LONDON—Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru has recorded the hatching of Olive Ridley sea turtles on its shores for the first time since 2015—a rare and meaningful occurrence in the Maldives, where the species is seldom observed nesting. Eggs laid in January emerged on the afternoon of March 23, marking a significant moment for the island and its surrounding marine environment. The eggs, laid on January 24, have now hatched, with tiny hatchlings emerging beneath sun-warmed sands and making their way across the beach into the lagoon. The moment was quietly witnessed by guests and resort associates, offering a precious and moving glimpse into...

MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS.—Handwashing is an action that’s done millions of times every day in homes, workplaces, schools, stores and a multitude of other locations across the country. To delve deeper into this daily habit, the 2026 Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley Company posed a series of questions to U.S. adults and uncovered some interesting findings. 59 percent will shake their hands dry if hand dryers or paper towels aren’t available in a public restroom, but 12 percent will blow on them and 11 percent will resort to running their hands through their hair. 57 percent will avoid drinking liquids before leaving home to...

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF.—Soul Community Planet (SCP) Hotels, a holistic hospitality company serving those who value wellness, social good and the environment, unveils the latest achievements of its transformative environmental and social responsibility efforts, including achieving a net carbon-negative footprint of more than 1 million pounds annually. SCP is built on the belief that travel can and should be a force for positive change. Through its Every Stay Does Good program, the brand puts this philosophy into action—empowering guests to support meaningful initiatives with every stay, from protecting forests and oceans to promoting mental well-being and strengthening local communities. “Our commitment to...

TAMPA, FLA.—Hunters Point Resort & Marina, the nationally recognized waterfront residential community alongside Anna Maria Island, developed by Pearl Homes, has selected Mainsail Lodging & Development to oversee property management and rental operations of 86 net zero energy homes, bringing one of the Southeast’s most experienced hospitality operators to the community. The addition expands Mainsail’s luxury presence on Anna Maria Island, where it operates the Waterline Villas & Marina, Autograph Collection. The relationship pairs Hunters Point with a proven hospitality company that operates an established vacation rental platform and manages award-winning hotels, resorts, and lifestyle-driven properties. “Mainsail’s track record speaks for itself,” said Marshall...

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM—Radisson Hotel Group announced the global roll-out of its Verified Net Zero Hotels (VNZ) program, marking a decisive step-up from the 2025 pilot phase to a structured, multi-year roadmap. The next chapter of the initiative was formally unveiled at the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) 2026. Launched as a proof-of-concept to demonstrate that zero status can be achieved in existing hotel buildings, VNZ is now transitioning into a scalable program with a trajectory to achieving 100 Verified Net Zero hotels by 2030. The roadmap includes a phased 2026 roll-out beginning in Norway, followed by Denmark, Sweden, the United Kingdom,...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Survey results suggest that long-haul travelers visiting Europe are increasingly open to more responsible travel habits, including choosing greener transport options, engaging with local culture, traveling outside peak seasons and exploring destinations beyond traditional tourism hotspots. These are the key findings of the latest Assessment of Responsible Travel Behaviors of Long-haul Travelers to Europe, published by the European Travel Commission (ETC) and conducted by Kairos Future. The research combines a survey of 3,000 travelers across six key overseas markets (Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan and the US) with analysis of online travel discussions and editorial media coverage related to travel to Europe. The...

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...