AHLA Partners With IncentiFind to Identify Sustainability-Related Savings for Owners, Operators
AHLA | October 30, 2023
SH Hotels & Resorts to Open First U.S. Treehouse Hotel in Sunnyvale, California
Treehouse Hotels | September 26, 2022
Sustainability
First-Ever GBTA Sustainability Benchmark Reveals Gaps to Decarbonize Business Travel Programs, Calls for Accelerated Corporate Action to Reach Net Zer
GBTA Foundation’s Sustainability Initiative | November 4, 2024
GBTA’s Sustainability Acceleration Challenge assesses emissions reduction efforts in corporate travel across all industry sectors, highlighting areas for immediate progress The GBTA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), today unveiled findings from its Sustainability Acceleration Challenge, an industry-first global benchmarking initiative to evaluate the current state of business travel programs and the actions being taken by organizations to decarbonize them. The findings reveal that organizations have much work to do to accelerate the integration of practices if they are to materially reduce...
North Macedonia’s UNESCO World Heritage Site Lake Ohrid At Risk From Pollution
October 30, 2024
OHRID, North Macedonia (Reuters) - Lake Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage site that straddles North Macedonia and Albania, is at risk from pollution, overfishing, and urban development, the United Nations body and experts say. The lake, one of Europe's oldest dating back 3.5 million years, is home to around 200 unique species, including rare varieties of trout. It serves as a significant tourist attraction and revenue source for North Macedonia and Albania. The North Macedonia side of Lake Ohrid was declared a World Heritage Site in 1979 and UNESCO expanded the designation to the Albanian side of the lake in May, 2019. In its 2024 repor...
Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry: Going the Extra Mile
EHL | October 15, 2024
What’s holding hotels back from doing more than basic eco-friendly gestures, like reusing towels or reducing plastic, and embracing sustainable hospitality by adopting a green culture into their business? This article takes inspiration from a recent publication by Dr. Laura Zizka et al. that delves into current hotel green challenges. Addressing the difficult issues of ‘guest guilt’ and greenwashing, her work points an encouraging finger at the role of employee engagement, emphasizing the importance of hoteliers stepping up the pro-environmental communication - directing it not just at the guests but, more importantly, at their emplo...
IHG Hotels & Resorts, GBTA Foundation Convene Sustainability Leaders to Deliberate the Decarbonization of Business Travel
IHG Hotels & Resorts | September 24, 2024
ATLANTA (Sept. 24, 2024) – IHG Hotels & Resorts and the GBTA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), brought together some of travel’s biggest sustainability leaders yesterday during 2024 Climate Week NYC to spark dialogue about the decarbonization of business travel. In collaboration with co-hosts IDEO, Accenture, American Express Global Business Travel, Delta Air Lines and Hertz, the event challenged attendees to explore tensions and collaborative approaches inherent in balancing the necessity of business travel with the imperative to reduce carbon emissions. Business travel remains a c...
Sustainable Technologies: How Smart Hotels Reduce Environmental Impact
EHL | August 27, 2024
Given the immense climatic challenges we currently face and the growing consumer demand for more sustainable products and services, businesses in every sector are starting to take their environmental impact seriously. In hospitality, the situation is no different. Energy consumption in the industry is high, with cooling, lighting, heating, and ventilation responsible for up to 60% of a hotel’s CO2 emissions. Energy-intensive extras such as heated swimming pools, excessive water and plastic use, and food waste also contribute to the industry’s environmental impacts. Given these unavoidable energy requirements and resource needs,...
Green Key Global Announces Inaugural Slate of Board Members
Green Key Global | August 12, 2024
WASHINGTON (Aug. 12, 2024) – Green Key Global – the only sustainability certification designed specifically for hotels – today announced its first-ever slate of board members and the appointment of Heather McCrory, a hospitality expert with 40 years of experience in the industry, as chair. McCrory recently served as CEO of Accor’s North American and Central American operations, and currently advises the hospitality industry as principal of Heather J. McCrory & Associates. She joins other top hospitality professionals who will guide Green Key Global, the world’s leading hotel sustainability certification provider, which is j...
Environmental, Social Initiatives Lead to Greater Returns in High-Income Nations
PENN STATE SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT | July 30, 2024
Hospitality firms participating in environmental, social and governance practices in high-income nations can generate increased return on assets UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Global sustainability initiatives like the environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing principle may lead to greater financial gains for hospitality firms in high-income countries but not in low-income nations, according to new findings from researchers in the Penn State School of Hospitality Management. Penn State doctoral student Samantha Hwang and Professor of Hospitality Management Seoki Lee led a research team that assessed how implementing practice...
