BEREA, KY.—Olympia Hotel Management (OHM) has announced that it will operate the Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant, which is owned by Berea College, in Berea, Kentucky. The Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant was built on the old Dixie Highway (U.S. Route 25) and opened in 1909 in the center of town. Named after the early Kentucky explorer, Daniel Boone, it was designed by architect J. C. Cady in the Colonial Revival style. The venerable property is a member of the Historic Hotels of America and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel has welcomed a long...

PASO ROBLES, CALIF.—The Allegretto Vineyard Resort, nestled in Paso Robles wine country, has recently partnered with Kind Traveler, a hotel booking site and sustainable travel media platform that empowers travelers to positively impact the communities they visit. Kind Traveler Hotels offer special rates and perks upon a $10 nightly donation to a charity that positively impacts the local community. The Allegretto Vineyard Resort chose the Surfrider Foundation SLO, an organization dedicated to protecting and enjoying the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches through a robust activist network. The Allegretto Vineyard Resort, a gem of San Luis Obispo County, has always been interested in...

BETHESDA, MD.—Element Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 hotel brands, unveiled an innovative collaboration with Lettuce Grow, a nationally recognized leader of hydroponic gardening. Together, they are providing travelers with direct access to free, farm-fresh produce while on the road. Element Hotels is driven by a wellness-first mindset that is deeply rooted in its commitment to sustainability and providing a balanced stay while redefining the longer stay experience. Designed for the healthy, active traveler, Element’s signature fully equipped kitchens make eating nutritiously a little bit easier while away from home. This first-of-its-kind hospitality collaboration brings all the perks of mindful eating...

LAAMU, MALDIVES—The new Sustainability Camp at Six Senses Laamu marked World Tourism Day on September 27 this year, complementing the brand-wide Climate Warriors initiative and the resort’s Junior Marine Biology program already in place. Covering the topics of “Zero Waste”, “Home Grown”, and “Nature Conservation”, it aimed to give teenage guests and their families insights into the sustainability initiatives and techniques used for the resort’s operations and provide a skillset for the daily improvements they can make at home, striving towards a more sustainable way of life. Sustainability Camp took place over three days, with two 90-minute sessions per day. Four sessions...

NEW YORK–A new study in the Journal of Building and Environment found that WELL Certification drives significant benefits across occupant satisfaction, perceived health, well-being and productivity. The peer-reviewed study, titled “Impact of WELL Certification on Occupant Satisfaction and Perceived Health, Well-being, and Productivity: A Multi-Office Pre- Versus Post-Occupancy Evaluation,” is the largest and most comprehensive longitudinal research of its kind. It analyzed the impacts of WELL Certification on occupants across four perspectives: satisfaction with the workplace, as well as physical and mental health, well-being, and productivity. Using extensive pre- and post-occupancy survey data, the analysis was able to assess the impact of WELL Certification...

LONDON—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing both organizations to closer collaborative working, focusing on improving the environmental and social impact of the global hospitality industry. Through the MoU, WTTC and the Alliance have pledged to promote a united voice for a more sustainable future for the hospitality industry, cooperating on new research projects to foster an understanding of the latest in sustainability innovation. The two organizations will also work together to raise awareness of new initiatives and success stories, launch new commissions and advisory bodies,...

NATIONAL REPORT—Tobacco and marijuana have been smoked in nonsmoking hotel guestrooms for as long as nonsmoking rooms have existed. The task of calculating the costs associated with unauthorized smoking in guestrooms is so challenging that most hoteliers have viewed smoking as a problem without a solution. Now, exhaustive primary and secondary research provides methodically sourced data detailing both obvious short-term and hidden long-term costs of unauthorized smoking. Study results reveal that unauthorized smoking costs hoteliers $5.4 billion each year. Research Digs Deep into True Costs of Smoking To get a handle on all the true costs associated with smoking, FreshAir Sensor...

VANCOUVER, B.C.—Destination Canada has announced the next phase of its Canadian Business Event Sustainability Plan as domestic partners across the country embark on the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) annual benchmarking process. The GDS-Index is the world’s leading sustainability performance program for business tourism destinations around the world. Used by over 80 cities globally, the GDS-Index benchmarks and improves the sustainability performance and strategies of the municipality, its tourism supply chain, and the destination management organization. The program is being managed by ConnectSeven Group based in Vancouver, who lead GDS-Movement initiatives in North America. Launched in the spring of 2022, Destination Canada’s Canadian Business Event Sustainability Plan is a...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International released its 2022 Serve 360 Report presenting data from 2021 and demonstrating its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts toward the company’s 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Goals. The Report can be accessed on the Serve 360 website. In support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Marriott’s sustainability and social impact platform, Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction, guides the company’s commitment to make a positive and sustainable impact wherever it does business, delivering value for associates, customers, owners, the environment, and communities around the world. Launched in 2017, the company is celebrating five years of...

OTTAWA, ONT.—The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) and The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a Co-Existence Agreement allowing both parties to collaborate in servicing the Sustainability Certification needs of hotel companies and corporations under the name of HAC’s Green Key Global in the USA & Canada and FEE’s Green Key in countries outside USA & Canada. “We are delighted to be working alongside FEE in this game-changing agreement,” said Susie Grynol, President & CEO of The Hotel Association of Canada. “This will simplify the sustainability certification process for brands, eliminating the...