INTERNATIONAL REPORT—On the United Nations’ World Environment Day, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group announced a significant stride in environmental stewardship with the goal of having Winnow’s food waste technology installed across all its hotels by the end of 2025. This initiative is a testament to Mandarin Oriental’s commitment to setting a new standard for sustainability in the luxury hospitality sector. In a resounding endorsement of the effectiveness of Winnow’s AI technology, Mandarin Oriental has already observed a remarkable 36 percent reduction in food waste in four pilot hotels: Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong; Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London; Mandarin Oriental, Miami; and Mandarin...

LAS VEGAS—Twenty-five years ago, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas made waves when it pioneered the convention-hotel concept and delivered Venice’s canals to the Las Vegas desert, gondoliers and all. Coinciding with this momentous birthday, the iconic resort unveils a new era ushered in by its $1.5 billion reinvestment project. Following the recent launches of HaSalon, Voltaire Belle de Nuit, and Sphere at The Venetian, the resort’s comprehensive top to bottom reimagining touches everything from a rebrand of The Venetian’s iconic lion logo to a redesign of the resort’s greatest assets, its suites, which remain the largest standard room on The Strip. Available...

LA SAGESSE, GRENADA—Six Senses La Sagesse, the brand’s debut resort in the Caribbean, has opened. With a pride of place beachfront setting, verdant rolling hills and spacious accommodation, the resort’s location offers effortless access to Grenada’s shimmering reefs and mystical rainforests. The island’s incredible natural beauty and soul-connecting cultural experiences provide the perfect backdrop for a journey of discovery, rejuvenation, and celebration. Thomas Fehlbier, General Manager, says: “Grenada is divided into six parishes, and La Sagesse, which is in the South-Eastern parish of St. David, has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. It is filled with vibrant energy, and we...

Food waste reduction and donation were top of mind this past week for several reasons. First, MGM Resorts International announced that it has donated five million meals into the community since 2016, marking the achievement of a 2025 social impact and sustainability goal well ahead of schedule. In 2023 alone, the company donated more than 1.2 million meals to feed food insecure people in local communities. The five million meals were donated through the MGM Resorts Feeding Forward program. Many were the result of grants to organizations that focus on hunger relief and funded meals donated to local nonprofit organizations. Other...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International announced that it has donated five million meals into the community since 2016, marking the achievement of a 2025 social impact and sustainability goal well ahead of schedule. In 2023 alone, the company donated more than 1.2 million meals to feed food insecure people in local communities. The five million meals were donated through the MGM Resorts Feeding Forward program. Many were the result of grants to organizations that focus on hunger relief and funded meals donated to local nonprofit organizations. Other donations involved rescuing unserved food from multiple points along the company’s food and beverage...

CHICAGO—You’re hoping to become more sustainable, making efforts to cut your carbon footprint—reducing food waste, using energy- and water-efficient equipment, reusing, recycling, and even composting. But what do you know about the products you buy, how they’re grown, raised, manufactured, or processed? While your menu automatically impacts your carbon footprint (a barbecue or burger concept will naturally have a bigger footprint than a salad concept), there are ways to make sustainability a key part of your purchasing criteria. Taking a little extra time to vet your supplies and talk over options with your suppliers can help you build your sustainability...

ITHACA, N.Y.—Join leading experts from the Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration and beyond on May 29 as they unveil the latest results from the 10th annual Cornell Hotel Sustainability Benchmarking Index, which tracks energy, water, and carbon emissions of more than 27,000 hotels from over 40 companies. The results explore differences in performance across and within hotel segments and markets as well as the industrywide pathways of decarbonization. While these KPIs have solidified over the past decade, other sustainability indicators are arising and gaining importance. The breadth of climate change and biodiversity impacts continue to be better understood, mapped, and...

GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA—Rio Perdido, the esteemed eco-luxury boutique hotel tucked away in the vibrantly lush and biodiverse tropical dry forest in the Guanacaste Province of western Costa Rica, introduces the new West Bungalows. Strategically positioned near the breathtaking Rio Blanco Canyon, each bungalow offers an unparalleled connection to nature while providing a haven of comfort, privacy, and tranquility for sustainably minded wellness seekers and adventure travelers looking for a deeply healing forest hideaway. The flagship West Bungalows boast a sophisticated yet understated layout, featuring a spacious roofed area of nearly 950 square feet. Guests will be greeted by a 170-square-foot open-air entrance terrace adorned...

GÖTEBERG, SWEDEN—PulPac and Matrix Pack Group announced their strategic partnership aimed at delivering a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional single-use plastic and wooden cutlery. This innovative collaboration involves PulPac, Matrix Pack, and PA Consulting. PulPac and PA Consulting will lead the development of the cutlery, with MatrixPack acting as a co-developer in the industrialization of the post-processing solution. MatrixPack will be the first producer to introduce Dry Molded Fiber Cutlery to the market, with a fully industrialized cutlery set expected to be available by early 2025. “Our goal within this partnership is to develop a consumer-friendly solution that not only meets...

TROY, OHIO—Hobart has introduced its new CL conveyor type commercial dishwasher series with features designed to save time and money and simplify operation. The series has been awarded the 2024 Kitchen Innovations (KI) Award from the National Restaurant Show (NRA) due to its cutting-edge technology. “We are honored to be recognized by NRA for this innovation in commercial dishwashing equipment and are thrilled to introduce our latest innovation in high-volume washing technology,” said Jaehan Kim, Product Manager for Hobart Warewash. “With simplified and improved cleaning and maintenance features, the CL offers unmatched performance, efficiency, and reliability. Whether our customers are...