CINCINNATI—The Procter & Gamble Co. announced a new commitment to have its global operations be carbon neutral for the decade through a series of interventions that protect, improve and restore nature. Recognizing the next decade represents a critical window for the world to accelerate progress on climate change, P&G will go beyond its existing Science Based Target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by additionally advancing a portfolio of natural climate solutions. These efforts will deliver a carbon benefit that balances any remaining emissions over the next 10 years, allowing P&G operations to be carbon neutral for...

HARRISBURG, PA.—Hersha Hotels and Resorts (Hersha Hospitality Trust) has released its 2019 Hersha EarthView Sustainability Report. The 35-page report summarizes Hersha’s 2019 impact and the strides it has made in its environmental, social, and governance efforts towards a more sustainable, connected, and inclusive world. For those of you not familiar with Hersha, a Real Estate Investment Trust, the company owns and operates 48 upscale, luxury and lifestyle hotels in urban gateway markets and coastal destinations. Hersha’s EarthView program has existed since 2010. According to Hersha, $100 million in portfolio value has been attributed to EarthView as of 2019. EarthView has...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) announced that October’s “Best of HFTP” in-person events will pivot to a virtual “Cyber HITEC.” The in-person event, which included HITEC San Antonio, HFTP Annual Convention, Entrepreneur 20X and Club Forum, was scheduled for October 26 to 29, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas. In response to the continued health safety concerns and travel restrictions related to the current pandemic, the HFTP Global Board of Directors has determined it is best to switch gears and concentrate efforts on a virtual program. It is making this decision well-ahead of time to allow participants, exhibitors,...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) is ready to usher in a return of the face-to-face, hospitality meeting with its upcoming North American Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC). Raising the event’s relevance are three innovative strategists who will deliver thought-provoking keynotes responsive to today’s recovering hospitality climate. These big picture sessions will explore how to raise your company’s digital profile—Erik Qualman; emerging technologies important for adapting to the new hotel environment—John Picard; and what customer service will look like post-pandemic—Justin Taillon, MBA, Ph.D. HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe, CAE, FIH says, “Right now gathering to share knowledge, generate...

NATIONAL REPORT—For good reason, becoming more environmentally friendly is now a priority among many property owners worldwide. With the threat of a looming climate crisis, it makes sense that those who can adjust to become more eco-conscious and environmentally friendly do so. As such, this article will be looking into small changes that don’t require heavy expenditure or lots of man hours to put into place that can be done either by yourself or with the help of a professional. We’ve been sure to weigh up the environmental cost of each change to make sure the fix isn’t as harmful...

NATIONAL REPORT—At a time of low occupancies caused by COVID-19, spending money on upgrades other than those related to cleaning and maintenance is likely not a priority. At least one company, however, is offering a “pay as you save” program that makes investing in LED lighting upgrades very enticing. “Through our ‘pay as you save’ program, it is zero down with very low interest rates. In most cases reductions in lighting costs are greater than the cost of the new lighting,” says John Hutchcroft, V.P. of Field Development, YellowBlueLED. “For the most part they are immediately cash flow positive and...

TORRANCE, CALIF.—LEDtronics announces its new series of short-length Miniature Bayonet-Based LED Lamps. These multi-voltage bulbs are a perfect fit for applications that require a shorter lamp that still provides bright, reliable light. The BSF321-SIW-6/48V bulb comes in a T3¼ (Ba9s) 9mm single-contact, brass and nickel-plated brass bayonet base that mounts directly into industry-standard sockets. Being bi-polar, the polarity of the positive and negative leads is no longer a factor in DC applications. Due to their solid-state construction, LEDtronics’ miniature bayonet bulbs are ideal for industrial applications that are subjected to vibration, shock and environmental stress, all of which reduce the life...

LAS VEGAS—Wynn Resorts issued its 2019 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report, providing a comprehensive view of the company’s commitment to responsible business practices, environmental protection, and social impact. Also detailed is Wynn Resorts’ industry-leading response to the COVID-19 pandemic, outlining steps the company took to protect the health and well-being of employees, first responders, medical professionals, and vital nonprofit organizations. The report reflects the strong corporate values and core behaviors that govern Wynn Resorts’ business and guide the company’s commitment to solving complex social responsibility issues facing the hospitality industry. In the report’s forward, Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox...

LAS VEGAS—Bartech, a Las Vegas-based provider of automatic, profit-generating minibar solutions for the global hospitality industry, has unveiled Minibar+, an innovative solution that enhances Bartech’s manual minibars with semi-automatic functionality. Simple to set up and implement, Minibar+ is a “plug and play” solution that is available as a downloadable application, easily adding semi-automatic functionality to Bartech’s manual units to give hotel operators the ability to control key functions of these devices without having to set foot in the guestroom. As the industry becomes more “guestroom-centric” with hotel guests avoiding common areas like restaurants and bars, the in-room F&B offering is...

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced nearly $11 billion in energy-cost savings by more than 950 public and private sector organizations in DOE’s Better Buildings Initiative. To date, partners have saved nearly 1.8 quadrillion British thermal units of energy, which is equivalent to the electricity consumption of 27 million homes in America over one year. Among the partners and allies that have achieved their energy goals this year: Loews Hotels & Co. Loews Hotels is the only hotel company to do so. (To learn a bit about Loews’ green policy, click here.) “Under the Trump Administration, we are...