NEW ORLEANS—The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has earned two major awards from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality for major and impactful initiatives aimed at reducing the facility’s environmental footprint. The Environmental Leadership Program Awards, given to the Center in the Community Environmental Outreach category, as well as the Energy and Water Pollution Reduction category, recognize outstanding activities and projects that demonstrate environmental leadership and the pursuit of a cleaner, safer environment. New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center representatives were recognized for their efforts at the Environmental Leadership Program Awards earlier this year in Baton Rouge. To be considered for...

VANCOUVER, B.C.—Coast Hotels Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of APA Hotel Canada, Inc. and one of North America’s fastest growing and one of Canada’s largest hotel brands, has joined UNESCO and Expedia Group in the global expansion of the UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge. The brand and eight owned/managed hotels commit to adhering to responsible environmental and cultural practices, making a difference to the communities in which they operate. The UNESCO Pledge promotes responsible practices such as environmental protection, community resilience and heritage conservation, with the goal of changing the nature and impact of global tourism. With 22 hotels already certified...

NEW YORK—Habitas, the sustainable, experience-led hospitality brand with properties on three continents, recently added to its extensive accolades by being announced winner at the Hospitality Design Awards 2022. The brand’s latest project, Habitas AlUla, was victorious in the highly competitive Lifestyle Hotel category of the Awards and was praised for its sustainable-led design in the heart of AlUla’s desert valley. This award adds to Habitas' existing success, which most recently saw its newest Mexico property, Habitas Bacalar, win multiple Best New Hotel-led awards including being named in both Travel + Leisure’s It List and Conde Nast Traveler’s Hot List 2022. The brand’s first Middle East property, Habitas AlUla,...

PARIS—Hybrid and full electric vehicles are taking to the road this summer, a greener and more cost-effective travel option especially with the mounting fuel crisis and petrol price increases. The challenge, however, is where to charge your vehicle. UK and EU governments are busy rolling out recharge terminals across Europe to support drivers, but there is still a way to go. So to help travelers on their way Accor has mapped EV charge points at hotels across Europe letting travelers easily filter hotels by charge units and plan a route that lets them rest and their car recharge. Hanna Ushal-Rudik, Director Sustainability...

PARIS—Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced its first global partnership with Make-A-Wish, after nearly two decades of working closely together at multiple locations across Canada, the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Together, Fairmont and Make-A-Wish are launching a new global program, Wishes Start Here, to provide one-of-a-kind experiences that transform children’s lives and help create lasting memories. Whether it’s transforming a child into a princess, a cowboy, or a chef; providing a dream vacation destination; or simply giving the whole family a special place to stay at the end of their day’s adventures—Wishes Start Here is dedicated to transforming a...

SAN FRANCISCO—The Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SoMa, which debuted in February of this year, announced its collaboration with MindClick, a Product Intelligence company that rates the environmental and social impact of manufacturers and their products. In support of carbon reduction, the heath of people and the planet, Highgate—which manages the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SoMa—worked closely with MindClick to carefully select products for the hotel. During the hotel’s $70-million-dollar reimagination, this partnership dramatically improved the project’s environmental impact while also supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the supply chain. “From the very beginning of this milestone renovation located in the heart of San Francisco, we...

BETHESDA, MD.—ESPA and The Ritz-Carlton announce the launch of a new, innovative wellness concept, “Meaningful Wellness Journeys.” The concept, exclusive to The Ritz-Carlton, provides tailor-made journeys designed for optimum wellness, giving each guest the emotional and physical strength to adapt and cope with the stresses and strains of everyday life, physically, mentally, and spiritually. The journeys center around three key wellness pillars: mind, body, and skin. Each treatment is tailored to the individual, using mindfulness, holistic modalities, and wellbeing techniques, in-line with Forbes standards, to forge connection and reinforce resilience. “Our Ritz-Carlton Spas are renowned for delivering innovative and revitalizing wellness experiences...

DUBAI, U.A.E.—Jumeirah Beach Hotel is saying goodbye to single-use plastic bottles by installing a top-of-the-range Nordaq glass bottling plant at the resort. With roughly 300 million tons of plastic produced each year and nearly 8.8 million tons dumped directly into our oceans, the Dubai family resort is contributing to the fight against discarded plastic by replacing single-use water bottles in its rooms and suites with reusable glass bottles. The hotel’s in-house water treatment and bottling operations will eliminate single-use bottles and give guests an eco-friendly alternative. This is in-line with the Dubai Can initiative from His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin...

ELLICOTT CITY, MD.—Turf Valley Resort announced it has retained its designation as “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program. Turf Valley Resort is one of 19 golf courses in Maryland and over 900 in the world to hold the title of Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. “Turf Valley Resort has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on their golf course property,” said Christine Kane, CEO at Audubon International. Turf Valley’s golf courses were first designated a Certified...

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA—Fairfield by Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 brands, announced the opening of Fairfield by Marriott San Jose Airport Alajuela, celebrating the brand’s debut in Costa Rica. Located in the Alajuela province and inspired by the beauty of simplicity, the 120-room hotel delivers an inviting and seamless experience, positioned to become the destination of choice for travelers to the greater metropolitan area of Costa Rica. Fairfield by Marriott San Jose Airport Alajuela has opened its doors as a LEED Gold certified hotel, awarded for functioning as a green building that’s ecofriendly and enhances community quality of...