end of the day on Friday, August 10, 2007. Then winner will be announced shortly thereafter. Please send the link to everyone you know so they can vote too!  

Thanks to everyone who submitted an entry – we received nearly 200 submissions – and congratulations to those who submitted the top three choices: 

Janet Hinkle submitted GreenLight Tallahassee because “to greenlight a project in film jargon is to take the idea from script/concept phase to actual production…and Tallahassee is taking its talk of a film festival into production…we are ‘greenlighting our project.’” 

Patrick Dallet submitted Estrella, which means “star” in Spanish, to recognize “the impact of the Spanish on our history and the ground on which we stand, as well as our future aspirations that are only as limited as the stars in and over our community.” 

Jane Terrell submitted South by Southeast.

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite!