Earlier this year I updated Green Lodging News readers about the reach of the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED green building program in lodging. For those of you who missed that column, there were 2,132 lodging projects either registered or certified as of December 16, 2020. The most LEED hotel projects are in the United States—1,253. For those of you interested in the reach of LEED at a more general level by state, USGBC recently released its annual list of the Top 10 States for LEED green building with Massachusetts leading the country in 2020 with the most certified...

As was reported in my previous blog, the travel industry recently lost Gordon “Butch” Stewart. The founder of Sandals Resorts passed away in early January. In one of his first initiatives as Sandals Resorts International’s Executive Chairman, Adam Stewart has announced the creation of The Gordon “Butch” Stewart Tourism & Hospitality Scholarship, fostering the power of education to develop the next generation of Caribbean tourism leaders in honor of the late Stewart. “My father fiercely believed in the power of possibility; he understood and celebrated the ability of people to rise above their potential and accomplish great things,” said Adam...

NEW YORK—Fortune magazine just released its list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. Six companies made the list in the Hotels, Casinos, and Resorts category. They include: Wynn Resorts (No. 327), MGM Resorts International (No. 213), Las Vegas Sands (No. 190), Hyatt Hotels (No. 168), Hilton Worldwide Holdings (No. 163), and Marriott International (No. 25). Among all industries, 332 companies appear on this year’s list. As it has in the past, Fortune collaborated with its partner Korn Ferryon this survey of corporate reputations. Fortune began with a universe of about 1,500 candidates: the 1,000 largest U.S. companies ranked by revenue, along with non-U.S....

I recently reported on two mattress makers and their inclusion of certain additives to make their mattresses anti-bacterial and anti-microbial—certainly positive attributes for mattresses to have given their use in hotels over the years by so many people. Of course, the elephant in the room given COVID-19 was whether either of the companies’ mattresses were also anti-viral. One of the companies mentioned in my article was Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB). At the time I wrote my article I was unable to reach the folks at SSB. Well, I did finally get a chance to chat with them yesterday. In a press...

The era of lockdowns and social distancing—as well as an acute awareness of the destruction of the environment spurred by COVID-19 travel restrictions—has placed a new value on the innate benefits of the great outdoors. At the November Global Wellness Summit (GWS), a panel of media experts predicted six key trends, and among them was a newfound, deep connection to nature. Of course, the need for nature was already on the rise before the pandemic hit; the crisis has only served to amplify what many wellness experts were already saying—humans have an innate need to convene with the wider world...

To lead a more sustainable lifestyle is quickly becoming a pledge on the top of everybody’s bucket list. The year 2020 has been freighting for many reasons, especially due to the alarming facts related to climate change and the environment. This last decade was the hottest on record and these climbing temperatures show no signs of slowing down. Therefore, we must make a conscious decision to protect the environment we live in and lead more sustainable lifestyles. Here are three ways that you can do so. Use Renewable Energy Renewable energy, also known as green energy, can come from many...

The travel industry lost Gordon “Butch” Stewart this week. He was the founder of Sandals Resorts, the leading hotel chain in the Caribbean, Beaches Resorts, and their parent company Sandals Resorts International. He was also the founder and chairman of the ATL Group of Companies and the Jamaica Observer. Steward left behind a company strongly dedicated to green, sustainable practices. All the company’s resorts participate in the EarthCheck program. Resorts also adhere to the Oceanic Standard, a comprehensive guide to implementing sustainable practices in the hospitality industry, with a focus on reducing single-use plastics. Resorts have received the distinction of...

I see this all year round in our industry and especially this year given the pandemic but the number of acts of kindness is never ending. That is why I love this industry so much—its heart is gigantic. I could list many examples here but here is just one I learned about this morning. In advance of the Christmas holiday, Caesars Entertainment, Inc. leaders and volunteers plan to distribute 20,000 frozen turkeys and festive cookies to Las Vegas Team Members in a contactless drive-thru outside the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino throughout the week. In the spirit of holiday giving, Caesars...

I am currently working on an article on the Hotel Marcel. It is expected to open next year in New Haven, Conn. The hotel will have many unique features—net-zero energy, LEED Platinum, etc. One of the most unique features about the hotel is that it is expected to be the first Passive House certified hotel in the United States. I just came across the certification in another article I read so I thought I would share a bit about the certification. The Passive House certification program is run by PHIUS (Passive House Institute US, Inc.) It is a nonprofit 501(c)(3)...

In June I posted an article about The Red Sea Development Co. (TRSDC), the developer behind one of the world’s most ambitious tourism projects. The project is being developed over 28,000 square kilometers of pristine lands and waters along Saudi Arabia’s west coast and includes a vast archipelago of more than 90 islands. TRSDC just announced it has awarded its highest-value contract to date to a consortium led by ACWA Power to design, build, operate and transfer The Red Sea Project’s utilities infrastructure. The contract marks a significant step forward for The Red Sea Project, establishing it as the region’s first tourism...