INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Trade wars, tariffs, sluggish growth: uncertainty and stagnation are the dominant themes of the 2025 global economy. By contrast, German consumer confidence is proving to be surprisingly robust, at least where travel and relaxation are concerned. Despite the difficult economic climate in Germany, summer holidays remain a priority for its citizens. According to estimates by the German Travel Association (DRV), Germans plan to spend around 85 billion euros on pre-holiday travel services in 2025—a significant 6 percent increase over the previous year. The organized travel market with package and tailormade tours is growing particularly strongly. The industry expects that...

LAS VEGAS—Caesars Entertainment, the largest casino entertainment company in the United States, released its 2024 Corporate Social Responsibility report. The annual PEOPLE PLANET PLAY report highlights the company’s progress on environmental goals, community impact, 35 years of its pioneering Responsible Gaming program and more. PEOPLE PLANET PLAY is the framework underpinning Caesars’ Corporate Social Responsibility strategy. “2024 was an incredible year for us at Caesars Entertainment,” said Kiersten Flint, SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility and Internal Communications at Caesars Entertainment. “In addition to rounding out a multi-year capital cycle where we completed and opened three new destinations, we made robust...

LAS VEGAS—Las Vegas Sands has contributed $300,000 through the Sands Cares global community engagement program to Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) in support of its mission to combat the critical issue of youth homelessness in Nevada. Sands’ long-term partnership with NPHY, which began in 2014 and has encompassed $2.9 million in funding for the organization, is one of the company’s top community engagement priorities in its Las Vegas corporate headquarters. The 2025 Sands Cares donation continues support for three core strategies: meeting the immediate needs of youth in crisis with funding for NPHY’s outreach efforts, emergency shelter and housing programs; building lasting solutions to address youth homelessness with a portion of the...

DENVER—Under Canvas, a leader in upscale outdoor hospitality, announces the grand opening of its first camp in Washington State: Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge. The newest camp joins 11 other Under Canvas locations nationwide and is situated on a 120-acre property in Washington’s White Salmon River Valley. What makes this camp uniquely special is its proximity to such a wide range of activities—from prime outdoor recreation to award-winning wineries and active lifestyle pursuits. Located just 15 miles from White Salmon, Wash., and a scenic one-hour drive from Portland along the Columbia River, Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge offers guests a...

SHANGHAI—H World Group Limited, a leading hospitality group, has released its 2024 Sustainability Report, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable growth powered by innovation, inclusion, and bold environmental action. Recognized as the “Outstanding ESG Practice Cases of 2024” by the China Association for Public Companies, the company continued to enhance its ESG practices and drive sustainable development across the industry. The report outlines the Group’s commitments, strategies, management efforts, and achievements across six key dimensions: corporate governance, service excellence, employee well-being, industry advancement, environmental responsibility, and social contribution. Advancing a Greener Future Through Low-Carbon Innovation H World advanced its green vision through three key pillars: green...

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—1 Hotels, the mission-driven luxury lifestyle brand founded by hospitality visionary Barry Sternlicht, announces the official opening of 1 Hotel Melbourne. This nature-inspired property marks the brand’s long-anticipated debut in Australia, redefining the future of luxury hospitality in the heart of one of the world’s most forward-thinking cities. Developed in partnership with Melbourne-based Riverlee, the hotel is set along 220 meters of uninterrupted Yarra River frontage in the revitalized North Wharf precinct. The building is a celebration of Melbourne’s storied past and a blueprint for a more sustainable future, brought to life through biophilic design principles and a commitment to living in harmony with nature. The...

PLANTATION, FLA.—Marriott International, Inc. announced a signed agreement with Solana PA, S.R.L. to debut the St. Regis Hotels & Resorts brand in Costa Rica. The development of this project, which will span 20 hectares on the Gulf of Papagayo in the Guanacaste region, is expected to begin in July of this year, with a planned opening in early 2027. “This extraordinary development underscores our continued commitment to expanding our luxury portfolio in key destinations across the Caribbean and Central America,” said Uriel Burak, Marriott International Vice President, Development, Caribbean and Latin America (CALA). “Costa Rica continues to experience growing demand...

NATIONAL REPORT—Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) from allergens, mold, mildew, viruses, bacteria, cigarette smoke, marijuana smoke, vaping, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and more can easily result in a negative experience for your guests, harsh reviews of your property, and unexpected time, labor and dollars spent addressing the source(s) of the problem. Being proactive about IAQ can prevent a lot of headaches—literally—and even result in a higher room rate if you utilize one of the programs available from the companies in lodging that specialize in helping with TRevPAR (Total Revenue Per Available Room). Each company is unique in its approach....

MONTEREY, CALIF.—Portola Hotel & Spa, the first LEED-Certified hotel in Central California, has launched its new Reduced Waste Conference Program, advancing its long-standing commitment to sustainable hospitality. Developed in collaboration with Blue Strike Environmental, a mission-driven sustainability consulting firm, the program offers event organizers a seamless way to reduce the environmental footprint of their gatherings while maintaining an elevated guest experience. Portola Hotel & Spa’s Reduced Waste Conference Program sets a new standard for responsible meetings, encouraging collaboration between the hotel, planners, and attendees to reduce landfill waste, lower carbon emissions, and increase the use of reusable and recyclable resources. From behind-the-scenes...

NATIONAL REPORT—The Morning Sentinel is reporting that a bill advancing in the Maine Legislature—LD 1928—would prohibit most hotels, short-term rentals and other guest accommodations from using single-use plastic amenity bottles (with less than a 6‑ounce capacity) for shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion. Locations with 12 or fewer units would be exempt. The bill does not restrict the use of plastic refillable containers for personal health or beauty products. It also does not restrict the use of single-use personal health or beauty product containers, bottles, wrappers or packaging that are not made with plastic. Lodging establishments would have years to...