MINNETONKA, MINN.—Radisson Hotel Group will make all meetings and events across 400+ hotels in its EMEA portfolio carbon negative. For every event taking place at its participating hotels, Radisson Hotel Group will offset double the carbon footprint, to ensure that every meeting has a positive impact on the environment. The program applies for meetings booked between October 18, 2021, and January 31, 2022 and taking place before March 31, 2022. Planet Positive will set a new sustainability standard in the global hospitality industry. The program allows clients to host meetings in a sustainable way by offsetting double the CO2 emissions...

NATIONAL REPORT—There are many ways to improve the green credentials of your property. You can transition to renewable energy, adopt a green design, and use various systems to reduce consumption and waste. From minor steps like installing smart light bulbs to major steps like installing solar panels, there’s a lot of potential for improvement. Are green improvements worth the investment? Read on to discover the financial benefits of owning a green property. Higher Market Value The market value determines how many prospective buyers show an interest in your property and how much you can sell it for. Green properties have a...

NATIONAL REPORT—As with many other aspects of government policy, overfishing and other fishing-related environmental issues are a real problem, but it’s not clear that government intervention is the solution. Indeed, it might be one of the main drivers of overfishing and other conservation and sustainability issues stemming from commercial fishing. Much like drone fishing, there are serious ethical issues of interest to the average angler. There’s another commonality that overfishing has with environmental issues more broadly: The Western companies primarily concerned with serious efforts to curb overfishing are not the ones who are most guilty of overfishing. What this means...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Fresh produce, locally sourced ingredients, herbs grown onsite—and a little bit of sunlight. These are the tools that Chef Josh Murray uses to create five-star dishes at SUMMIT the Rooftop at Conrad Washington D.C., a restaurant that’s making strides toward becoming a zero-waste kitchen. Working with pure and natural ingredients comes easy to Murray, who grew up on a farm in Spotsylvania, Va. He was raised dining on local ingredients—many from his own backyard. His appreciation for the healthy qualities that locally sourced produce can offer is just one of the factors that make Murray perfect to helm the eco-conscious cooking efforts...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Orlando hotels are projected to lose $2.27 billion in business travel revenue in 2021, down 81.5 percent compared to 2019 levels, according to a recent report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Kalibri Labs. Florida hotels stand to lose more than $5.3 billion, while hotels across the nation are projected to end 2021 down more than $59 billion in business travel revenue compared to 2019, after losing nearly $49 billion in 2020. The new analysis comes on the heels of a recent AHLA survey, which found that most business travelers are canceling, reducing, and postponing trips amid continued COVID-19 concerns. To extend a lifeline to hotel workers and...

BOSTON—Threats to employee wellbeing continue to intensify well over a year into the pandemic, as evidenced by a 21 percent rise in burnout and a 17 percent increase in somatic stress symptoms, a new meQuilibrium study found. The study examined changes in overall wellbeing among 5,474 meQuilibrium members from a broad range of industries representing managers and individual contributors. “Employee wellbeing continues to be under threat 18 months into the pandemic,” says Brad Smith, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer, meQuilibrium. “Our data shows that workers continue to feel the cumulative mental health impacts of the crisis in the form of increased stress symptoms, burnout, and...

OTTAWA, ONT.—By numbers, the Green Key Eco-Rating Program has long been among the planet’s leading certification programs—especially in the United States and Canada where the bulk of its certified hotel properties operate—but the program is about to take a giant leap forward with the coming on board of a large hotel chain the first quarter of next year. Rebecca Bartlett-Jones, Manager, Business Development for Green Key Global, was not at liberty to disclose the name of the chain but said the number of Green Key Eco-Rated properties is expected to double in size by the third quarter of next year....

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY—Conserving resources for future generations requires a pro-active approach. The Steigenberger Grandhotel Belvédère Davos in the Swiss Alps has become one of the first active participants in the Davos Climate Fund, which was instigated by the Destination Davos Klosters Tourism Office and the not-for-profit organization myclimate. The goal is for the town to become carbon neutral by 2030. The financial resources made available via the fund will be used for purposes such as the establishment of renewable energies, investment in electromobility equipment including e-bikes, e-cars and charging stations or special measures to raise awareness amongst guests...

MIAMI—Iberostar Group, a global hospitality chain with 80 percent of its hotels on the seafront, has joined Expedia Group and UNESCO in the expansion of the UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge. Iberostar has a strong commitment to the oceans and the local communities where the company operates, while the UNESCO Pledge promotes responsible practices, community resilience, and heritage conservation, with the goal of changing the nature and impact of global tourism. Expedia Group’s recent Traveler Value Index research shows that travelers want to support sustainable practices, with nearly three in five (59 percent) willing to pay higher fees to make their trip more sustainable. “Our...

NEW YORK—1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is now accepting reservations in anticipation of the wellness sanctuary’s debut in the spring of 2022. Beautifully intertwined with the sparkling waters, moss-covered cliffs, and lush tropical flora of Kauai, the flagship property of 1 Hotels and Resorts is more than a wellness retreat—it’s a harmonious extension of the natural world. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is the quintessential venue for true wander lusters, future newlyweds, and business groups to indulge in the unsurpassed beauty of Kauai, “the garden island,” and surrender to the physical, mental, and spiritual serenity it has to offer. The resort is currently undergoing...