KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA—Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa, Kota Kinabalu has launched new immersive guest experiences within its 64-acre Rasa Ria Reserve to showcase the unique Borneo rainforest, home to numerous plants and animals found only on the island. Located in the 130-million-year-old jungles of Malaysian Borneo, the Rasa Ria Reserve’s enhancements focus on local nature conservation and education through scenic walking trails, hiking to the Ria Lookout, a Discovery Centre, Canopy Walkway, Waterfall Garden Area, and an Adventure Point with a climbing wall and playground. Through these new facilities and programs, guests can explore some of the world’s...

ATLANTIC BEACH, FLA.—The Global Ecolabelling Network, in cooperation with the German Blue Angel and the German Environment Agency, hosted an educational and inspirational event in Berlin in late October to highlight the success of ecolabelling around the globe, and celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Blue Angel and the first annual World Ecolabel Day. Gathered at the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, members of the Global Ecolabelling Network and guests saw presentations on sustainable raw materials and human rights due diligence in product supply chains given by the German Environment Agency and Oeko-Institute. A...

ATLANTA—Attaining environmental benefits and lower cost of ownership are driving more commercial fleets to electrify, according to a UPS and GreenBiz study released last month. In the “Curve Ahead: The Future of Fleet Electrification” report, industry leaders identify the main motivations and barriers to electrification, as well as strategies to move the commercial electric vehicle market from niche to mainstream. The top motivation to go electric for 83 percent of large businesses surveyed is sustainability and environmental goals. A lower total cost of ownership—factoring in both direct and indirect costs and savings over the life of the vehicle—is the second biggest driver, cited by 64...

MALDIVES—The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort has opened and features 70 villas and suites, 41 on island and 29 over water. Each villa is shaped with an eco-friendly double roofing to create ideal natural ventilation. Outdoor rainforest showers are a distinctive feature. Poised over the sea on stilts and with an area of almost 200 square meters each, the overwater suites are among the largest a resort has to offer in the Baa Atoll region. Developed by Belluna Co. Ltd, Japan and Asia Capital PLC, Sri Lanka, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort heralds the Westin brand’s wellness positioning in the Maldivian...

NEW YORK—Hotel brand and management company Dream Hotel Group announced plans to launch Your Nature, an Unscripted Eco Resort by Dream Hotel Group, in Antoing, Belgium in 2020. Your Nature is a Belgian eco-friendly resort located on the French border in a 700-acre forest belonging to the Princes de Ligne. This latest hotel signing represents a major milestone for Dream Hotel Group as it continues to grow its portfolio of lifestyle brands in Europe. Set to open in 2020, Your Nature, an Unscripted Eco Resort by Dream Hotel Group, is a one-of-a-kind leisure destination designed with sustainability and conservation in...

EDEN, N.C.—Mohawk Group and nonprofit Groundswell have teamed up to locate a new smartflower™ solar energy unit near three Rockingham County Schools in North Carolina—a project that will bring the benefits of clean solar power to the area, create educational opportunities for students and also contribute to Mohawk’s sustainability efforts to leave more handprints than footprints. The smartflower technology was unveiled on November 29 at a special event in Eden, N.C., which is also the home of Mohawk’s historic Karastan woven carpet plant. The mill celebrated its 90th anniversary of operation this year. Planted on the campus of Eden’s Central Elementary School, the smartflower is located adjacent to Holmes Middle...

LAAMU, MALDIVES—Six Senses Laamu has been named Marine and Coastal category winner at the 17th Skål International Sustainable Tourism Awards, held at the at the 79th Skål World Congress in Kenya. Three independent sustainability experts judged 62 entries from 31 countries, placing Six Senses Laamu top in its category. The award recognizes the resort’s commitment to protect the Laamu Atoll’s marine environment, spearheaded by the efforts of a nine-member marine team, the Maldives Underwater Initiative. The team has been regularly monitoring the health of reefs since 2012. Their conservation and research efforts have since expanded across numerous disciplines, including coral...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Nearly three quarter of organizations (72 percent) mention the global Sustainable Development Goals in their annual corporate or sustainability reports—an increase of 10 percent on last year, according to a new study by PwC. But concrete measures and integration remain elusive for many as organizations struggle to identify actions beyond business as usual targets. PwC’s study—From promise to reality—examines the corporate and sustainability reporting of over 700 listed companies across 21 countries and six sectors, to test on the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals into business strategy, planning and reporting. The Sustainable Development Goals  (SDGs) were adopted in 2015,...

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND—Representatives from across the travel and tourism industry are coming together at the United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva to call for collaborative actions to end human trafficking, forced labor, the sexual exploitation of children, and share their initiatives that tackle key challenges associated with human rights issues. The United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights, being held November 26 to 28, is the first time the sector has gathered to discuss possible solutions to these shared challenges before a United Nations audience. The travel and tourism industry has rapidly expanded in recent years, with...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company, has received a Gold recertification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program for the company’s headquarters in Parsippany, N.J. The recertification designates Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ corporate campus as one of the highest-performing green buildings in the country, reflecting the company’s commitment to minimizing its environmental footprint. LEED is a third-party certification program and premier benchmark for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. It uses a point system to determine the environmental merits of a building, with four levels of...