The world’s ongoing water crisis is real. One in four of the world’s largest cities are currently in water stress, and the global infrastructure for collecting, cleaning, and distributing water is critically strained. We are locked in an ongoing struggle to maintain sufficient supplies of water in the face of increasing global temperatures and continuing worsening droughts. Water waste is not only a major contributor to the decline of reservoirs, but also a significant source of carbon emissions. Water treatment and delivery in the United States account for 13 percent of the country’s total electricity consumption. In many municipalities, water is...

If their goals are reached, LNG Electric along with partner MD7 will give the U.S. hotel industry a significant boost in electric vehicle charging presence in the coming years. According to a press release issued this past week, LNG Electric and design firm MD7 will place Level 2 and Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) EV charging stations at over 13,000 hotels in the next five to six years. The planned installations will also make LNG Electric one of the top three owner-operators of EV charging stations in the U.S. Based on the most recent data I have; I estimate at...

INDIAN SHORES, FLA.—Certified B Corporation Legacy Vacation Resorts continues on the path toward a more regenerative future in tourism and has debuted their newest solar energy project atop their Indian Shores resort. The new array will produce 78 percent of the property’s electricity (355,817 kWh of solar power per year), equivalent to powering over 65,000 U.S. homes annually. This push toward the utilization of clean energy is nothing new for the values-driven company that also boasts programs such as carbon offsetting for guests and corporate team travel/commuting, Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), complimentary EV charging, auto setback thermostat systems, and...

DUBAI, U.A.E.—Millennium Hotels and Resorts recognizes the travel industry’s significant environmental impact and announced its sustainability vision at the 30th edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM). Keeping in line with the exhibition’s theme of “Working Towards Net Zero,” the hotel group’s stand is free from paper and single-use plastics as well as features food and beverages from local suppliers. The brand is committed to contributing towards minimizing the impact of travel and will be actively addressing environmental issues related to the use and conservation of energy and water, elimination of single-use plastics, supporting local communities and working towards obtaining ISO14001...

As mentioned previously on Green Lodging News, I attended HD Expo in Las Vegas from May 2-4. Thanks to Covid-19, it had been four years since I last attended this event focused on hospitality design. What was clear immediately to me this time was that the show and conference was as strong as ever and the number of sustainability stories was at a record level. In my article this past week I listed many of the companies in attendance that jumped out at me in one way or another as having something new, unique, or showing evidence of the continuation...

LAS VEGAS—More than 600 exhibitors displayed their goods and services at last week’s HD Expo at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. More than 80 of those exhibitors identified themselves as sustainable in one way or another. It would be impossible to mention all those companies in this article but below are many examples of what this author considered especially creative and unique. Elkay Manufacturing Co. introduced its ezH2O Liv Pro Filtered Water Dispenser. Unlike other Elkay dispensers, this one features a low-profile design and a more upscale look with its either black or white frame. It fits within 16” OC...

LAS VEGAS—Las Vegas Sands has released its latest environmental, social and governance (ESG) report outlining the company’s 2022 progress on the corporate responsibility ambitions and priorities established for its 2021-2025 reporting period. Targeted for achievement by 2025, Sands’ performance on its ambitions in the People, Communities and Planet pillars of its corporate responsibility program through 2022 included: People—Aiming toward its 2025 target to invest $200 million in workforce development initiatives to advance Team Members and local talent in the hospitality industry, Sands invested $56 million in 2022 and $113 million since 2021. Funding has supported core initiatives such as the Sands Academy Team Member training and development program...

WASHINGTON—LG Electronics has been named 2023 Energy Star Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. This prestigious honor recognizes the company’s exemplary commitment to protecting the environment and tackling climate change through leadership in Energy Star certified products and promotions. This is the 10th time since 2012 that LG has been named Partner of the Year. “LG is 100 percent committed to its partnership with Energy Star and the EPA to inspire change, improve efficiency and help create a clean energy future,” said Thomas Yoon, President and CEO, LG Electronics North America. “Consistent...

BOYNE FALLS, MICH.—Boyne Resorts introduced its Master Plan for reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2030—a goal to which the company is deeply committed and that was the catalyst to forming ForeverProject, Boyne Resorts’ long-term pledge to sustainable practices. Largely structured around collective action, the 2030 Master Plan includes property-specific plans that both allow and require independent initiative among the company’s resorts and facilities located across North America. The pathway now mapped enables Boyne Resorts to reduce its carbon footprint while closely balancing environmental and economic sustainability. “Our 75-year journey as a resort company defines and demonstrates a heritage of stewardship, leadership,...

ISRAEL—With climate change and rising pollution rates being rampant issues today, countries around the world are focusing their efforts on reducing the negative impact of human activity on the environment and finding new solutions to set the foundation for sustainable development. Of all the countries that have pledged to take concrete and tangible action to protect the planet and address nature and biodiversity loss, Israel stands out as a sustainability leader. Despite being a densely populated country characterized by land scarcity, limited natural resources and poor distribution of these resources, Israel has managed to offset many of these challenges by...