Sustainable Hospitality: Using Technology To Go Green Means More ‘Green’ for Hoteliers
Joe Vargas | July 24, 2024
By Joe Vargas SVP & General Manager, Infor Hospitality In 2023, the World Tourism Organization spotlighted an impressive trend: a significant 73% of global travelers now prefer hotels that adopt sustainable practices. This shift is driving hotels to incorporate green technology extensively in their operations. According to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, by 2025, green technology will distinguish industry leaders in the hospitality sector. However, despite these advancements, the hotel industry still struggles with achieving environmental sustainability. It remains a significant contributor to global carbon emissions an...
IHG Hotels & Resorts Launches Industry First ‘Low Carbon Pioneers’ Programme as CEO Calls for Broader Support From Governments to Accelerate
IHG | July 17, 2024
London (17thJuly 2024) IHG Hotels & Resorts, a global leader in hospitality, today announces the launch of its Low Carbon Pioneers programme, which brings together energy efficient hotels that have no fossil fuels combusted on-site* and are backed by renewable energy. This group of low operational carbon hotels is the first community of its kind in the industry and will help IHG test, learn and share findings on sustainability measures. The ambition is to inspire other properties to join the programme and also help encourage wider adoption of carbon reduction practices across IHG’s estate. The first Low Carbon Pioneer hotels span di...
Overtourism: How To Avoid It for Better Travel Experiences
EHL Insights | July 15, 2024
As the summer travel season kicks into high gear, the specter of overtourism looms large over many of the world’s most beloved destinations. In an interview with two EHL researchers and experts on the topic, we explored the multifaceted issue of overtourism and how savvy travelers can avoid the pitfalls of overcrowded hotspots by traveling during shoulder seasons, staying overnight and discovering destination dupes. Crowded beaches, congested streets and long queues at tourist attractions – these are all unfortunately familiar sightings when traveling to popular places. Even though the prices for flight tickets, hotels and trips ove...
Marriott International Highlights ESG Progress in Annual Serve 360 Report
Marriott International | July 10, 2024
Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR) (“Marriott”) today released its 2024 Serve 360 Report highlighting the company’s global Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) efforts and progress toward its 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Goals. The Report reflects data for the calendar year ended December 31, 2023. The Report can be accessed here. This year, the Report features an “Around The World Highlights” addendum, which showcases ESG initiatives spanning each of the company’s regions – Asia Pacific excluding China; Caribbean & Latin America; Europe, Middle East & Africa; Greater China; and United ...
What Is Sustainable Travel: 10 Best Practices
Dr. Carlos Martin-Rios | July 3, 2024
As academics specializing in the travel, tourism and hospitality (TTH) industry, we have trained and advised dozens of companies in their journey towards sustainable businesses. There is so much more to sustainable travel & tourism than the generic statements you see on brand websites - which are invarably an attempt to greenwash. TTH firms are accountable and must take the changes taking place seriously, from Greta Thunberg's movement to new priorities in the World Economic Forum´s agenda or the ever-growing list of world moguls taking on a leading role in the fight against climate change. For that reason, we have identified 10 ...
Technology and Sustainability in Hotels
Shiji | June 14, 2024
Hotels are increasingly turning to technology as a powerful ally in the quest for sustainability. Today’s technology enables hotels to implement eco-friendly practices that reduce their environmental footprint and are cost-effective. By leveraging smart systems for energy management, water conservation, and waste reduction, hotels can meet the growing expectations of today’s environmentally conscious travellers while enhancing their bottom line. Integrating technology and sustainability is no longer a mere option but a necessity for hotels aiming to thrive in a competitive and responsible tourism industry. Demand for Sustainable Tour...
Driving a Sustainable Future: a Journey to Tomorrow
IHG | May 23, 2024
IHG Hotels & Resorts calls for collaboration across the hospitality industry, as it reiterates commitment to doing business responsibly Responsible for one in 10 jobs and contributing more than $7.7 trillion to the world’s GDP, the travel and hospitality industry supports economies across the globe by helping local communities to thrive. And it’s growing, with more than one billion international travellers last year and even more forecast to follow. Of all hospitality’s long-term drivers, perhaps the greatest is people’s fundamental desire to travel – whether it’s for leisure, business, or both (“blended” travelle...
