HERZLIYA, ISRAEL—Caesars Slots, Playtika’s free-to-play social casino game, will be donating a minimum of $17,000 and up to $35,000 to The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) as part of a new collaboration to support the charity in its mission to save wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. Caesars Slots players will be introduced to a new in-game character, a cuddly pet panda. Players will name their pandas and enjoy their company while unlocking new features within the game. Throughout the campaign, Playtika will donate on behalf of Caesars Slots players, who will be able to collect balls through...

NEW YORK—The Peninsula Hotels, whose properties around the world have epitomized luxurious elegance for almost a century, will debut an extensive collection of new wellness resources for its guests in early 2022, inviting them to experience “Life Lived Best.” The brand-wide initiative will provide guests at all Peninsula properties with unprecedented opportunities to pursue their fitness, mindfulness, and nutritional goals—and to access those opportunities whenever they wish through a dedicated Wellness Portal and 24-hour Wellness Concierge service. “With this new Wellness program, we are breaking new ground in helping our guests to maximize their health and well-being,” said Gareth Roberts, Group...

ATHENS—Moxy Athens City opened its doors boldly reinventing the traditional hotel stay in one of the world’s oldest cities. An important innovation of Moxy Athens City is its LEED Gold certification, making it the first “green” hotel in Greece that will receive this distinction. This new hotel will offer fun hunter travelers a playful stay in a city bursting with ancient history, vibrant culture and a thriving social scene. Moxy Athens City is located by Stadiou Street, the perfect starting point to discover the wonders of Athens from the Acropolis and the Parthenon to the picturesque neighborhood of Plaka. Just...

BETHESDA, MD.—JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 hotel brands, recently announced the debut of three herb gardens envisioned and planted by renowned landscape designer Lily Kwong as part of the brand’s JW Garden program. Kwong, whose reverence for nature comes to life through her breathtaking botanical installations, is the founder of Studio Lily Kwong, a next-generation landscape design studio with a mission to reconnect people to nature. JW Marriott is guided by similar principles, with a commitment to mindfulness that allows guests to be present in mind, nourished in body and revitalized in spirit—pillars that directly...

ASHBURN, VA.—More than three in four U.S. adults agree it is extremely or very important for children and young adults to learn about the environment and ways they can be good environmental stewards in their communities, according to a newly released National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) poll. Additionally, younger generations, such as millennials and Gen Zers, are most likely to believe it is important for youth to become environmentally conscious. “Park and recreation agencies are leading providers of spaces and programs where children and adults can learn about and connect with nature,” said Kevin Roth, NRPA Vice President of Research, Evaluation and Technology. “Cultivating opportunities for...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International announced the publication of its 2021 Social Impact and Sustainability Report and significantly refreshed website. The report and website tell the story of the company’s continuing and steadfast commitment to its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles of embracing humanity and protecting the planet. The report and website (mgmresorts.com/ESG) also highlight the company's strategies, programs and performance focused on creating a more sustainable future and making a positive impact on the lives of employees, guests and communities. “Last year was a time of economic change and disruption, but with it came heightened reflection, ultimately resulting in...

CHICAGO—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and JLL released a new major report which addresses what makes a city ready for travel and tourism growth. The report, “Destination 2030: Global cities’ readiness for sustainable tourism growth”, was released during WTTC’s 21st Global Summit in Manila, Philippines. Prior to the pandemic, the travel and tourism sector had been outpacing the global economy for almost a decade, with an annual average growth of 4.3 percent compared to 2.9 percent through 2019, and a contribution of nearly $9.2 trillion to the global economy in the same year. After the damaging disruption caused by the pandemic, the global travel and tourism sector...

BUFFALO, N.Y.—Delaware North, a global leader in the hospitality and entertainment industry, announced a partnership with Sierra Nevada and Impossible Burger for its 2022 Earth Month campaign, “Seeds for Sustainability.” The campaign, part of Delaware North’s award-winning GreenPath program, replaced traditional cardboard drink coasters and beverage napkins with eco-friendly, plantable seed coasters for guests to take home, plant and enjoy. The Earth Day promotion, featuring Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing and plant-based Impossible Burgers, was available at 27 locations across Delaware North’s Parks, Travel, Gaming and Patina Restaurant Group divisions during the month of April, while supplies lasted. In all, more than...

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN—Bluewater, a leader in innovating water purification solutions, said there is an urgent need to double down on tackling micro-plastic pollution as a new study for the first time reveals the presence of the particles in human blood. “A study by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands showing the presence of polymer particles in our blood underlines the urgent need to accelerate efforts to halt the spread of micro-plastics and the resulting exposure to the chemicals in them,” said Bluewater founder and CEO Bengt Rittri. Published in the journal Environment International, the study analyzed blood samples from 22 healthy individuals and discovered 17—or...

ORLANDO, FLA.—The pandemic did many bad things to the hospitality industry and its related organizations. One of the organizations that suffered the most was Clean the World, the Orlando, Fla. based nonprofit that is dependent on donations of soap, amenity bottles, financial support, and volunteers to keep its mission rolling. “The donation drop off was more than 75 percent during the pandemic,” says Robert Montgomery, Clean the World’s VP Product Development. “Clean the World laid off 80 percent of staff. We almost had to close our doors.” Corporate events, at which groups assemble hygiene kits, came to a complete...