WASHINGTON, D.C.—To mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the American Hotel & Lodging Foundation (AHLA Foundation), ECPAT-USA and Marriott International launched a trafficking prevention training program for the hotel industry, titled “Recognize and Respond: Addressing Human Trafficking in the Hospitality Industry.” This new training program was developed by Marriott in collaboration with nonprofit organizations and survivor experts. The program was donated by Marriott to ECPAT-USA and is now free and available to the hotel industry through ECPAT-USA’s online learning platform thanks to the support of the AHLA Foundation. Building on the foundation of the “Your Role in Preventing Trafficking” training,...

SINGAPORE—Hotel companies and owners are invited to participate in the 2023 Cornell Hotel Sustainability Benchmarking (CHSB) Index. The 2021 Index contained data from over 20,000 hotels from more than 25 international hotel companies. It is the largest global dataset of hotel sustainability performance and has been developed by the hotel industry. Participants can benchmark their properties’ performance against peers for energy consumption, water consumption and carbon emissions. For the first time, in 2023, waste data will be collected as well. While the public data set is free to use and forms the basis for emission factors and carbon calculations...

MCLEAN, VA.—As the world returns to travel, doing so sustainably and responsibly has never been more important. With growing impacts from climate change and rising demand for more sustainable hospitality options, Hilton is evolving its environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments to help preserve the destinations where it operates and create inclusive growth in communities around the world. Hilton launched its 2030 goals four years ago as part of its ambitious ESG strategy, “Travel with Purpose,” making it the first global hospitality company to set science-based climate targets. Now, after a strategic review of those goals, evolving climate science and best practices,...

ALEXANDRIA, VA.—Helping the global business travel industry create a positive impact and a better future for people and the planet is the mission behind the Global Business Travel Association’s relaunch of its charitable arm, the GBTA Foundation. The GBTA Foundation will focus on the strategy and execution of GBTA’s global sustainability programs, supporting initiatives related to climate action, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and other talent-related topics via education, research, and advocacy. “We are excited to re-establish the GBTA Foundation within a fine-tuned scope of ‘people and planet,’” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA. “It’s an important moment in GBTA’s...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Marriott Vacations Worldwide, a leader in leisure travel with a portfolio of trusted, globally recognized travel brands and vacation clubs, has been certified as a Most Loved Workplace backed by Best Practice Institute and recognized as a Top Company to Grow a Career in Travel & Hospitality by LinkedIn. The top reasons associates love working for Marriott Vacations Worldwide include the culture, benefits and discounts, and an incredible care for each other. The Most Loved Workplace certification is given to companies where associates are the happiest and most satisfied at work, and less than 40 percent of applicants earn the certification, making this...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Travel Assn. announced the launch of its new Sustainable Travel Coalition, which aims to align the travel, transportation and technology sectors in developing and advancing strategies to enable a more sustainable future for the U.S. travel industry. With nearly 60 member organizations at launch, the Sustainable Travel Coalition will serve as an advisory body to inform U.S. Travel on sustainability issues, opportunities and concerns within member organizations and destinations. A dedicated Policy Committee will help drive the broader coalition’s efforts to enable regular progress and collaboration. U.S. Travel has several long-term goals, which will inform the coalition’s near-term policy priorities....

WISCONSIN DELLS, WIS.—Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, home to America’s largest indoor waterparks, and the Nelson Family Life Foundation are excited to announce The Water Colors Life Project, an initiative that seeks to provide clean water to communities in Africa while also highlighting the talent of artists in the region. During their regular visits to Africa, the Nelson family, owners of Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, are inspired by the beauty and spirit of the continent. Their love of Africa is shared with guests in every aspect of Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, from the handcrafted artwork on the walls to the original music throughout the...

NEW YORK—The Javits Center announced the creation of Jacob’s Harvest, a new line of pickled produce from the convention center’s new one-acre rooftop farm. The bottled produce is harvested directly from the rooftop farm—which was completed last year as part of a 1.2 million square-foot expansion—and will be distributed to customers and visitors to raise awareness about the venue’s roof-to-table culinary program. Managed by urban farming company Brooklyn Grange, the rooftop farm is in its first full season and is expected to generate up to 40,000 pounds of annual produce. From arugula to zucchini, the various crops being grown...

HONOLULU—To go beyond World Oceans Month, which started in early June, Outrigger Resorts committed to 11 weeks of environmental actions, informally called “Ocean’s Eleven”, which will run to August 31 across its nine flagship properties. Outrigger’s Asia Pacific resorts, including Fiji, Thailand, Mauritius, Maldives, and Hawaii, are hosting multiple events from coral planting to fish-house making to beach and marine cleanups and mangrove tree planting. For guests less willing to take the plunge, there will be in-room videos, kids’ club activities and presentations on manta rays, whale sharks, turtles and coral reef conservation. Ocean's Eleven is an extension of Outrigger’s ZONE (OZONE), the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Foundation (AHLA Foundation) announced a $500,000 donation from the Hyatt Hotels Foundation to launch the “No Room for Trafficking Survivors Fund” and expand the hotel industry’s ongoing work to support human trafficking prevention and survivors. No Room for Trafficking is an AHLA Foundation national awareness program that builds on the industry’s ongoing commitment and work to end human trafficking. No Room for Trafficking is committed to supporting economic stability for survivors of human trafficking, while continuing to advance training and education to prevent human trafficking within the industry. With the donation from the Hyatt Hotels...