SAN FRANCISCO—As the Official Hospitality Partner of Puppy Bowl XXII, Marriott Bonvoy brought adoptable pups to hotels in the hometowns of the Big Game’s competing teams on February 8. Pet adoption events took place at pet‑friendly hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio: Aloft Boston Seaport District in Boston, and Residence Inn by Marriott Seattle Downtown/Lake Union in Seattle, the hometowns of the two teams competing in the Big Game. Yesterday, Pup Rally invited fans on both sides of the rivalry to come together for something bigger than the score. Travelers and locals alike met adoptable dogs from a local shelter, enjoyed complimentary pet treats and...

NATIONAL REPORT—The hospitality sector is at a crossroads, confronted by a convergence of six major forces: changing consumer behaviors, rapid technological advancement, environmental and energy pressures, evolving social norms, industry upheaval, and shifting economic and policy environments. These dynamics are prompting companies to rethink traditional business models and adapt to a landscape marked by uncertainty and transformation. Key Challenges Facing the Industry The industry faces several immediate challenges: Transforming Consumer Market: Travelers are increasingly diverse in their needs and preferences. The rise of digital nomads—18.1 million Americans in 2024, up 147 percent since 2019—illustrates this shift. While some guests seek flexible, co-living...

ENTERPRISE, ALA.—Tiny living…it’s the hot new trend that many people are embracing. It’s also a good alternative to overnight hotel stays with more amenities. Now, in Enterprise, Ala., which is located in the middle of a 75-mile corridor where 12 million cars pass through annually on their way to the Florida panhandle, Darryl Worley's “Awful Beautiful Life” Luxury Tiny Home Resort has broken ground and is scheduled to open in late Spring 2026. Located within miles of Fort Rucker, Darryl Worley’s “Awful Beautiful Life” Luxury Tiny Home Resort will offer short-term/convenient lodging for government contractors, flight graduation class family members and guests,...

LHAVIYANI, MALDIVES—Six Senses Kanuhura announces a pioneering new initiative that positions the resort at the forefront of marine conservation in the Maldives: the Kanuhura Coral Census, the first long-term, 3D reef-monitoring program ever implemented by a resort worldwide. Developed in collaboration with leading scientists from Newcastle University and University College London (UCL), this cutting-edge methodology delivers an unprecedented level of accuracy, data integrity, and ecological insight. The launch comes at a critical time, as global studies warn that up to 90 percent of the world’s coral reefs may be lost by 2050. Reinventing How Reefs Are Studied For decades, coral-reef monitoring around the world...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG Hotels & Resorts announced a comprehensive human trafficking prevention training curriculum that will be made available to the hospitality industry at no cost. The training will be available to independent hotel owners, operators, and brands throughout 2026, marking the first time these three major hospitality companies have collaborated on a training initiative designed to help prevent human trafficking across the industry. The updated training, developed in partnership with the three hospitality companies, Protect All Children from Trafficking (PACT), and Unboxed Training & Technology, is survivor-informed and leverages live-action video storytelling that will now be available...

BETHESDA, MD.—Pebblebrook Hotel Trust released its seventh annual Corporate Sustainability Report, highlighting the company’s 2024 performance and continued progress on responsible business practices, sustainability, and support for its employees, communities, and stakeholders. Pebblebrook’s 2025 Corporate Sustainability Report is aligned with leading international frameworks, including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The report includes pivotal disclosures in accordance with the Real Estate Sustainability Accounting Standard of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). Pebblebrook also advanced its proactive approach in evaluating and planning for sustainability risks following the guidelines of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD), which, for the first time...

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...