HOLLYWOOD, FLA.—Hard Rock International announced its continued partnership with global nonprofit WhyHunger and activist-artist Yoko Ono Lennon to launch the “Imagine There’s No Hunger” campaign, a unified effort to raise awareness and funds to combat global hunger and poverty. As a part of the campaign and inspired by John Lennon’s iconic song “Imagine” and the 50th anniversary of its release, Hard Rock is introducing its 37th Signature Series—the John Lennon, “Imagine There’s No Hunger” Collection—for purchase online and at Hard Rock Hotels, Cafes and Casinos worldwide. The collection will feature a variety of merchandise, including two shirt designs, a hat, a mini...

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND—SH Hotels & Resorts announced that it will open its award-winning Treehouse Hotel in Manchester, the brand’s second U.K. location, in 2023. Treehouse Hotel Manchester, owned by a controlled affiliate of Starwood Capital Group, is being developed in partnership with Property Alliance Group and will mark the first phase of a £200m redevelopment of the former Renaissance Hotel on Deansgate. Treehouse Hotels celebrates the joy of youth, of freedom, of fun, of dreams, and friends, real and imaginary. In a Treehouse you leave the everyday and enter a world of your own imagination. The wondrous, childhood feeling of climbing into a...

IBIZA, SPAIN—A dazzling white rock with crystal clear blue sea, Ibiza has a long-hidden secret on its northern tip, Xarraca Bay. This magical cove with unobstructed sunset views and special energy is where the golden hour lasts until the Cinderella hour. Sundowner, guitar, or loved one in hand, anything feels possible. Live layers of programming and experiences will constantly evolve to celebrate music, art, sustainable fashion, spirituality, pioneering wellness, culinary exploration, and culture, all synonymous with the island. A place this meaningful needs protecting, which is why when it opens in July, Six Senses Ibiza will be the first sustainable...

NATIONAL REPORT—With the increasing presence of electric vehicles on the road, EVBox Group, a provider of charging stations, conducted two studies—one in the United States and the other in six European countries—to get a better understanding of the current market for electric driving. The studies targeted the general population, potential drivers of EV vehicles, and current EV drivers. The surveys were conducted by means of an online questionnaire. The U.S. study included 2,002 residents including 100 EV drivers. While neither of the studies targeted hoteliers, the results of the study should be of interest to hoteliers who are increasingly welcoming...

ATLANTA, GA.—America’s hotel owners are coming together to support COVID relief in India as a new wave of infections spreads throughout the country. AAHOA donated $100,000 to LPS of USA, Tiny Smiling Faces (Dalubhai Goaplbhai Patel Fund), and Bavaji Charities in support of the charities’ ongoing COVID relief efforts in the subcontinent. “Throughout the past year, AAHOA and AAHOA Members made valuable contributions in their communities by donating personal protective equipment, providing meals to those in need, housing at-risk populations, and supporting local charities,” AAHOA Chairman Biran Patel said. “Many in our industry have strong family and business ties to India, and we are increasingly...

NEW CASTLE, PENN.—Green cleaning is increasingly important in the eyes of the public according to new research from Whittaker, a leader in low-moisture carpet cleaning. The survey, conducted online on their behalf by The Harris Poll from May 4-6, 2021 among 2,035 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, found that 1 in 2 Americans (50 percent) believe commercial facilities like hotels, long-term care facilities, airports, retail stores and more should follow sustainable cleaning practices. This can include the use of certified green cleaning products and cleaning during daytime hours, which uses less energy than cleaning during the evening. “There are many...

NATIONAL REPORT—After the pandemic brought the hotel industry to a virtually unprecedented low last year, this year hospitality is poised for a significant post pandemic recovery. The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) estimated that COVID-19’s impact on the travel industry in 2020 was about nine times of that from 9/11. Hotel room revenue was cut in half, from $167 billion to $85 billion. Hotels ran at about 44 percent occupancy in 2020, down from 66 percent in 2019. According to AHLA’s State of the Hotel Industry 2021 Report, hotel occupancy in the United States will increase from 44 percent to...

RICHMOND, VA.—The Virginia Green Travel Alliance recently announced the winners of the 2021 Virginia Green Travel Star & Leader Awards. These awards are presented annually to Virginia’s greenest tourism operators and partners for their outstanding commitments to sustainability and contributions to green tourism in Virginia. The awards were “presented virtually” in conjunction with the Virginia Green Travel Conference & Awards. This year, fifteen Virginia tourism operations were chosen to receive the Virginia Green program’s highest award, the Virginia Green Travel Star Award. Eleven additional tourism businesses were recognized with the Virginia Green Travel Leader Award for their continued commitments to environmental stewardship, and six individuals...

CHICAGO—Between energy cost savings and equipment rebates, Werewolf American Pub saved more than $10,000 by switching to energy-efficient equipment. Energy-efficient cooking and commercial kitchen ventilation (CKV) systems save money. That is a lesson experts and organizations like the California Energy Commission (CEC) have been preaching for years. To prove it in the real world, the CEC awarded a Building Natural Gas Technology (BNGT) grant to Frontier Energy, Inc., operator of PG&E’s Food Service Technology Center (FSTC), San Ramon, Calif. “We wanted to do more than just swap out standard equipment for energy-efficient models,” says David Zabrowski, Vice President, Frontier Energy. “We wanted to...

NATIONAL REPORT—For many businesses, creating an environmentally friendly supply chain is on the “would be nice” list. And others do not take all the necessary steps. Some businesses just think using eco-friendly packaging supplies is enough, but there’s so much more supply chains can do. The goals have long seemed too abstract, too far off and too difficult to achieve. Recent statistics reported in an article from Franchise Help say that consumers are increasingly taking notice of the environmental records of the businesses they buy from: 55 percent of global consumers are willing to pay more for sustainably produced goods. ...