NATIONAL REPORT—Over the past four years, utility costs at U.S. hotels have increased at a pace greater than total operating revenue. As a result, utility department expenses increased from 2.9 percent of total revenue in 2019 to an estimated 3.3 percent in 2023. As hotels have struggled to recover from the pandemic, any rise in cost ratios is an area of concern for owners and operators. The good news is that the pace of growth appears to be slowing down. Year-over-year growth rates for utility expenditures have declined on a dollar per-available-room (PAR) basis from a high of 21.4...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Questex announced that registration is now open for this year’s The Hospitality Show (The Show), which will be held in San Antonio, Texas, from October 28 to 30 at the Henry B. González Convention Center. The Show launched in 2023, when it drew more than 3,800 attendees and successfully sold out every available vendor space on the expo floor. This year’s event will build on that success and cement The Show’s status as one of the world’s premier hospitality technology and operations gatherings. Ecolab, Guest Worldwide, Oracle, Sabre, and Wyndam are confirmed presidential sponsors for The Show 2024. The...

RACINE, WIS.—Dominion Properties, developer of two LEED Platinum multifamily buildings in southeastern Wisconsin, has just achieved LEED Gold for its boutique Hotel Verdant that utilizes geothermal, solar and wind technologies—a renewable energy trifecta not found in any other U.S. hotel. The 80-room property, with a Scandinavian vibe, is located in downtown Racine, Wis., and was once the Zahn’s Department Store building. The building sat empty for 40 years until Dominion Properties transformed it into a business anchor for downtown Racine. Dominion Properties’ Michael O’Connor and his business partner Christopher Adams are the visionaries behind the hotel project. They first met while...

FAIRFAX, VA.—Crescent Hotels & Resorts, the nationally recognized operator of hotels and resorts in the United States and Canada, announces a strategic partnership with Green Key Global, the North American standard in Hotel Sustainability Certification. The collaboration will strengthen sustainable practices and processes at Crescent’s collection of hotels and resorts while demonstrating the positive impact sustainable initiatives have in the local community and our planet. “Sustainability has been a longstanding core value at Crescent Hotels & Resorts. By forging a strategic alliance with Green Key Global, we not only underscore our unwavering dedication to environmental stewardship but also establish a resolute benchmark that resonates...

NORTH BETHESDA, MD.—Choice Hotels International, Inc., one of the world’s leading lodging franchisors, has been named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women 2024 by Newsweek. The study ranked companies on input from over 142,000 female employees nationwide, included a pool of 848,000 company reviews and evaluated each company on metrics important to women in the workplace including compensation, work-life balance, and proactive management on diversity. “We are honored to be recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s greatest workplaces for women,” said Pat Pacious, President and CEO, Choice Hotels International. “Choice Hotels is committed to driving a culture that’s equal parts inclusive and...

DUBLIN, IRELAND—The “U.S. Sustainable Travel Market - Focused Insights 2024-2029” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering. The U.S. sustainable travel market was valued at $66.22 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach a value of $116.46 billion in 2029, growing at a CAGR of 9.87 percent from 2023-2029. The U.S. sustainable travel or tourism market has seen remarkable growth and transformation in recent years, reflecting an increasing awareness and concern for environmental and social issues. Sustainable travel encompasses a range of aspects, including eco-friendly accommodations, responsible tourism practices, and eco-conscious transportation options. Additionally, travelers can opt for eco-friendly lodgings like ecolodges, treehouses, and sustainable resorts that aim to...

HELSINKI, FINLAND—Helsinki’s newest urban sanctuary, The Hotel Maria announced that the Green Key jury granted the hotel with the coveted Green Key certificate at its first meeting in 2024. Green Key is a leading sustainability program in the tourism sector. The Green Key certificate is recognition of commendable sustainability work, and its criteria meet the growing expectations of customers and partners regarding the sustainability of tourism services. The Hotel Maria, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Legend Collection, has been committed to sustainability since its inception, and earning the Green Key certificate and meeting corresponding requirements have been longstanding goals. These requirements...

MIAMI—Underscoring its commitment to sustainability, Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise company, unveiled a new solar park at its Amber Cove Cruise Center in the Dominican Republic. The park’s 1,800-plus solar panels will supply 80 percent of the port’s energy demand. Carnival Corporation, Carnival Cruise Line and Amber Cove Cruise Center celebrated with a ribbon cutting that was attended by government, industry, and community leaders, including Joel Santos, Minister of the Presidency of the Dominican Republic, and Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line. “As we bring guests to enjoy the beauty and rich culture of the Dominican Republic, we also take our environmental stewardship here...

VERONA, PA.—The electrification and decarbonization of the commercial kitchen is becoming a hot topic throughout the hospitality industry. Green Lodging News recently addressed the topic in a Publisher’s Point of View column which highlighted the work of the William J. Worthen Foundation. The Foundation addresses all-electric kitchens in its “The Building Decarbonization Practice Guide.” Also championing a transition to all-electric and less carbon-intensive kitchens is Chef Christopher A. Galarza. A strong proponent of electric induction cooking, he is the author of Understanding the Green Industrial Revolution, An Interdisciplinary Look At the Hospitality Industry, Founder/Culinary Sustainability Consultant with Forward Dining...

CHICAGO—Building on Hyatt’s purpose of care and commitment to wellbeing, Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced an exclusive collaboration between the Hyatt Regency brand and Future, a personal training platform that connects users with an ongoing fitness coach to create customized virtual workouts, further complementing World of Hyatt members and guests’ wellbeing journeys. Launching at 26 Hyatt Regency hotels and resorts in the U.S., these Hyatt Regency hotels invite guests and members to enjoy complimentary guided workouts developed by Future trainers that are customized for each hotel and resort’s fitness center and equipment. With this new collaboration, Hyatt builds on its commitment to wellbeing and the Hyatt...