WASHINGTON, D.C.—The following is a statement from Chip Rogers, President and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recent update to prioritize “Traveler Accommodation” under the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Categories of Essential Workers. “Thanks to AHLA’s ongoing efforts, the CDC has updated its guidelines prioritizing hotel workers under Phase 1c of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. This is a significant achievement that directly impacts the health and safety of hotel workers across the country. It also recognizes that hotel employees continue to be on the front lines of the pandemic. “From housing healthcare...

ITHACA, N.Y.—As with all things 2020, the 11th annual Center for Hospitality Research Sustainability Roundtable took on a distinctively different format, a virtual webinar format. It would have been easy to “take a pass” on holding the Roundtable given the dire state of the hospitality industry and the inability to gather in person. However, even though issues surrounding sustainability may not be at the forefront for operators, brands, or owners of hotels, it is still considered an important pillar in most organizations’ corporate strategy. Therefore, the Center for Hospitality Research at the School of Hotel Administration in the SC...

BROOMFIELD, COLO.—For the fifth consecutive time, Forbes has named Vail Resorts to its “America’s Best Large Employers” list—one of 25 Travel & Leisure companies selected from an independent survey of 50,000 employees across various industries. Being included among the country’s 500 most reputable large employers is a particularly meaningful accolade for Vail Resorts this year, as the company navigates the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 while remaining rooted in its values. “This has certainly been the most challenging year our company has ever faced, and operating safely and successfully would not have been possible without the unwavering dedication of our incredible...

WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.—Concrete is not glamorous. It is the workhorse of building materials: versatile, durable, and almost universally ubiquitous, with 30 billion tons of concrete produced every year. Cement, a component of concrete, produces 8 percent of the world’s carbon footprint. Looking to lower that percentage, Purdue University engineers have discovered a way to make concrete more sustainable. Their new recipe for concrete has the potential to cut carbon emissions dramatically, creating building blocks for a better world. A team lead by Mirian Velay-Lizancos, an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at Purdue, proposes adding small amounts of nanoscale titanium dioxide to...

ATLANTA—Officials of Castell Project, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the careers of women professionals in the hospitality industry, released the “Diversity of Hospitality Industry Public Company Boards 2021” report. The statistical document presents data about hospitality industry public company boards and compares statistics to 2020 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index produced by 2020 WOB (www.2020wob.com). “The pressure to diversify boards by both race and gender is likely to intensify,” said Peggy Berg, Chair, Castell Project, Inc. “Currently, it is easier for Boards to be gender diverse than racially diverse. Women are 51 percent of the U.S....

LONDON—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, has released a new Social Impact Paper focusing on the Travel & Tourism sector, which has been compiled to showcase the importance of Travel & Tourism as a driver of social impact. This paper is part of a major WTTC initiative and that will see further work in the future. The first iteration of the initiative is the Social Impact Paper, which shows how much of an important role Travel & Tourism plays, not only in driving economic growth, but also in enhancing social progress across the world through its...

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA—His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince, Chairman of The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), has launched the Coral Bloom concept, which was created by architectural firm Foster + Partners, and designed to blend in with the island’s pristine natural environment. TRSDC, the developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism project, has since shared the striking vision for its main hub island at the destination, Shurayrah. “We expect guests to be awed by what they see when they first arrive at The Red Sea Project, enjoying a truly immersive barefoot luxury experience. The Coral Bloom designs,...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Almost four in 10 of all the U.S. jobs lost since February of last year are in the Leisure & Hospitality industry, according to analysis of the latest Department of Labor national jobs report—triple the number of the next-hardest-hit industry. The meager 49,000 jobs created by the U.S. economy in January were viewed by economists as a disappointment and a major sign of lingering pandemic-related stress in labor markets. But according to analysis created for the U.S. Travel Association by the research firm Tourism Economics, the real underlying story is the 61,000 jobs lost by the Leisure & Hospitality...

BANGKOK—The Six Senses Botanique has joined the Six Senses portfolio. This emerald gem is located 2.5 hours from São Paulo and 3.5 hours from Rio de Janeiro. It lies at the confluence of three river valleys in the heart of the Mantiqueira Mountains, known as the “mountains that weep” due to the abundance of springs and rivers. For Six Senses Botanique, however, there is plenty to be happy about. After three months of training centered around the Six Senses brand standards and values, hosts cannot wait to showcase out-of-the-ordinary experiences and emotional hospitality, with the Six Senses integrated pillars of...

NEW YORK—The TreadRight Foundation, The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) not-for-profit, has added two new partnerships to the 55-plus projects it supports through its planet, people and wildlife pillars. Green Bronx Machine in New York and Flourish Forever in Los Angeles, California, are TreadRight’s first project partners in the United States and are both dedicated to addressing issues of food insecurity in some of the country’s most underserved communities. On opposite coasts, both organizations are family-run and based on the belief that the foundation for community empowerment, equality, and resilience includes access to fresh, affordable and healthy food. TreadRight has partnered with...