BROOMFIELD, COLO.—As part of its Epic for Everyone platform, Vail Resorts, Inc. announced a significant expansion of its current youth access efforts, with plans to launch new programs at more than a dozen resorts that serve major metropolitan areas, including New York City, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, Cleveland and Seattle. The company will provide free lift tickets, ski school, equipment rentals and other services to local nonprofits, who will combine those services with youth mentorship for enriching, on-mountain programs across Vail Resorts’ growing portfolio. Vail Resorts Chief Executive Officer Rob Katz and his wife, Elana Amsterdam, will personally donate $10...

HAMBURG, N.J.—Crystal Springs Resort announced it has commenced commercial operations of the largest resort based solar farm in the Northeastern United States. Developed in partnership with New Jersey based Marina Energy, the 25-acre solar field has over 19,000 solar panels and has the annual capacity to generate 3.5 megawatts of electricity, which is more power than is consumed annually by the resort’s two hotels. Development of this solar farm aligns with other efforts taken by the resort in pursuit of ongoing environmental stewardship, such as its recent partnership with Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) and the New Jersey Audubon Society...

NATIONAL REPORT—In July, IHG announced that its entire hotel estate of almost 843,000 guestrooms would switch to bulk-size bathroom amenities, with the transition to be completed during 2021. Not included in the announcement was whether IHG had committed to refillable or non-refillable dispensers. In response to a Green Lodging News query, an IHG spokesman said, “Given that the team is currently in the process of working to establish the best bulk-amenity solutions for each brand based on market availability, brand expectations and environmental impact, it’s a bit too early to speak.” In August, Marriott International announced that it’s expanding an...

ORLANDO, FLA.—A research study conducted on behalf of Clean the World by the University of Arizona (UA) showed a 100 percent bacterial contamination rate in refillable dispensers that contain shampoo, body wash, conditioner, hand soap, or lotion. Of 82 samples taken, 63 (76 percent) yielded bacterial numbers greater than 1,000 colony-forming units per gram of product (CFU per gram), and 40 samples (49 percent) exceeded 10,000 CFU per gram. According to The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, for non-eye-area products, counts should not be greater than 1,000 CFU per g or mL. An Executive Summary of the...

LONDON—The Commonwealth of Dominica is “carving a niche of its own” in the international tourism industry by establishing an inspiring ecotourism sector, a new Financial Times documentary reveals. Six brand new eco-conscious luxury hotels have already opened or are being developed on the ‘Nature Isle of the Caribbean’, all of which raise foreign capital via the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Program. Jungle Bay owner and native Dominican Sam Raphael successfully rebuilt the beloved resort after Storm Erika, by attracting select investors seeking second citizenship via the CBI Program. Through CBI, Dominica allows certain investors and their families to obtain its coveted...

ENCINITAS, CALIF.—The Inn at Moonlight Beach announced that it has been awarded WELL Certification at the Platinum level by the International WELL Building Institute’s (IWBI) collaboration with Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). Going a step further than LEED certification, the prestigious distinction was awarded through IWBI’s WELL Building Standard (WELL), which is the premier building standard to focus on enhancing people’s health and wellness through the buildings where we live, work and play. The Inn, an intimate 4,000 square foot boutique hotel on a third of an acre lot, is nestled in a residential neighborhood in historical downtown Encinitas, a short...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A new report from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) suggests that sustainable building practices, including those involving energy and water conservation as well as waste reduction, are increasingly being incorporated throughout the hotel sector to add value and provide a competitive edge to properties. Sustainability in Hotels: Opportunities and Trends Shaping the Future of Hospitality assesses the state of sustainability in the hotel sector by identifying best practices, highlighting industry trends in sustainability, and offering solutions to sustainability-related obstacles. The report, published by ULI’s Greenprint Center for Building Performance, contains case studies and is informed by insights from 25...