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6th Disney hotel gets green thumbs up
Christopher Boyd | Beth Kassab and Scott Powers, Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted March 13, 2006
Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom Lodge has been certified for the Florida "green lodging" program, the sixth Disney hotel to earn that distinction for environmentally friendly practices. Among the hotel's green features: a towel and linen reuse program to conserve energy and water, an advanced computerized energy management system and a recycling program for visitors and staff.
Started in March 2004, the program is a voluntary initiative from the state Department of Environmental Protection. It establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural resources and prevent pollution.
As reward for the designation, Florida recommends Green Lodges to companies and trade organizations seeking environmentally conscious lodging and convention facilities. With the addition of the Animal Kingdom property, the program has 13 hotels certified, with 14 in the process of becoming certified.
Others at Walt Disney World are: the Coronado Springs Resort, BoardWalk Inn, Port Orleans Resort, Pop Century Resort and Caribbean Beach Resort.
Unfasten seat belt, take out wallet
JetBlue Airways Corp. may sell items on its flights to boost revenue after its first quarterly loss since the low-cost carrier sold shares to the public in 2002.
"Everything in the company is under scrutiny of where we can get some additional revenue," Chief Executive Officer David Neeleman said last week at a Raymond James investor conference in Orlando. "We think we can improve the revenue picture."
JetBlue flight attendants recently asked about selling items during flights like EasyJet PLC does. Neeleman said he'd consider the idea if he found something passengers wanted to buy. EasyJet, based in Luton, England, sells items such as food, perfume, watches and shaving kits.
JetBlue offers free snacks, juices and soft drinks and sells alcoholic beverages on flights. It provides free satellite radio and television, and charges $5 each for premium in-flight movies. JetBlue also gets revenue from a co-branded credit card and a service that helps arrange travel and hotel packages.
The airline provides free headsets onboard, and recently began charging $1 if customers want to buy better quality sets before boarding.
New season at Daytona Lagoon
Daytona Lagoon Water Park and Family Entertainment Center in Daytona Beach will kick off its 2006 season on Friday. The park season, which lasts until October, will feature teen nights on Tuesdays during June and family nights on Fridays, also during June. The water park, at 601 Earl St., adds an expanded video arcade this year.
Royal Plaza renovation completed
Royal Plaza, a hotel at Walt Disney World, recently reopened following a multimillion-dollar renovation.
The 394-room, 17-story hotel, which originally opened in 1971, has also joined Luxe Worldwide Hotels, a Los Angeles hospitality company that specializes in unique lodging properties internationally.
The hotel, which is within walking distance of Downtown Disney, has 17,500 square feet of meeting space and amenities that include a restaurant, sports lounge, poolside bar and fitness center.
Jobs fair at Disney World
Walt Disney World is opening its spring rush season by seeking to fill hundreds of positions at a jobs fair to be held today through Wednesday at the Walt Disney World Casting Center.
Disney is hiring full-time, part-time and seasonal employees for food and beverage, housekeeping, lifeguarding, cooking, service, entertainment and attractions positions at all four Disney theme parks, two water parks and more than 20 hotels.
Applications will be taken between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Those interested in applying should visit the Casting Center, 1515 Buena Vista Drive, across from Downtown Disney Marketplace, or call the Disney Jobline at 407-828-1000 for more information or to schedule an interview.
OIA tops in customer service
Next time you're waiting in a security line that snakes through the terminal or searching for a clean stall in a restroom at Orlando International Airport, keep in mind it's likely worse elsewhere.
Orlando International was named "Airport with Best Customer Service Airport-Wide" last week by trade publication Airport Revenue News for the second year in a row. L'Occitane, a store specializing in French soaps, was awarded "Best Airport Retail Store Design" by the magazine.
Christopher Boyd can be reached at cboyd@orlandosentinel.com. Beth Kassab can be reached at bkassab@orlandosentinel.com. Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com.
Christopher Boyd | Beth Kassab and Scott Powers, Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted March 13, 2006
Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom Lodge has been certified for the Florida "green lodging" program, the sixth Disney hotel to earn that distinction for environmentally friendly practices. Among the hotel's green features: a towel and linen reuse program to conserve energy and water, an advanced computerized energy management system and a recycling program for visitors and staff.
Started in March 2004, the program is a voluntary initiative from the state Department of Environmental Protection. It establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural resources and prevent pollution.
As reward for the designation, Florida recommends Green Lodges to companies and trade organizations seeking environmentally conscious lodging and convention facilities. With the addition of the Animal Kingdom property, the program has 13 hotels certified, with 14 in the process of becoming certified.
Others at Walt Disney World are: the Coronado Springs Resort, BoardWalk Inn, Port Orleans Resort, Pop Century Resort and Caribbean Beach Resort.
Unfasten seat belt, take out wallet
JetBlue Airways Corp. may sell items on its flights to boost revenue after its first quarterly loss since the low-cost carrier sold shares to the public in 2002.
"Everything in the company is under scrutiny of where we can get some additional revenue," Chief Executive Officer David Neeleman said last week at a Raymond James investor conference in Orlando. "We think we can improve the revenue picture."
JetBlue flight attendants recently asked about selling items during flights like EasyJet PLC does. Neeleman said he'd consider the idea if he found something passengers wanted to buy. EasyJet, based in Luton, England, sells items such as food, perfume, watches and shaving kits.
JetBlue offers free snacks, juices and soft drinks and sells alcoholic beverages on flights. It provides free satellite radio and television, and charges $5 each for premium in-flight movies. JetBlue also gets revenue from a co-branded credit card and a service that helps arrange travel and hotel packages.
The airline provides free headsets onboard, and recently began charging $1 if customers want to buy better quality sets before boarding.
New season at Daytona Lagoon
Daytona Lagoon Water Park and Family Entertainment Center in Daytona Beach will kick off its 2006 season on Friday. The park season, which lasts until October, will feature teen nights on Tuesdays during June and family nights on Fridays, also during June. The water park, at 601 Earl St., adds an expanded video arcade this year.
Royal Plaza renovation completed
Royal Plaza, a hotel at Walt Disney World, recently reopened following a multimillion-dollar renovation.
The 394-room, 17-story hotel, which originally opened in 1971, has also joined Luxe Worldwide Hotels, a Los Angeles hospitality company that specializes in unique lodging properties internationally.
The hotel, which is within walking distance of Downtown Disney, has 17,500 square feet of meeting space and amenities that include a restaurant, sports lounge, poolside bar and fitness center.
Jobs fair at Disney World
Walt Disney World is opening its spring rush season by seeking to fill hundreds of positions at a jobs fair to be held today through Wednesday at the Walt Disney World Casting Center.
Disney is hiring full-time, part-time and seasonal employees for food and beverage, housekeeping, lifeguarding, cooking, service, entertainment and attractions positions at all four Disney theme parks, two water parks and more than 20 hotels.
Applications will be taken between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Those interested in applying should visit the Casting Center, 1515 Buena Vista Drive, across from Downtown Disney Marketplace, or call the Disney Jobline at 407-828-1000 for more information or to schedule an interview.
OIA tops in customer service
Next time you're waiting in a security line that snakes through the terminal or searching for a clean stall in a restroom at Orlando International Airport, keep in mind it's likely worse elsewhere.
Orlando International was named "Airport with Best Customer Service Airport-Wide" last week by trade publication Airport Revenue News for the second year in a row. L'Occitane, a store specializing in French soaps, was awarded "Best Airport Retail Store Design" by the magazine.
Christopher Boyd can be reached at cboyd@orlandosentinel.com. Beth Kassab can be reached at bkassab@orlandosentinel.com. Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com.
