STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN—Vingcard, an ASSA ABLOY company and provider of advanced technologies for the hospitality industry, announced the adoption of several of its cutting-edge door lock solutions by Hjortviken Country Club in Hindas, Sweden. Managed by ESS Group, the soon-to-be-opened Hjortviken Country Club, together with the support of Vingcard and BRA Bygg construction company, is setting its sights on delivering a refined guest stay experience that also prioritizes its commitment to protecting the environment. Opening its doors in January 2025, Hjortviken Country Club is considered Sweden’s first authentic country club. By partnering with BRA Bygg to renovate and expand the Country Club’s...

MOUNT PLEASANT, WIS.—In a significant advance towards a sustainable future, Seda North America is launching its innovative compostable Double Wall cold cups on the North American market, paired with the revolutionary paper EcoFit lid. These cups and lids have been specifically designed to meet the demands of rapidly changing legislation that increasingly favors more sustainable packaging solutions. The new offering provides a game-changing solution for businesses that need to adapt swiftly to new environmental regulations. Seda’s compostable Double Wall cold cups, made from BPI-certified renewable materials, are engineered for a superior drinking experience. Their unique, patented air gap design keeps beverages...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s award-winning travel program, and The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott (JWASM) Foundation are combining forces to donate $500,000 to World Central Kitchen (WCK), the nonprofit organization founded by renowned chef José Andrés. The donation is expected to greatly enhance WCK’s ability to provide meals in the wake of natural disasters and crises around the world, helping those in need receive the nutrition and support they require during challenging times. The donation builds on the company’s and the Marriott family’s longstanding support for WCK. Anthony Capuano, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International, announced the donation during a taping of Chef...

CHARLESTON, S.C.—Cambio Roasters, led by former Keurig Chief Innovation Officer Kevin Hartley, announces the launch of its groundbreaking aluminum coffee pods. This innovative shift from plastic to aluminum represents a significant advancement in sustainability and coffee quality. The aluminum coffee pod addresses the environmental crisis caused by the 40 million plastic coffee pods that end up in landfills and oceans every day, offering an eco-friendlier and more high-quality alternative. When commenting on the urgency of such a huge transition, Hartley commented, “There's no sense in compromising the quality of the world's best organic coffees, expertly roasted and curated, by placing...

NEW YORK—The Open Wing Alliance (OWA), a leading global coalition of 95 animal protection organizations in over 70 countries, has released the inaugural Fair and Fowl: Global Companies Edition. This comprehensive report addresses the urgent need for corporate transparency in the fast-growing cage-free movement. It ranks global companies with cage-free egg commitments, highlighting the “early birds” leading the way in their transitions and the “bad eggs” refusing to disclose progress despite their public promises. Companies that publish progress reports build consumer trust and showcase their dedication to responsible sourcing, while those engaging in “greenhushing”—concealing their progress to avoid scrutiny—risk...

The Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) was founded in 2008 by Simon Heppner, Giles Gibbons, Mark Sainsbury and Henry Dimbleby, with a vision of creating a clear intersection between the sustainable food movement and the hospitality industry. With a group of 50 founding restaurants, The SRA set out to create a robust framework for what made a restaurant “good”, clearly promote best practice across the industry and inspire healthy competition to drive progressive action. Initially known as the Food Made Good Rating, the Food Made Good Sustainability Standard was launched in 2010. Since then, it has been used to assess and certify the...

HELSINGBORG, SWEDEN—Gaia Biomaterials has developed a compostable drinking straw material. The new material is a grade of the company’s limestone based Biodolomer material. Biodolomer does not leave any microplastics and is certified compostable by BPI in the USA as well as European certification bodies. The new grade has been developed with hot drinks, such as Irish Coffee and hot chocolate, in mind. It can handle temperatures over 80ºC without any substantial loss in rigidity and stability. Several tests have been conducted with drinking straw manufacturers in Europe and the USA. The material works well in machines, and the properties are according...

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES—Hilton announced the results of its Green Ramadan 2024 initiative, which aimed to further reduce food waste across hotel operations during the holy month. Through the effort, Hilton saw a more than 20 percent reduction in post-consumer food waste. Following the success of Green Ramadan 2023 where food waste was reduced by over 60 percent, the program was scaled across 32 hotels in seven countries and served 239,000 guests during iftars and suhoors. Participating hotels in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Türkiye and Malaysia undertook extensive sustainability training, and aimed to close the loop across the...

NATIONAL REPORT—Artificial intelligence (AI), according to IBM, is technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities. When used improperly, AI can wreak havoc. One need not look far in our industry, however, to find examples of how AI is being used in a positive way—in the hotel kitchen to reduce food waste. Two companies utilizing AI in their automated solutions to help hoteliers reduce food waste are Winnow Solutions and Leanpath. Solutions such as those offered by Winnow Solutions and Leanpath are needed because of the volume of food waste generated by commercial kitchens. Between 5...

KYOTO, JAPAN—Six Senses Kyoto has opened its doors, marking the brand’s entry into Japan. Conveniently situated among the iconic heritage shrines and palaces within the ancient capital, Six Senses Kyoto invites guests to both an epicenter and an escape, to enjoy holistic wellness, signature sustainability and out-of-the-ordinary experiences. Six Senses Kyoto marks a historic milestone of taking the Six Senses brand into new frontiers, while continuing to enrich IHG’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio—now the second largest in the world. The hotel’s design draws inspiration from the Heian period (794 to 1185), when Heian-kyo (now Kyoto) was the capital of Japan, considered...