LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International announced an array of initiatives intended to support those impacted economically by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including a $1 million crisis and disaster relief pledge into an employee emergency grant fund and donating the equivalent of 400,000 meals across the United States. “As we confront extraordinary events and an unprecedented  global pandemic crisis, we know that this is an extremely challenging and uncertain time for many of our employees, their families, friends and neighbors and we are committed to help those in need,” said Bill Hornbuckle, Acting CEO and President of MGM Resorts International. “We have...

NATIONAL REPORT—Hoteliers know what it’s like to continually chase after the next big innovative idea for their property. Sometimes that could mean inviting local fitness instructors to teach classes in the hotel a few times a month or renovating for an on-site five-star restaurant. It all depends on what guests want and when they want it. To learn more about their needs, hospitality professionals can look to current trends and reflect them on each property. Going green is one of the biggest lifestyle trends to date, with many people embracing sustainability as a moral code and not just an interior...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) announced a new partnership with The George Washington University’s International Institute of Tourism Studies that will give CTO members the opportunity to earn a professional certificate in sustainable tourism destination management at a discounted rate. “The Caribbean is the most tourism-dependent region in the world, and it also faces unique challenges due to these destinations’ vulnerability to climate change,” says Seleni Matus, Executive Director of the International Institute of Tourism Studies. “We are delighted to provide this specialized program to local and regional industry professionals to support sustainable destination management throughout the Caribbean region.” “The...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In an effort to support communities across the country during this unprecedented public health crisis, the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) announced a new initiative—Hotels for Hope—to connect hotel properties with the health community, struggling to find housing and support as the COVID-19 public health crisis grows. The newly launched initiative, just announced in partnership with AHLA partner state associations across the country, has identified over 6,500 properties nationwide located in close proximity to established healthcare facilities that are at the ready to assist government efforts and work with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS),...

HOLLYWOOD, FLA.—Hard Rock International has been recognized as one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes Magazine in the category of Diversity within the travel and leisure category. The business magazine in partnership with Statista, a leading provider of market and consumer data, created this prestigious list of the top 500 companies employing at least 1,000 people in the United States. The results are based on an independent survey from a vast sample of more than 60,000 U.S. employees representing more than 1,700 organizations. Survey respondents were asked questions regarding their employer and topics of age, gender equality, ethnicity, disability,...

NATIONAL REPORT—Let’s assume you just opened your hotel. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, within two years your mechanical systems will be 25 percent less energy efficient. “Over time, energy performance always dips,” says JJ Steeley, Executive Vice President of Customer Experience for Carbon Lighthouse. That dip may be because of deferred maintenance, an operational change to the building, or maybe the building management system needs to be reprogrammed. The good news, according to Steeley, is that those energy inefficiencies can be pinpointed using sensors and then addressed by experts. Getting the mechanical systems in a...

TEMECULA, CALIF.—Dozens of giant 25-pound bags of onions, carrots and celery. Pallets of fresh ripe strawberries and blackberries. Thousands of pounds of cantaloupes and honeydew melons. Ten thousand dollars in milk (461 gallons) and dairy products alone. All of this and a lot more was sent last week by Pechanga to three charities in Riverside County that regularly support disadvantaged and homeless people in the region. But because of the coronavirus pandemic, these groups have been even harder hit. Pechanga Resort Casino’s temporary closure announced on Saturday, March 14 shut down the casino, hotel, spa, golf course, as well as...

MCLEAN, VA.—As the hospitality industry responds to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Hilton is partnering with leading companies to connect workers from temporarily suspended hotels with hundreds of thousands of short-term jobs created by the global pandemic. Hilton Team Members, and others in the industry seeking employment, will be given direct access and in some cases expedited access to temporary jobs on the Hilton Workforce Resource Center at companies such as Albertsons, Amazon, CVS, Lidl, Sunrise Senior Living and Walgreens. These partners recognize the power of a service culture and the value of hospitality skills training Hilton Team Members are known to receive. With a...

LAS VEGAS—After closely monitoring the risk and impact of COVID-19 on a daily basis, and speaking at length with members of its community, HD Expo + Conference, which had been scheduled for May 5 to 7, 2020, at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, has been officially cancelled by Emerald X, LLC. This is due to recent developments regarding COVID-19 that include, but are not limited to, the declaration of a National State of Emergency by President Trump, the Nevada State of Emergency announced by Governor Steve Sisolak, the latest measures, including travel restrictions placed on foreign nationals traveling to the United...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Amid the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic, Earth Day Network, the global organizer of Earth Day, will mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with the first Digital Earth Day, a global digital mobilization on April 22 to address the most urgent threats to people and the planet. “At Earth Day Network, the health and safety of volunteers and participants in Earth Day events is our top concern. Amid the recent outbreak, we encourage people to rise up but to do so safely and responsibly—in many cases, that means using our voices to drive action online rather than in...