New York City is the city that never sleeps. It seems that there are just as many tourists in New York as there are residents, and no matter if they go for business, or if they are headed down for a vacation, it is easy to find something for everybody. New York can even offer any tourist the feeling of going to someplace exotic and different, which is great considering that more than 75% of all domestic trips are taken for leisure purposes.
In an effort to offer travelers a unique experience in NYC, Marriott Vacations Worldwide has announced earlier this year that they are acquiring the Strand Hotel. Situated in Manhattan on 37th street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, the location of this popular hotel is ideal for any tourist visiting New York.
Marriott Vacations is a global leader in pure and simple vacations. They offer vacation options for travelers all over the world ranging from all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean to luxurious villas in Asia.
Stephen P. Weisz, president and CEO of Marriott Vacations Worldwide explains to PR Newswire why they chose to purchase The Strand building specifically. He says, “New York City has been on our list as a destination for our Owners to explore for quite some time. The location of this property puts our Owners right in the heart of Manhattan where they can experience firsthand the vibrant energy the city has to offer. I am excited about this opportunity as a destination for our Owners and as a new sales location, continuing our strategy of growing our network of resorts.”
Guests will be welcomed into the Strand with contemporary decor, neutral shades, and light textures. Each room boasts high-definition flat-screen televisions, complimentary WiFi, daily housekeeping services, and European styled, spa-inspired bathrooms.
The company has already opened up their new resort, much to the surprise of many travelers. So if you haven’t already splurged on a vacation this year, why not end out the summer with a stay at this brand new resort?
Not to mention that Marriott is doing what it can to help combat the outstanding global environmental energy crisis.
Over 3,000 buildings in New York City have decided to take a stand and do what they can to cut down on their energy emissions. According to a new report by the Urban Green Council, these buildings have slashed their greenhouse gases by eight percent, and energy use by six percent since 2010 to help reduce their carbon footprint.
During the period studied, which happened as soon as the city government required large buildings to report their energy use, greenhouse gas emissions fell from 3.37 million metric tons to 3.11 million metric tons.
Cecil Sheib, member of the Urban Green Council, expresses how crucial this small decrease can mean to the environment. He says to Daily News New York, “Energy use has been going up in this country since Edison started delivering it to customers in New York. We have something that always got worse, and for the first time in a century it’s getting better, and that’s amazing.”
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has pledged to cut the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050. The city is using levels from 2005 as a basis for their report, and even though de Blasio was not in office at that time, he believes the Urban Green Council’s report would help the city identify areas of improvement to help reduce energy consumption.
Some of the recommendations within the report include cutting down on excessive air conditioning use, changing energy-sapping incandescent light bulbs, installing automatic light controls, and upgrading boilers.
Even though there is room for improvement, these buildings use unique methods to focus on their energy savings. About 70% of large manufacturers and buildings have compressed air systems, which is a device that converts power into potential energy stored in pressurized air. Primarily these methods are used for heating and cooling purposes in an effort to cut waste.
These buildings are only one small step in combating the global energy crisis. To put this crisis in perspective, it is important to look at it from a household level. On average, the typical American home spends about 2.7% of its income on energy bills, amounting to about $2,000 a year.
However, the amount of coal, oil, and gas non-renewable energy used by the global economy is falling quickly. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, this is a clear sign that economic growth is having less of an impact on climate change as it has in the past.
The Department of Energy measures energy consumption in energy intensity units, which is the energy used per unit of gross domestic product produced. Overall, since 1990, the global energy intensity has fallen a whopping 30%.
Researchers in the study have also shown that carbon intensity — how much carbon is emitted into the ozone as the result of the energy people consume — is decreasing as both manufacturers and individuals are choosing to go the renewable energy route.
Until just a couple years ago, greenhouse gas emissions and the global economy increased and decreased together at the same rate. But now, things are changing.
Globally, the Energy Information Administration expects both the energy and carbon intensity to decline within the next 25 years as the economy steadily increases, but it is not without the help of everyone working together.
Climatologist Michael Mann explains to Green Biz, “We are making headway. But we need further incentives for policies that will accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels if we are to stabilize warming below dangerous levels.”
