CYPRESS, CALIF.—The TreadRight Foundation, The Travel Corporation’s not-for-profit, has released another short film featuring its “Planet” Ambassador, filmmaker and environmentalist, Céline Cousteau, speaking to the critical role travel plays in empowering local food producers and communities. At a time when it’s clear that the balance between people and the planet has been lost, the film follows Cousteau as she rediscovers her roots in France and meets local producers dedicated to living in harmony with the land that nourishes all people. During this time of physical distancing and sheltering in place, people around the world have been focused on shopping...

SINGAPORE—Banyan Tree Group announces an F&B partnership with Grassroots Pantry, a pioneering brand in Hong Kong which is at the fore of plant-based cuisine in Asia’s fine dining scene. Grounded on the passion for a sustainable future through food, this partnership leverages the post-COVID quest for better health and wellbeing, where food choices and nutrition are ranked as the top areas for change. It aims to lead the curve in elevating sustainable food sourcing and plant-based cuisine for living and eating well. Bringing personal wellbeing experiences and the greater good for the planet to another level, a capsule menu based...

ENCINITAS, CALIF.—A year after receiving Platinum WELL Certification for her Inn at Moonlight Beach—the first lodging establishment in the world to do so—owner Shangwen Chiu Kennedy has no regrets about the investment. Well Certification is a result of the International WELL Building Institute’s collaboration with Green Business Certification Inc. According to the Institute, there are currently 4,421 projects encompassing over 623 million square feet that are applying WELL across 63 countries. There is at least one additional Well hotel project. The boutique Inn at Moonlight Beach consists of five modern suites, 10 distinct gardens, and an owner’s quarters. The Inn...

HUDSON, WIS.—Refrigerated Solutions Group (“RSG”), an industry leader in refrigerated equipment and service, recently decided to continue production of the Master-Bilt BEM/BEL Endless Glass Door Merchandiser Series at the RSG manufacturing facility located in New Albany, Miss. Due to strong customer demand for this product, with its market-leading features, ease of installation, and energy efficiency, RSG will continue production of the Endless Merchandiser Series. This will result in maintaining a more focused manufacturing footprint in the New Albany facility (where earlier this year the difficult decision was made to discontinue operations completely). “The RSG leadership team has worked diligently to strengthen...

PALAU—The Palau Bureau of Tourism, Sustainable Travel International, and Slow Food have launched a new project in Palau that aims to mitigate the tourism sector’s carbon footprint and establish Palau as the world’s first “Carbon Neutral Tourism Destination.” The project is taking an innovative destination-level approach that includes promoting local food production within tourism and developing a carbon management program for tourists. This project supports the objectives of the Coalition of Fragile Ecosystems (COFE) and International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) and has been endorsed by various government agencies, including Palau’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism; Ministry...

PRINCETON, N.J.—Miele USA, a subsidiary of the global leader in state-of-the-art home and professional grade appliances, announced the North American launch of its newest and most versatile laundry system to date. Miele Little Giants washers and dryers offer short cycle wash programs (25-minute Express wash cycle), high temperature disinfection (up to 200°F) and high spin extraction (G-Force up to 704Gs), providing a superior hygienic clean in less time. Miele Little Giants offer the ultimate solution for all laundry demands across a range of hospitality and wellness applications including salons, spas, B&Bs and small resorts to restaurants, bakeries, cafes and catering...

NEW YORK, N.Y.— Infor, a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry, announced a fully contactless suite of applications for the hospitality industry, specifically designed for hotels and resorts, gaming, restaurants and food service, and event sales and table reservations. With guest and hotel staff safety in mind, Infor Hospitality Cloud solutions are designed to address hotel operational needs for social distancing and contactless processes—including mobile check-in/check-out, digital keys, and the ability to order room service via one’s own device. “Guests are seeking frictionless options that will allow them to circumvent long lines or crowded lobbies, preferring self-service...

SAN FRANCISCO—More than 10,000 San Francisco hotel employees are out of work and nearly half of the city’s hotels are closed representing more than half of all guestrooms, according to state data compiled through July 31 as San Francisco remains one of only four California counties not allowing hotels to reopen, the Hotel Council of San Francisco announced today. The 10,899 employees furloughed, temporarily laid off and, increasingly, permanently laid off, represent 44 percent of San Francisco’s 25,000 hotel workers while the 92 closed hotels represent 42 percent of the city’s 215 hotels. The data was compiled by the California...

Name: Jeffery Smith Title: Vice President Sustainability Company: Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas Years in Current Position: Two Years, Six Months Primary Responsibilities: Managing operational impacts across 18 hotels and 32 spas, while supporting sustainable development for a pipeline of projects that grows the brand to touch on six continents. Organization’s most significant accomplishment in global corporate responsibility: “We eliminated plastic amenity bottles in 2003, plastic straws in 2016, and have been using coral safe sunscreen since 2019. Also, in every hotel there is a provision for funding to be spent outside the hotel operation. It allows each hotel to decide what is locally...

CINCINNATI—The Procter & Gamble Co. announced a new commitment to have its global operations be carbon neutral for the decade through a series of interventions that protect, improve and restore nature. Recognizing the next decade represents a critical window for the world to accelerate progress on climate change, P&G will go beyond its existing Science Based Target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by additionally advancing a portfolio of natural climate solutions. These efforts will deliver a carbon benefit that balances any remaining emissions over the next 10 years, allowing P&G operations to be carbon neutral for...