Hilton and the Hilton Global Foundation Announce Notable Year of Progress Towards 2030 Travel With Purpose Goals
Hilton | May 23, 2024
Hilton, a leading hospitality company, and the Hilton Global Foundation, Hilton’s philanthropic arm, announced today the latest progress towards their shared goal of creating a better world for travel with the release of the 2023 Hilton Global Foundation Impact Report and the 2023 Hilton Travel with Purpose Report. Hilton’s Travel with Purpose Report outlines the hospitality leader’s progress towards its Travel with Purpose environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy to drive responsible travel globally. Travel with Purpose outlines Hilton’s 2030 energy, water and waste reduction targets as well as community engagem...
Sustainability Done Right with a Las Vegas Resort
Adam and Larry Mogelonsky | May 1, 2024
By Adam and Larry Mogelonsky Climate change is now at the forefront of people’s minds, while travel is continually cited as a major (and significantly, a discretionary) contributor to total carbon emissions. As such, every hotel brand needs a clear plan and must also be increasingly transparent about what’s been done to date to win hearts and minds. But every plan relies upon leadership, and with customer sentiment slowly shifting more and more towards ESG values (especially amongst the younger generations), this presents a clear case for carving out a sustainability role for every hotel. Of all the places to learn about how to succ...
Choice Hotels International Unveils Year of Sustainability Milestones in Newly Published 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance Report
April 25, 2024
Highlights Include Committing to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Incorporating Sustainability into Property Improvement Plans, and a Refreshed Approach to Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention NORTH BETHESDA, Md., April 25, 2024 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest lodging franchisors, today published its 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance Report. The report details Choice's latest initiatives to drive sustainability across its portfolio of hotels. This includes new and expanded requirements to help reduce utility usage and identify savings through its revamped Room to be Green ve...
WTTC Launches Roadmap to Guide Businesses Through the Jungle of Sustainability Reporting in Travel & Tourism
WTTC | March 6, 2024
New report designed to tackle the sector´s unique sustainability challenges Berlin, Germany: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today launched a pioneering readiness roadmap, aiming to simplify sustainability reporting in the Travel & Tourism sector. Launched during ITB Berlin, WTTC and Oliver Wyman announced the Sustainability Reporting Readiness Roadmap, a strategic tool to guide businesses through sustainability frameworks, compliance timelines, and readiness assessments, simplifying the journey towards sustainable compliance. This roadmap is more than just a tool; it’s a strategic compass, enabling companies to decod...
UN Adopts a New Global Standard to Measure the Sustainability of Tourism
UN Tourism | March 6, 2024
A groundbreaking statistical framework, developed under the leadership of UN Tourism, has been adopted by all 193 UN member states. The Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (MST) thus becomes the internationally agreed reference framework for measuring the economic, social and environmental aspects of tourism. The adoption by the UN Statistical Commission at its 55th session (27 February – 1 March 2024) marks a historical milestone towards harnessing the full potential of the sector, providing a solution to the pressing need for a harmonized methodology to effectively assess the sustainability of tourism...
What Is the Triple Bottom Line and How Does It Work?
EHL Hospitality Insights | March 5, 2024
In a world where corporate greed and profiteering have been cited as two of the primary drivers behind the ongoing cost-of-living crisis that’s increasing financial hardship across Europe, the idea that businesses could exist for any reason other than profit seems hard to fathom. However, there’s a school of thought, called the triple bottom line (TBL), which suggests that businesses should be just as committed to improving the lives of people and the planet as they are to boosting their profits. In this article, we’ll explore: What is the triple bottom line? What are the three Ps? How do they apply to the hotel and ...
WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics Surpasses 1,700 Properties
WTTC | March 4, 2024
From Mexico to Mauritius, Basics is now a globally recognised scheme to verify hotels’ green credentials. Global partnerships strengthen as ITB spotlights sustainable Travel & Tourism Berlin, Germany: The World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) Hotel Sustainability Basics (Basics), the global initiative helping hoteliers on their first steps to improve their sustainability ratings, has reached a significant milestone with over 1,700 hotels verified across 70 countries worldwide. In her speech at ITB Berlin, WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson celebrated the achievement and highlighted the commitment of the industry towards a m...
Reframing Sustainability as a Hotel Profit Maker
Adam Mogelonsky, Larry Mogelonsky | February 28, 2024
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AHLA, HAC Unite to Expand Hotel Sustainability Certification
Green Key Global | February 28, 2024
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The Future of Hospitality Is Green: How Hotels Can Lead in a Climate-Conscious World
Tim Weiss | February 16, 2024
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