BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS—The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), in partnership with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority (SVGTA), will be providing a platform for the region to address some of the most pressing issues facing Caribbean tourism at the region’s premier conference on sustainable tourism development in August. In what will be the first international tourism conference hosted in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), the 2019 Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development, otherwise known as the Sustainable Tourism Conference (#STC2019) is slated for August 27 to 29 at the Beachcombers Hotel in St. Vincent. Under the theme ‘Keeping the Right...

CON DAO, VIETNAM—When Travel+Leisure magazine selected Six Senses Con Dao as one of the best secret beach destinations on earth, they chose to be in good company. Not only because it is the island’s first and only high-end resort, set like a gemstone in the pristine environs of a national and marine park, it has also become the top choice of some very picky and selective turtles. In addition to the island’s scenic beauty and tranquility, guests at Six Senses Con Dao have the unique opportunity to experience the marvel of turtle hatchlings venturing down the beach into the wide...

DENHAM, ENGLAND—InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced a partnership with technology company Winnow to help its hotels automatically track, measure and reduce food waste for more sustainable and efficient restaurant and bar operations. IHG is the first global hotel company to use the award-winning Winnow Vision AI enabled technology, which will help its hotels achieve a 30 percent reduction in food waste. Using an intelligent camera, smart scales and AI-based smart meter technology, Winnow Vision analyzes ingredients during food preparation, as well as plates returned to the kitchen, to assess which food items are most wasted and in what quantities....

According to the Global Slavery Index, an estimated 40.3 million men, women, and children were victims of modern slavery on any given day in 2016. With the International Labor Organization estimating annual profits from forced labor at $150 billion, it is the world’s second largest criminal industry and affects all countries. The victims of these crimes must endure forced labor, sexual exploitation, organ removal or forced marriage. The fight against modern slavery starts by acknowledging and identifying the issue. In 2015, the UK government intensified their efforts by issuing the Modern Slavery Act, calling for more transparent supply chains in...

SAN FRANCISCO—Home2 Suites by Hilton, part of Hilton’s All Suites portfolio, announced its newest property and the first open hotel built through modular construction in Bay Area history, the Home2 Suites by Hilton San Francisco Airport North. Designed for travelers who want to maintain their normal routine, the hotel features 155 suites and a range of value, tech-focused and eco-conscious amenities. Through an efficient modular building process, the hotel will meet San Francisco’s booming tourism demand, where already-strong tourism numbers grew by 3 percent in 2018 to a record 26.3 million visitors. “Thanks to its high demand but equally high...

ATLANTA—Noble Investment Group announced they have broken ground on the Element by Westin Nashville. Located in the renowned West End neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee, the hotel will be the brand’s debut in Nashville and will open in 2020. The upscale, lifestyle hotel will be a part of the vibrant 19-acre mixed-use development, oneC1TY. Anchored by Vanderbilt University, three major medical centers and foremost health care providers, significant corporate headquarters and Nashville’s famous Music Row, the hotel will be prominently located in one of the fastest growing markets in the United States. The Element by Westin Nashville will be LEED certified and...

NATIONAL REPORT—The early June announcement by CKI Solutions that it has entered the mattress recycling business elevates the number of companies specializing in nationwide hospitality mattress recycling to at least two. Another is DH Companies. Green Lodging News spoke with Steven Gordon, President of CKI Solutions, about his company’s new venture. “We have been in the bedding accessory business for 22 years,” Gordon says. “About five or six years ago we started manufacturing mattresses for the cruise industry in partnership with Hilding Anders AB. We saw the green initiatives in the cruise industry. There was a major void in mattress...

SAN JUAN, P.R.—Discover Puerto Rico, the island’s first-ever and new Destination Marketing Organization, announced that the island will serve as the host for the World Travel & Tourism Council 2020 Global Summit, following the formal announcement made by WTTC at the closing ceremony of the 2019 Summit in Seville, Spain. Representing the global private sector of travel and tourism, the Global Summit is regarded as the most important worldwide event in the sector, and gathers significant global business leaders, yearly. “We’re honored to have been chosen as host destination for the upcoming World Travel and Tourism Council 2020 Global Summit,”...

PARIS—To celebrate Pollinator Month, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a pioneer of responsible tourism and sound environmental practices, has announced the next evolution of its Bee Sustainable programming with the launch of a new interactive digital hub, fairmontbeesustainable.com. The new platform was created to help educate guests and Fairmont colleagues about the importance of global bee health and to encourage visitors to follow along through in-depth analysis, real time hive monitoring and the latest updates from its rooftop apiaries and bee hotels. “As the first luxury hotel brand to develop comprehensive on-site bee programming, Fairmont is an industry leader in the support...

GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN—As the climate issue heats up, consumers are becoming more conscious of their impact on the environment. “Flygskam”, or “flight shame” is a word that has received extensive media coverage recently, reflecting the increasing awareness of flying’s environmental consequences. Now, researchers from Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology present a tool that allows consumers to evaluate the outcome of their different travel options. The new websiteTravel & Climate—gives an instant and simple calculation of the emissions from different modes of travel for a given journey. For example, for two people traveling from London to Barcelona, the tool gives a calculation of...