LONDON, ENGLAND—Launched earlier this month at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal, the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) announced the formation of its Hospitality and Tourism Task Force. The Task Force shall comprise CEOs from across the hospitality and tourism industry, under the leadership of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and the Considerate Group. It will combine the expertise of hospitality associations, sustainability partners and inter-governmental development organizations. The Task Force is aligned with the Terra Carta which provides a roadmap for the private sector to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future; one that harnesses the power of nature...

BETHESDA, MD.—With the United Nations General Assembly recognition of Human Rights Day on December 10, 2022, Marriott International announced it has successfully trained one million associates to spot the signs of and respond to human trafficking. This marks a significant moment in the global fight against trafficking. Marriott International first introduced human trafficking awareness training in 2016 and rolled out enhanced training in 2021. Designed in collaboration with Polaris, a leading nonprofit that specializes in combating human trafficking and helping survivors of trafficking, the training features scenario-based examples to help hotel associates recognize the signs of trafficking in real-world context and...

NATIONAL REPORT—Sustainability is becoming increasingly popular across the country as people learn more about this concept. It’s become so widespread that the government encourages industries and individuals alike to change their ways and become greener through more sustainable practices. There are numerous ways to lead a more eco-conscious lifestyle, such as recycling, utilizing innovative green technology, and most importantly, going completely solar. Solar energy is starting to become the norm for many industries, including hotels. While the upfront cost may seem expensive, there are plenty of government grants provided to encourage affordable movements in this direction. Here is a...

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF.—Soul Community Planet (SCP) announced its acquisition of the 189-acre Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, marking its first international expansion. The ocean-front property, which will be renamed SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge, is the only lodge to border the renowned Corcovado National Park. The lodge was purchased in partnership with Madison, Wis.-based Hovde Properties from its original developer, naturalist Steven Lill. “Soul Community Planet is a growing holistic hospitality company founded on the values of healthy, kind, and green. We are working to thoughtfully build a collection of unique, sustainable accommodations in the world’s most...

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS—Winston Hotels LLC—a leader in hotel development, repositioning, and reuse across the U.S.—announced the opening of its Element. The opening of the Element marks the final phase of opening for the fully renovated, upscale home of two hotels—AC by Marriott and Element by Westin— and 1Watson Rooftop Bar + Lounge located at 111 Soledad St. between Houston and Commerce Streets, overlooking the San Antonio River Walk. “We are eager to present this transformative boutique hotel to San Antonio,” said Michael Dunbar, the Element’s General Manager. “The Element’s ideal center city location will attract business and leisure travelers alike...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congress passed the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, sending the measure to President Biden for his signature. Congress also sent a captive wildlife protection measure—the Big Cat Public Safety Act—to the President to be signed into law as well. “Congress has taken shark fins off the menu,” said Wayne Pacelle, President of Animal Wellness Action, and the Center for a Humane Economy, in celebrating Senate passage Thursday night of the shark protection measure. The Senate passed the defense bill 83 to 11, following a similarly lopsided vote in the House. The Shark Fin...

NATIONAL REPORT—Evaporative cooling towers play an important role in green buildings by significantly reducing energy consumption when they supplement or replace traditional air conditioning systems, thereby reducing carbon footprint and operating costs. Although evaporative cooling is great at saving energy, it does consume some water but the benefits on energy savings outweigh the water usage, which in some places is a scarce resource. Water conservation is therefore a high priority in designing and operating water-cooled equipment and plays an important role in USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and other sustainability programs. LEED assigns credit points to...

SINGAPORE—In an article published earlier this week on Green Lodging News, the introduction to Greenview’s just released 83-page Green Lodging Trends Report (GLTR) was summarized. In this article, Green Lodging News takes a deeper dive into the report, highlighting key results from this fourth GLTR. The GLTR is separated into 10 sections, with findings highlighted primarily in easy-to-read bullet-point format. The sections include Hotel Sustainability Basics, Management System, Community Impact, Health & Wellness, Responsible Consumption, Single-Use Plastic Elimination, Waste Management, Water Conservation, Energy Management, and Climate Action. The following are observations from each of the 10 sections, followed by highlights from...

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES—TIME Hotels has signed an agreement to manage 35 luxury lodges in an equestrian eco-resort in Ifrane’s National Park in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, its first property in the North African country. The Atlas Crown Collection by TIME Resort will undergo a major extension and facelift which is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. It will comprise 17 luxurious, cedar wood lodges, 18 hotel suites, a conference center, a heated outdoor & indoor swimming pool, restaurant, manmade lake, wellness spa, horse stables and a kids’ club. The rejuvenating spa offers Hamman along with massage treatments, combining both...

BETHESDA, MD.—In line with Marriott International’s net zero ambitions and global commitment to source a minimum of 30 percent of its overall electricity from renewable energy by 2025, the company announced that it plans to expand its electric vehicle (EV) network across Asia Pacific. By the end of 2023, the company expects to sign EV MoU agreements to construct and operate EV charging infrastructures in nine markets, including India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia and Vietnam, providing guests with ways to travel more sustainably. The MoU agreements stipulate the planned installation of more than 400 EV chargers...