HONOLULU—The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) has awarded $980,000 in funding to 26 community-based organizations through its Kukulu Ola program, as part of its commitment to supporting and strengthening Native Hawaiian culture by providing genuine experiences for residents and visitors statewide. “The Kukulu Ola program enables us to invest directly in the people and organizations who are keeping Hawaii’s culture thriving,” said Caroline Anderson, Interim President and CEO of HTA. “These efforts enrich the lives of Hawaii’s residents while giving visitors an opportunity to connect more deeply with our island home.” The Kukulu Ola program supports organizations that perpetuate Hawaiian cultural practices,...

COPENHAGEN—Massive popular resistance, water guns, and locals demonstrating is the reality in many big cities and popular tourist destinations around the world, where tourism faces issues with overcrowding and visitor behavior. In clear contrast to these negative scenarios, Copenhagen has taken forward-thinking steps by engaging and rewarding tourists for their behavior. The aim of CopenPay is to inspire and nudge travelers about the choices they make when they travel. Copenhagen offers free boat tours and bike rentals and even a free lunch to tourists for collecting litter, choosing public transport or helping out in a communal garden. Last summer, the...

ALASKA—Alaska has embraced its identity as “The Last Frontier” and experienced significant growth in eco-tourism, fueled by rising cruise traffic and interest in outdoor recreation, helping to offset the state’s declining oil industry. Despite challenges with strained infrastructure and political uncertainty, the overall outlook remains positive, with tourism revenues reaching record highs year-over-year. The state of Alaska, once competing for the top spot among American states for crude oil production, has been adjusting to a new reality. While oil production still accounts for a considerable 40 percent of total state revenue, according to The Tundra Drums, that percentage is significantly below oil...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Visiting a holiday park, ranging from lodge parks to caravan parks or glamping yurts, is a favored holiday choice for the U.K. domestic market. Estimating the market size for U.K. holiday parks is complex due to overlapping categories. However, Mintel estimates the holiday centers and parks segment revenue to be valued at £3.5bn in 2024—a 20 percent growth from pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, there were 4,754 holiday parks and campsites operating in the U.K., accounting for 320,901 pitches, with the highest number in South West England. The sector further supports approximately 230,000 full time jobs across the U.K. Holiday parks and campsites generated...

COPENHAGEN—1 Hotels, the mission-driven luxury lifestyle hotel brand founded by hospitality visionary Barry Sternlicht, announces the official opening of 1 Hotel Copenhagen, a transformative reimagining of the historic Skt. Petri. Copenhagen is one of the world’s most forward-thinking cities and a beacon of sustainability. So, it makes sense that 1 Hotels—a purpose-driven brand built around sustainable travel—chose the city for its first location in continental Europe. Drawing on Copenhagen’s commitment to climate leadership and eco-conscious living, the hotel pairs Nordic craftsmanship with a deep connection to nature. Guests will find calming interiors shaped by natural materials, living landscapes that shift with the seasons, and a lifestyle...

NATIONAL REPORT—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 percent 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, hotels must be smart about increasing energy efficiency and reducing their...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. announced the launch of Connect Responsibly with Marriott Bonvoy Events (Connect Responsibly), a program designed to help meeting planners embed sustainability into their events at participating hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Connect Responsibly plans to offer meetings and events customers access to detailed Meeting Impact Reports to measure the environmental impact of their events and select options to purchase carbon credits. The program is anticipated to go live at managed and franchised properties from participating brands globally by the end of October. “There is nothing like connecting in person, and doing so responsibly makes it that much...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—AHLA Foundation announced their third annual No Room for Trafficking Summit will take place July 30, 2024, the same day as the United Nation’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. At last year’s No Room for Trafficking (NRFT) Summit, the inaugural grantees of the NRFT Survivor Fund were announced, including: Safe House Project, Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST), Restore NYC, Inc., University of Maryland Support, Advocacy, Freedom, and Empowerment (SAFE) Center for Human Trafficking Survivors. AHLA Foundation also shared quantitative and qualitative data demonstrating the impact the four Survivor Grantees have made to-date with the $500,000 disseminated across their respective organizations: Collectively, the...

SAN ANTONIO—The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is filled with hidden gems including the elevated artwork that fills this luxurious resort. Hallways and common spaces feature unique, sophisticated work by locally, nationally, and internationally acclaimed artists, giving guests the opportunity to roam the resort to tour and discover the magnificent art pieces curated for guests to enjoy as a new indoor activity. The “Art Walk” takes resort guests throughout the upper and lower-level lobbies where they can view and read about 13 different pieces of art on a self-guided tour. Guides can be picked up at the...

NATIONAL REPORT—In late February, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Procure Impact, a first-of-its-kind B2B marketplace for products that support overlooked communities, announced the launch of the Dignity of Work Pledge, an initiative to create 100,000 hours of paid employment for overlooked populations. At the time of the announcement, eight hotel companies had signed the Pledge. According to Jen Collins, President of Procure Impact, three companies have since signed on, five have verbally committed, and Procure Impact is in conversation with 15 more. There are now more than 150,000 hotel rooms represented. Hotel companies that purchase from companies in...