CLEVELAND, OHIO—The American Ladder Institute (ALI) is gearing up to celebrate 10 Years of Safer Climbing with the coming 10th anniversary of National Ladder Safety Month in 2026. The only program in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to promoting safe ladder use both in the workplace and at home, first observed in 2016, has since helped millions of organizations and individuals reduce ladder-related risk, injuries, and fatalities through education, training, and advocacy. “This milestone marks a decade of progress in changing the culture around ladder safety,” said Mike Van Bree, President of ALI and Director of Product Safety and Engineering with...

VISTA, CALIF.—Artificial intelligence is creating an unprecedented water crisis. Data centers powering AI systems consumed approximately 17 billion gallons of water in 2023, a figure projected to surge to 68 billion gallons by 2028, a nearly 300 percent increase in just five years. “Never in the history of this country has demand for water increased so dramatically in such a short time,” says Klaus Reichardt, CEO of Waterless Co., Inc. “This will obviously reshape utility costs.” Why AI Needs So Much Water Data centers require massive amounts of water to cool the processors running AI systems. Each AI interaction, for example a...

NEW DELHI—IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) has entered into a strategic partnership with The Job Plus and the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) to skill and empower young people from underserved communities, creating meaningful career opportunities for them in the service and hospitality industry. This marks the beginning of a long-term partnership aimed at driving sustained youth employability in India, particularly within the hospitality sector. Aligned to its Journey to Tomorrow responsible business plan, IHG has expressed its intent to contribute actively to addressing the industry’s growing skill gap—where a large segment of the skilled workforce is migrating to...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Luxury tourism, due to its unique characteristics and its particular adaptability, has become one of the sectors with the greatest growth potential, and consequently, it can attract investment. Islands such as Bali and the Maldives are some of the destinations in Southeast Asia where tourism is a very relevant sector. Although tourism is vital to the survival of these islands, the ecological impact of its activity in terms of resource consumption and waste generation entails a serious risk to the maintenance of ecosystems that are as abundant as they are fragile. This scenario raises the following question: Can...

MCLEAN, VA.—Once again named the No. 1 World’s Best Workplace by Fortune and Great Place to Work, Hilton is releasing findings of a newly commissioned study linking the role of employee experience to consumer purchasing decisions and service experiences. According to a new survey conducted by Morning Consult for Hilton*: Nearly 80 percent of U.S. consumers (78 percent) say that companies that take good care of their employees provide better products and services, with nearly 90 percent (88 percent) saying that taking care of employees is especially important for travel and hospitality brands. Three out of every four U.S. consumers (75 percent) say...

AVON, COLO.—The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa Avon, Vail Valley is gearing up for an exciting 2025-2026 ski season with major updates designed to elevate the guest experience. From a newly expanded Ski Valet and refreshed event spaces to private Work Pods and a curated Gondola Market + Café, the resort offers convenience, comfort, and style for winter visitors. Ski Season upgrades now available at The Westin Riverfront include: Expanded Ski Valet: Nearly doubling in size to 4,000 square feet, the Ski Valet now features two cozy fireplaces, extensive seating, and 1,700 boot warmers. Newly configured direct access to The Westin’s Riverfront...

ALEXANDRIA, VA.—The GBTA Foundation, the cause-led arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), released the second-year findings from its Sustainability Acceleration Challenge, a global benchmark assessing the state of corporate action to decarbonize business travel programs. Input from 285 companies across the globe—representing an annual business travel spend of $22 billion—reveals that companies are still committed to tracking and managing carbon emissions from their employee travel programs, with measurable gains in maturity and more organizations joining the effort. Progress, however, remains limited in certain high impact areas, underscoring the need for faster, collective action to invest in low-carbon travel solutions. “Year two...

NATIONAL REPORT—Commercial lodging facilities handle massive water volumes daily. Daily wastewater output from guestrooms, kitchens, and laundry services places continuous pressure on aging or undersized sewer infrastructure. When sewer issues emerge, the fallout often disrupts revenue, damages brand reputation, and requires costly emergency responses. Identifying repeat failure points and infrastructure risks can help facility operators take preemptive action before problems escalate. Undersized or Outdated Infrastructure Many hotels operate in buildings constructed decades ago with sewer systems designed for a lower capacity. As facilities expand services or add more rooms, outdated plumbing often fails to keep up with the demand. Pipe diameters that once...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. announced the publication of its annual Corporate Responsibility Report, which represents the company’s ongoing commitment to creating long-term shareholder value by investing responsibly, safeguarding the environment, and supporting its employees, communities, and other stakeholders. “I’m proud to share the significant progress we have made on our Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability program,” said Jonathan P. Stanner, President and CEO of Summit Hotel Properties. “These achievements reflect our commitment to operating responsibly and creating long-term value for all our stakeholders through sustainable hotel operations, employee well-being, community engagement, and strong governance.” “At Summit, giving back is part of who...

LOS ANGELES—Kind Traveler and Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (Los Angeles Tourism) have joined forces to empower travelers to raise funds for wildfire relief through Kind Traveler’s Every Stay Gives Back (ESGB) program. In just a few short months, and with the support of nine leading Los Angeles hotel partners, the program has already generated more than $173,000 in direct relief for wildfire survivors through The Change Reaction’s Wildfire Direct Giving Fund. With momentum building, the initiative is on track to raise half a million dollars by the end of January 2026, offering a lifeline to families still...