SARANAC LAKE, N.Y.—Saranac Waterfront Lodge announced that it has been awarded LEED Silver, becoming the first and only hotel in New York’s Adirondacks to achieve a certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. Through design, construction and operations practices that improve environmental and human health, LEED-certified buildings are helping to make the world more sustainable. Saranac Waterfront Lodge, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and...

MUMBAI, INDIA—Committed towards driving women empowerment and creating an equitable workplace across industries, The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) has collaborated with TATA Projects Limited for the construction of the new Ginger Hotel at Santacruz, Mumbai by an all-woman engineering team. This marquee project is a significant step forward in promoting varied opportunities for women in otherwise traditionally male-dominated industries such as construction. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, stated, “At IHCL, we are committed to providing equal opportunities for all. Today, the world is marching towards a future where women are continuing to push the boundaries across sectors. This partnership with Tata Projects Limited reiterates this...

CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels Corp. announced the introduction of Zero Proof, Zero Judgment—a beverage program that will bring dedicated zero proof beverage options to several U.S. hotels across Hyatt’s Alila, Andaz, Destination by Hyatt, Hyatt Centric, JdV by Hyatt, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt and Thompson Hotels brands. In response to travelers’ changing alcohol consumption habits and increased focus on their wellbeing, Zero Proof, Zero Judgment launched in August 2021 with many beverages featuring products from leading liquor replacement Ritual Zero Proof and carbonated mixer supplier Fever-Tree. Hyatt’s creative beverage approach comes as 52 percent of Americans are actively trying to drink less alcohol...

DUBAI, U.A.E.—Accor, a world-leading hospitality group with over 400 hotels across India, Middle East, Africa, and Turkey is expanding its footprint in Eastern Africa with the opening of the first Mantis property in Kenya. The Mantis Masai Mara Eco-Lodge is set to become a highlight property for the brand and the group, offering direct access to the Mara-Seregenti game reserve: the ideal location for unique safari experiences. Mantis was founded in 2000 by global entrepreneur and conservationist Adrian Gardiner and features a diverse collection of extraordinary destinations around the globe. Since joining forces in 2018, Accor and Mantis have worked together...

MADRID, SPAIN—The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative has welcomed a further 21 signatories, taking the total number past 110. The new signatories have been announced alongside the launch of a first annual report, which makes clear the significant progress made in tackling plastics pollution in tourism over the past year. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Accor, Club Med, Hong-Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Iberostar, Melco, and Six Senses have all reported continuous efforts to implement their commitments to tackle plastic pollution. Together, they have eliminated over 108 million plastic items and packaging in 2020, totaling around 804 metric tons. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab...

BOSTON—The nonprofit Global Wellness Institute (GWI) unveiled its much-anticipated research report, “The Global Wellness Economy: Looking Beyond Covid”, which provides new global market data on the overall wellness economy and for each of its eleven sectors. The 100-page report answers the big questions: How did the shock of COVID-19 impact the wellness industry? Which wellness markets fared best and worst? What is the future of the wellness economy—and why? The GWI last measured the wellness industry at $4.3 trillion in 2017, and the new research reveals that it grew to historic levels in the two years before the pandemic, reaching...

BANGKOK—To reinterpret the regal ambiance of a bygone era dating back 700 years, 14th-century Six Senses Fort Barwara has been sensitively transformed into a 48-suite resort, including five specialty suites, in a conservation effort that has taken more than a decade to complete. It offers a resting point during a busy touring itinerary of Rajasthan. It is within easy striking distance of Ranthambore National Park for guests looking to take a walk on the wild side with the local tiger population. Reinterpreting Royal India Originally owned by a Rajasthani Royal Family, Six Senses Fort Barwara incorporates two original palaces and two temples...

SINGAPORE—A new methodology to guide hotels on how to set a net zero pathway has been released by a group of global hospitality, travel, and tourism sector organizations. The Net Zero Methodology for Hotels provides detailed guidance on how hotels can approach the technical aspects of net zero, such as what should be included in Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, milestones to be reached by target years such as 2025, 2030 and 2040, and how to approach decarbonization through renewable energy. The methodology also provides guidance on alignment with frameworks such as the Science Based Targets Initiative, Race to...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Trip.com Group have launched “Trending in Travel”, a new report that shows the latest trends in traveler behavior and future booking patterns in the wake of COVID-19. WTTC, representing the global Travel & Tourism sector, joined forces with leading global travel service provider, Trip.com Group, and its major consumer brands Trip.com, Ctrip and Skyscanner, to analyze consumer trends shaping the recovery of the Travel & Tourism sector. WTTC’s latest projections show strong growth in international spending for 2022 and beyond, projected to overtake domestic spending in 2022, as more destinations ease restrictions...

SAN FRANCISCO—Comfort Inn by the Bay San Francisco, a franchisee of Choice Hotels International, Inc., recently partnered with Tradewater to become the first hotel in San Francisco to offer guests a voluntary carbon offset program while also offsetting the carbon footprint of the hotel. Tradewater’s easy-to-use carbon footprint calculator enables guests to offset the emissions from their travel to Comfort Inn by the Bay through the purchase of high-impact carbon offsets. These offsets are generated through Tradewater’s work collecting and destroying old refrigerants that are 10,900 times more potent than carbon dioxide. The resulting environmental benefit is measured in carbon offsets that...