ATLANTA, GA.—AAHOA, the nation’s largest hotel owners association, with nearly 20,000 members who own 60 percent of the hotels in the United States, announced the launch of ElevateHER, an initiative aimed at elevating, educating, and empowering the women hoteliers of AAHOA and across the industry. “AAHOA has been proud to celebrate the important work women are doing at every level of hospitality, and this initiative further underscores our commitment to the women of AAHOA and elevating their contributions to the industry,” said AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake. “While there’s still much work to be done, AAHOA recognizes the...

JACKSON HOLE, WYO.—Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole, in partnership with Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris and Yellowstone Safari Co., will offer an immersive experience this fall with the chance to see the elusive gray wolf population of Yellowstone National Park in a day-long excursion. “The opportunity to engage with the Yellowstone gray wolf population in its natural habitat is a milestone experience not soon forgotten,” says General Manager Ryan Grande. “This new program allows our guests to better understand the complexity of our unique ecosystem and come away with a vested interest in preserving this environment—and diverse array of native...

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO—At San Juan’s luxury adults-only boutique hotel, Condado Ocean Club, giving back to the local community is a top priority. As the regenerative tourism movement continues to gain traction with travelers (according to CNBC.com), Condado Ocean Club is excited to announce a brand-new regenerative travel initiative that will support four separate causes that are close to the property’s heart. For each stay booked through the OC Summer Package, guests will not only save up to 20 percent on their stay, but Condado Ocean Club will also donate a portion of proceeds to one of their community partners, including San Juan Bay Estuary, Alma de Bahia...

BISCAYNE BAY, FLA.—A bold, new initiative is under way across the U.S. to create a pathway for Black and Hispanic students to become future leaders in hospitality, one of the world’s largest industries. The Alliance for Hospitality Equity and Diversity (AHED), led by the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU), is on a mission to create a nationwide recruitment infrastructure to increase diversity among students at member universities. Targeting university recruitment is the first of many initiatives that will address the diversity pipeline that leads to hospitality C-suite opportunities. The Alliance brings together higher learning institutions and...

LOS ANGELES—In the face of strong opposition from small, family-owned businesses that make up the hotel industry, the Los Angeles City Council voted to reject a proposal that would have required hotels to make vacant rooms available to unhoused individuals. The measure now heads to the voters in November to decide whether this proposal becomes law. Proposed by Unite Here Local 11, the labor union representing hospitality workers, the measure would establish a program to place unhoused individuals or families in vacant hotel guestrooms. Hotels would be required to report to the Department of Housing the daily number of vacancies they have...

SAN DIEGO—The Global Business Travel Assn. is fully embracing its mission to help the business travel industry create a positive impact and a better future for people and the planet at its upcoming GBTA Convention 2022, August 14 to17, at the San Diego Convention Center. During the event, GBTA will unveil its first-ever Sustainability Pavilion as well as a new Sustainability Toolkit delivering insights, tools, and best practices to empower industry professionals to create sustainable business travel programs for their companies and the travelers they serve. Additionally, the Convention itself will be “going greener.” Onsite efforts include reducing waste and facilitating recycling and...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Foundation (AHLAF)—a philanthropic organization that aims to elevate, educate, and empower the hospitality workforce—released the 2022 “Diversity of Hospitality Industry Public Boards” research report. Aiming to create an industry “as diverse as the guests we serve,” this research aligns with AHLA’s 5-year, $5 million commitment to advance DE&I across the hospitality arena. The research findings represent data about hospitality industry public company boards after reviewing 30 companies and 262 board members. They reviewed 10-k filings on corporate brands of public hospitality companies based in the United States. Using a data range of six years...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council announced nearly 100 net zero certifications earned under the LEED Zero program, representing more than 23 million square feet of space. One-fourth of LEED Zero projects earned multiple certifications, demonstrating achievement of net zero goals in several categories. A complement to LEED certification, LEED Zero provides a clear, data-driven path to recognizing net-zero goals and signals market leadership in the built environment. In 2018, the first year LEED Zero was released, certifications were earned in every category, with one project earning certification in all four categories. “Operating our buildings at net zero, combined with a...

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK—Scandic has opened Scandic Nørreport, a boutique hotel located in central Copenhagen, providing guests with a new type of hotel experience featuring 100 stylish rooms and a rooftop bar overlooking the city. Scandic Nørreport will also be the first Danish hotel to be certified according to the Nordic Swan Ecolabel’s new, stricter requirements. Located next to Nørreport Station and Kongens Have, Scandic Nørreport is Scandic’s ninth hotel in downtown Copenhagen and 29th hotel in Denmark. The hotel has been designed with a focus on providing an ultra-comfortable stay in the heart of the city and features a rooftop bar with spectacular...

SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, MEXICO—AMATTE Wellnest Community is the newest lodging proposal in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. With a design that incorporates the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, or acceptance of imperfections, each of the spaces in this “nest” was created with how guests will experience it in mind, from the timeless beauty of its architecture to daring corners that fill common areas with sensuality and the comfortable guestrooms. The purpose of the property is to transmit a state of well-being to guests from the moment of their arrival. The facilities have an intrinsic sense of sustainability, being built under the...