TOKYO, JAPAN—The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the global authority for advancing healthy buildings, organizations and communities, announced rapid uptake of the streamlined pathway for projects that pursue both LEED and WELL certification. In less than two years, total project space using the pathway has more than tripled—from 80 million to nearly 250 million square feet—while the number of projects has more than doubled, growing from 300 to over 750 across 47 countries. In addition, more than 100 projects, spanning 15 million square feet, have already achieved LEED and WELL certification using the pathway. The accelerated growth reflects a...

LINCOLN, NEB.—New data shows that last year, nearly one-third of the Arbor Day Foundation’s tree planting work in cities and towns was related to addressing extreme heat. “Communities are struggling to endure the pressures of rising heat and they’re reaching for trees as a way to cope. This data is a validator of trees in their role as critical infrastructure. In our world’s cities, trees are a ‘must-have’, not just a ‘nice-to-have’,” said Dan Lambe, CEO of the Arbor Day Foundation. “As the rate of extreme heat increases, so must our response. The Arbor Day Foundation is focused on leveraging the latest...

NEW ORLEANS—The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority (Authority) and the Urban League of Louisiana announced the fifth annual Morial Award winners at a private ceremony inside the Convention Center’s Great Hall on June 26. The Morial Awards recognize a small business and a corporation that have demonstrated innovative growth and economic impact, as well as exceptional contributions to creating opportunities for local communities and small businesses across Louisiana. This year’s event was presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, with additional support from AECOM HUNT|Broadmoor, Liberty Bank, VPG Construction, ILSI...

OCEAN CITY, MD.—Blue Water, a premier outdoor hospitality company, announced a new partnership with Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley. This collaboration aims to bring visibility, awareness, and impactful fundraising to Blue Water’s Delaware properties, empowering both guests and team members to support life-changing wishes for local children facing critical illnesses. As part of this initiative, Blue Water will provide co-branded marketing materials across its Delaware locations to spotlight the Make-A-Wish mission, including sharing the story of Leo, a 7-year-old from Sussex County who has bravely battled leukemia, who lived his dream of visiting the Georgia Aquarium thanks to Make-A-Wish. Guests visiting these properties will see visible on-site...

NEW YORK—Eighty-seven percent of U.S. companies say they’ve maintained or increased their investment in business sustainability efforts this year, according to the 2025 U.S. Business Sustainability Landscape Outlook: Executive Perspectives on Supply Chain Disruption, Resilience and Competitiveness, released by EcoVadis. The findings reveal a shifting approach: companies are still prioritizing business sustainability behind the scenes, but fewer are promoting it publicly. Executives see sustainability as a way to stay competitive and resilient, especially at a time when the scaling back of ESG regulatory oversight raises concerns about greater supply chain disruption. The report identifies five major trends shaping corporate sustainability strategy in 2025: ...

TAMPA, FLA.—With roots going all the way back to 1926, McKibbon Hospitality has a long history of developing and managing hotels. Along the way, the company has guided hotels representing all the major brands through their sustainability initiatives—saving energy, water and reducing waste while building a culture of community and giving. For almost three years, Rafael Ibarcena has led McKibbon Hospitality’s Corporate Social Responsibility program. Green Lodging News interviewed Ibarcena, the company’s Corporate Sustainability Manager, to learn about the unique leadership and services McKibbon Hospitality provides and how it interacts with each brand’s own sustainability initiatives. The following are the...

NATIONAL REPORT—Businesses strive more than ever to demonstrate environmental responsibility. Fortunately, tackling waste doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. Smarter waste management lightens your company’s environmental footprint and builds brand credibility with eco-conscious consumers (often with cost savings along the way). This guide to waste management solutions for a better planet outlines effective solutions your business can implement today. Find Your Starting Point with a Waste Audit Every effective waste management plan begins by understanding the problem. A waste audit is a simple yet powerful tool for doing just that. This systematic review of a company’s waste stream involves collecting and...

HOUSTON—Imperial Ridge Real Estate Capital, a national private commercial real estate lender based in Colorado, and Amalgamated Bank announced they have partnered to provide $4 million in Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing. In addition to the C-PACE financing Imperial Ridge provided $2.9 million in senior construction financing to support the adaptive reuse of an aging unflagged hotel into much-needed workforce housing in Houston. The property is located near George Bush Intercontinental Airport, an area experiencing strong demand for more attainable housing. The 74,091-square-foot building, originally built in 1983 as a Holiday Inn, is undergoing a full renovation by The 702 LLC, which purchased the...

CANTON, MASS.—Setting a new standard for responsible tourism, Tourism Cares, a global nonprofit dedicated to advancing sustainability for the travel and tourism industry, has unveiled the newest cohort of its Meaningful Travel Map Members—trailblazing destinations dedicated to advancing community-led, sustainable travel worldwide. With this expansion, the Meaningful Travel Map now features more than 550 vetted partners, reflecting the exponential growth and industry-wide embrace of sustainable travel experiences that benefit communities, protect cultural and environmental assets, and foster deeper connections between travelers and destinations. By joining the Map, destinations amplify their sustainability efforts, expand economic opportunities to diverse communities, and...

UPPSALA, SWEDEN—Together with landlord Vasakronan, Scandic plans to open a modern, new 236-room hotel in downtown Uppsala. The hotel will be built in the rapidly growing Södra City (Southern City) area. In addition to a gym, bar and flexible meeting facilities, the new hotel will offer a large restaurant with a view of stunning park areas. The long-term lease agreement between the parties includes a new-build Scandic hotel with 236 rooms. Meeting capacity will be substantial as the hotel will offer seven meeting rooms, the largest of which can accommodate up to 200 people and be divided into three sections. The...