Does your company have a plant-forward food sustainability policy? Non-profit organization Scope Three Action just published scorecards ranking hotel groups across Europe and North America on their plant-forward food sustainability policies, revealing that most major chains lack the measurable commitments needed to address one of the key sources of their carbon emissions. According to Scope Three Action, the scorecards evaluate clear, publicly disclosed plant-forward policies and protein diversification targets across the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. While only a handful of leaders have committed so far, this approach is gaining traction, with momentum building as...

CHICAGO—A new report from the U.S. Food Waste Pact (Pact), a collaborative initiative of 30 food businesses across the country led by nonprofits ReFED and World Wildlife Fund, shows reductions in the amount of food being wasted nationwide by grocery retail and foodservice companies in 2024 compared to 2023. The results are good news for the food system, as it tries to address its 60-million-ton food waste problem. This is the second year that Pact signatories have reported these data, with 2023 results serving as the inaugural benchmark for food waste in these sectors. Unsold food rates, the metric that...

BEACON FALLS, CONN.—Lavatec Laundry Technology announced it has reached a purchase agreement with Central Florida Laundry. The Orlando-based company will be replacing older LAVATEC equipment with two new, TT-series premium dryers. The 465-pound capacity and energy efficient machines are expected to be installed this summer. Central Florida Laundry has provided services to hospitality organizations for eight years. Operating from a 35,000 square-foot facility, they employ 28 people who work one shift seven days a week. The company processed 14.5 million pounds of linen in 2025 and estimates they will show a healthy increase this year. “With the expected increase of outside...

CANNES, FRANCE—Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes was recently awarded Green Globe Gold certification, acknowledging five consecutive years of continued improvement in its sustainable management and operations. Celebrating its one hundredth anniversary in 2026, the iconic hotel encapsulates French elegance and refinement and is known for its timeless charm and breathtaking views over the Mediterranean. Charles Richez, General Manager at the hotel said, “All of the team is delighted in achieving Green Globe Gold certification. Nowadays, we all appreciate the importance of sustainable development, not only in terms of our environmental impact, but also our social and economic impact. Environmental responsibility...

March 3 to 4, I will be attending the AHLA Responsible Stay and Food & Beverage Summits at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner (Va.). Green Lodging News is the media sponsor. An impressive lineup of speakers will be there with educational sessions in Responsible Stay and F&B. Also planned are crossover sessions that touch on both Responsible Stay and F&B. Be sure to watch for coverage of the Summits on Green Lodging News in the coming days. No other event in the U.S. lodging industry is so focused on corporate social responsibility and no other event attracts such a high...

TYSONS CORNER, VA.—The AHLA Food & Beverage Summit will take place on Tuesday, March 3 and will be followed on March 4 by the crossover AHLA Food & Beverage Summit and AHLA Responsible Stay Summit. All events will be held at the Hilton McClean Tysons Corner, Va.* Click here for more information. The AHLA Food & Beverage Summit will cover the following topics: “Trendologist: Food & Beverage—What’s Shaping the Menu?”, “What’s Pouring Next? Beverage Trends to Watch,” “Sip Smarter: Understanding the THC Beverage Landscape,” “Navigating the Future of Beverages,” “Beyond the Menu: Innovation Shaping Hospitality F&B,” and “From Tech to...

NATIONAL REPORT—In an era marked by rising energy costs, shifting regulations, and a growing demand for sustainable business practices, the cold storage industry stands at the crossroads of innovation and necessity. Energy efficiency is no longer a bonus—it’s a mandate. For businesses that rely on walk-in coolers and freezers, from restaurants and grocery stores to pharmaceutical labs and food distribution centers, future-ready refrigeration means embracing smarter, greener, and more efficient technologies. Cold storage is an energy-intensive necessity. With compressors running 24/7 and temperature consistency being critical to product integrity, refrigeration systems account for a substantial portion of operational energy use....

Each year, Green Lodging News reports on the recipients of the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show’s Kitchen Innovations (KI) Awards. I posted a press release about the awardees this past week. Several of the awardees have been particularly innovative. Here are just a few of the awarded innovations that caught my eye: BDGR LLC’s OiLChef device doubles the life of cooking oil in deep fryers and enables operators to reduce cooking times. When the life of that cooking oil is over, BDGR has figured out a way to transform it into a biodegradable degreaser—a safe cleaning solution that biodegrades within 31...

CHICAGO—The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show has selected 20 recipients of its 2026 Kitchen Innovations (KI) Awards, recognizing foodservice equipment and technology designed to support day-to-day foodservice execution through smarter automation, sustainability, and operational resilience. This year's class of awardees reflects the realities operators are managing on the ground, including workforce constraints, tighter margins, and limited room for disruption during service. The selected solutions focus on helping kitchens maintain consistency and speed during peak service, with equipment and systems designed for day-to-day use. “Operators are no longer experimenting with technology; they are relying on it,” said Tom Cindric, President of Exhibitions for...

SINGAPORE—COMO Hotels and Resorts’ dedication to thoughtful travel—defined by holistic wellbeing, inspired dining, and intuitive service—takes a bold new direction with a rare Arctic collaboration. Partnering with specialist expedition operator Natural World Safaris, the award-winning hospitality group has created two micro-cruises to the Svalbard archipelago: immersive, small-group, expert-led expeditions that carry the brand’s sensibility beyond its hotels and resorts and into one of the world’s most remote regions. Launching in May and September 2026, the 10- and 11-night itineraries offer rare access to the High Arctic, paired with the refinement and quiet elegance for which COMO is known. As the first...