In the first half of 2021, we surveyed Bidroom customers about what impacts their travel decision-making process. The majority, 58 percent, said sustainability played a role in this. Fast forward to 2022, and you need only search through the news headlines to see similar surveys from travel platforms, like Booking.com and Expedia, showing how much more significant this trend has become. And it is significant because climate change is not just a passing trend. It is a pressing issue that needs urgent attention worldwide. Hoteliers and other lodging providers can no longer afford to ignore this from an operational and...

Belonging to hospitality, the most service, people-oriented industry, you tend to be impacted by everything the world is undergoing at any given time—technological zeitgeists, global economic slowdowns, unexpected weather turbulence, in addition to the human quest for knowledge, disruptions, and innovations. Regardless of the environment, less represented groups on a leadership scale change the social engineering in decision-making. For decades, boardrooms have lacked women inclusivity, but now, industries have adopted and started promoting changes as more women sit at executive boards and rank high on global progress indexes. It has now shifted from a sole focus on gender diversity...

Amid one of its most transformative periods in history, the U.S. lodging industry has an opportunity to enact real change through a renewed commitment to sustainability. As the world looks to reduce its carbon emissions, hotels play an important role as they are the most energy- and water-intensive of any commercial building type globally. Not only will a commitment to sustainability help to slow climate change, but failure to do so has the potential to result in lower asset value, increased operational costs and decreased consumer demand. Following the pandemic’s unprecedented impact on lodging demand, which was worse than that of...

In the current business context, most hospitality organizations are finding themselves wanting to strike the right balance of “building back better” without jeopardizing a speedy recovery and keeping sustainable business practices at the heart of it all. It is important to note that this is taking place at a time when there is heightened interest, as well as public scrutiny, toward an organization’s “footprint” and purpose. For example, stakeholders, as well as shareholders—who have already become more attuned to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles—expect a marked step forward as it relates to an organization’s social, environmental, and societal impact. It is...

Last June, MGM Resorts International activated a solar park that will power up to 90 percent of its 13 Las Vegas properties. According to the Associated Press, the company says the initiative is “the hospitality industry’s largest renewable energy project.” In April 2021, Reuters reported that 12 U.S. governors called on President Joe Biden to support ceasing sales of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035—an effort that California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on for his state in fall 2020. There are currently about 2 million electric vehicles (EVs) on the road and, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, there will be about 26...

The wellness industry is transforming into a booming trillion-dollar market with plenty of potential for new entrants in the sector, be it new products or services. EHL has compiled a list of the top 10 global spa trends for 2022. The spa experience is no longer simply about pampering; spas are now required to offer an extensive menu of healing therapies for the mind, body, and soul. The COVID Impact on the Wellness Industry & Spa Trends Today, spas may answer most of the desires of an older generation expecting to be offered additional pampering services or a health and wellbeing...

As of 2020, the International Labor Organization and Walk Free Foundation estimated that 24.9 million people are victims of human trafficking across both private industries and state-imposed forced labor per year. Of that bone-chilling number, 30 percent of the global human trafficking victims are children, and 49 percent of all victims of international trafficking are women. There is simply no denying it—human trafficking is a worldwide issue that cannot, and should not, be ignored. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the human trafficking epidemic. As stay-at-home orders were issued around the world, the World Bank estimated that 70 million people were...

Energy costs are soaring, forcing countless hotel owners and managers to search for more cost-effective, clean energy alternatives to the traditional power grid. Unsurprisingly, the adoption of distributed power generation is also rising—especially in the combined heat and power (CHP) market, which is expected to reach $35.2 billion by 2026. This growth is spurred by the willingness of government programs to provide support and incentives for its implementation. With an estimated $26.6 billion in incentives and clean energy initiatives over the next five years, the booming CHP market is expected to become more accessible to a range of hotels, providing them...

The pandemic forced hotels to modify how they operate, pushing safety to the forefront of the hospitality community’s consciousness, and derailing a burgeoning industry trend to make facilities more sustainable. Yet, hoteliers would be wise to make sustainability a priority in 2022. Decreasing a hotel’s impact on the environment, no matter its size or location, attracts guests in the short term and saves money in the long term. When customers choose to spend money on a hotel room, many want to select a place to stay that is kind to the earth. And while you’d be excused for assuming sustainability...

When not traveling for work, we travel to explore destinations, seeking relaxation and inspiration to recharge our batteries. As tourists, we want an environment that is clean and untouched. Nobody wants to go on vacation and lie on the beach next to a pile of garbage. Whether diving in the ocean, climbing a mountain for a glorious view, or heading out on a safari, one of the major reasons we travel is to discover foreign ecosystems and their wildlife. Tourism depends heavily on biodiversity, and ensure that our students are aware of this. So, What is Biodiversity? For a long time, biodiversity...