I frequently post about Scandic, the largest Nordic hotel operator. They have had a commitment to sustainability since 1993 and in 1996 began phasing out single-use plastic. In 2008 they began serving local water in sustainable, refillable bottles designed especially for Scandic. Today, almost 98 percent of its hotels use renewable electricity. I just recently learned that Scandic opened its largest hotel to date in Copenhagen, Denmark—Scandic Spectrum. It has 632 rooms and is certified according to the Nordic Swan Ecolabel’s tough new requirements. Scandic Spectrum offers modern facilities with a Nordic touch. Scandic Spectrum offers a large wellness area inspired by...

If you recycle PET plastic, and it is likely that you do, you should be aware of the goals of the PET Recycling Coalition, an initiative just launched by The Recycling Partnership. The Coalition’s work will focus on addressing four key opportunities to increase recycling of PET plastic: Increasing the capture of PET bottles; Broadening the acceptance of PET trays, cups, and clamshells in community recycling collection programs; Unlocking new supplies of recycled PET (rPET) for packaging manufacturers; and Strengthening recycling systems for pigmented and opaque PET. PET plastic is in high demand for use in textiles such as clothing...

In case you missed it, on June 21 the Los Angeles City Council approved a measure that will reduce the workload for hotel housekeepers. According to the Los Angeles Times, most hotels in the city of Los Angeles will be required to limit the daily workload of housekeepers, offer overtime pay under certain circumstances, provide “panic buttons” to protect their workers from sexual harassment and do away with policies that automatically forgo daily cleaning. Unite Here Local 11, a union representing Southern California hotel workers, filed more than 110,000 signatures on a petition to put the measure on the city’s November...

Thank you to Yasmine Mustafa, CEO & Co-Founder of Roar for Good, for guest blogging this week. NATIONAL REPORT—The hospitality industry provides a lot of opportunities, which is why so many people opt for a career in it. However, just like any other industry out there, it doesn’t come without risks. In fact, there are more than a few potential safety risks if you happen to work in a hotel, a hostel, a motel, or any other similar facility. It goes without saying, then, that as a hotel manager, you need to invest in different safety measures to keep your employees...

Treehugger and other publications such as GREENROOFS.COM recently reported that Montparnasse in the south of Paris has a new mixed-use project designed by French-Brazilian firm Triptyque Architecture: Villa M. It includes a hotel, coworking space, and a “dynamic healthcare-focused center.” For the project Triptyque won the Building of the Year 2022 award from ArchDaily. According to GREENROOFS.com, the hotel’s 67 rooms and six suites each bear the first name of a woman or man who has marked the history of medicine or science. The building is dramatically covered in plants. “We designed Villa M as a naturalist architectural manifesto: that is,...

Two organizations—Sustainable Travel International (STI) and GSN Planet—just released their own versions of calculators with very similar missions. In the case of STI, its embeddable carbon footprint calculator is for calculating and offsetting travel emissions. It allows any company to power carbon offsetting directly from their own website. Once embedded, visitors can use the calculator to calculate their travel emissions and purchase carbon offsets from Sustainable Travel International. In addition to flights, users can offset other high emissions travel activities including cruises, vehicles, liveaboards, yachting, and private jet charters. Offsets purchased through the calculator will be channeled through Sustainable Travel...

Over the years I have reported on many green hotel projects that have been part of mixed-use developments. I recently heard from LEO A DALY, the global planning, architecture, engineering and interior design firm, in regard to the topping out of 20 Mass, a redevelopment of 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW in the District of Columbia. The $200M project will transform the previously seven-story government office building into a 10-story mixed-use development, bringing a vibrant new mix of hotel, retail, and office spaces to the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Located directly adjacent to Union Station and four blocks north of the United...

The Pacific Northwest is certainly a great place for growing grapes and making wine and now the Washington wine industry has launched the state’s first statewide certified sustainability program for wine grapes, signifying a commitment to quality fruit, environmental stewardship, and healthy communities. Sustainable WA will begin certifying vineyards this summer. “From pest and disease management to sustainable water management, prioritizing worker health and safety and tracking various inputs, this program is environmentally sound, socially equitable, and economically viable,” said Sustainable WA Program Manager, Katlyn Slone. Sustainable WA is the first certified sustainability program built specifically for Washington vineyards. To achieve...

Earlier this week I received a note from Jay H. Shah, CEO of Hersha Hotels and Resorts, regarding the company’s 2021 EarthView Sustainability Report. Hersha Hotels and Resorts, a REIT, unveiled EarthView in 2010. “The EarthView program is an adaptive, science-based, holistic approach to sustainable hospitality that aligns innovative practices with Hersha’s core values,” Shah says. I reviewed the report and found the following highlights: Hersha has committed to achieving net-zero Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions across all operations by 2050, with an interim reduction target set for 2030. Hersha became a signatory of the CEO Action for...

One niche that is growing in sustainable travel is high-end tents. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Marriott recently released news about tent projects. I recently learned about another called Las Qolqas in the heart of Peru’s Sacred Valley. Situated in the ancient Andean town of Ollantaytambo, halfway between Cusco and Machu Picchu, Las Qolqas is a sustainable haven for exploration and self-discovery. Its founders, Herman van den Wall Bake and Carlos Gonzalez, have internationally created this peaceful place as a testament to their commitment to the preservation of the environment, local community, and culture, as well as harnessing travel...