I have often wondered about the climate impact of space tourism. Why does it matter even more now? According to a press release just released by Allied Market Research, the global space tourism industry generated $598.4 million in 2021, and is anticipated to generate $12.6 billion by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 36.4 percent from 2022 to 2031. Expect just a little more carbon to be falling on your heads in the coming years. I am by no means an expert on the climate impact of space tourism but came across an article from Inside Climate News from June of last year that sums up...

As reported on Green Lodging News, Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. just published its inaugural Corporate Responsibility Report, which details the company’s environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) performance, strategy and initiatives and features its commitment to environmental sustainability, corporate employees, hotel associates and guests, communities, and other stakeholders. For those of you not familiar with Apple Hospitality, the REIT currently has an impressive 220 hotels in 37 states with almost 29,000 guestrooms. I took a quick look at the 64-page report and the following stood out for me: Like many companies, the REIT looks at corporate responsibility as encompassing environmental, social and governance...

In a recent blog entry, I described my experience driving through the area of Southwest Florida that was battered by Hurricane Ian. There are many businesses in the hotel industry who are helping the storm’s victims and one of them is the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa. Last month the resort launched its “Return to Paradise” campaign. Like the campaign in 2017 following Hurricane Irma, the property is offering various programs and packages that directly benefit local organizations and hurricane relief efforts. The Return to Paradise package, available now through the end of the year, includes accommodation...

When thinking about resorts leading in sustainability, you don’t often think about RV resorts but there are some with very green stories to tell—the Golden Village Palms RV Resort in the San Jacinta Valley in California, for example. The property has been certified as the only RV resort within the California Green Business Network. Golden Village Palms Green Practices The use of energy efficient lighting. The use of certified non-toxic laundry, cleaning and building maintenance products in non-aerosol containers to reduce pollution. The donation of previously used furniture, supplies and materials to local nonprofit organizations for waste diversion. The placement...

This past weekend I had the opportunity to witness the damage caused by Hurricane Ina first-hand. I will never forget it. The areas in Southwest Florida hit by the record-expensive storm reminded me of a third-world country that had been hit by a tsunami. It is estimated that a surge rose as high as 13+ feet in areas that sit just a few feet above ground. Miles of beaches disappeared thanks to the surge churned up by 155 mph winds. I saw hotels devastated and of course the hurricane set back tourism in the area for many years to...

Groupe GM recently marked 50 years of supplying amenities to the hotel industry. Throughout its many years in business, sustainability has remained a key focus—so much so that it formalized its green commitment in 2018 with its Care About Earth program. Aiming to strengthen the company’s environmental and social actions, the objective behind the program is to reduce the impact of the hospitality products on the environment. Groupe GM is an industry example of a company that has innovated toward less environmental impact while meeting the regulations of the many countries in which it does business. Groupe GM demonstrated its...

The National Climate Assessment summarizes the impacts of climate change on the U.S., now and in the future. To some extent, global climate change is addressed, as the U.S is not isolated from global impacts. A team of more than 300 experts guided by a 60-member Federal Advisory Committee produced the recent report, which was extensively reviewed by the public and experts, including federal agencies and a panel of the National Academy of Sciences. The report is set up so that you can easily view sections individually. For example, there is a section on response strategies to climate change. Climate change...

Offering a unique promotion related to something you have done sustainably can get your company or property in the news and that is exactly what Booking.com has done with its two-night weekend getaway at the new “Smokey Bear Ranger District House” in New Mexico’s Lincoln National Forest, the birthplace of the famed nostalgic environmental icon. After the stay, the sustainable house will be donated to the forest as a place of respite for park rangers and firefighters who dedicate their life’s work to protecting the environment and local communities. Created out of recycled and sustainable materials, Booking.com’s Smokey Bear Ranger...

Have you ever heard of the term “green-hushing”? I learned about the term in a new report from South Pole called “Net Zero and Beyond.” In this year’s report, South Pole looked at over 1,200 private companies that have a sustainability or CSR head and can thus be deemed a proxy for companies leading on climate action. South Pole found a surprising trend: nearly a quarter of those surveyed global climate leaders will not be publicizing their achievements and milestones beyond the bare minimum or as required by for example the Science Based Targets initiative. This, South Pole says,...

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) just issued its Living Planet Report 2022. It is a comprehensive study of trends in global biodiversity and the health of the planet. The report will come as a shock to those not following our planet’s health and a strong reminder of our planet’s status to those who do follow it. Our industry should pay attention because its growth does impact the planet’s health of its residents and creatures of all sizes. The report begins with this fact: There has been an average decline of 69 percent in species populations since 1970. “While conservation efforts...