NASHVILLE—The Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC) has rolled out its new Tennessee Sustainable Hospitality program. Not currently a certification program, its focus is to share environmentally sustainable best practices that will continue to drive economic activity while conserving and protecting natural resources. At the core of the program are eight resource guides available to businesses in the following areas: energy conservation, water conservation, recycling & waste reduction, food waste reduction, communication and education, green purchasing, green cleaning, and green events. Dobbin Callahan, Skye Con, who runs the Tennessee Green Hospitality program, which does include certification, has not closed...

LONDON—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched its new mental health guidelines for the Travel & Tourism sector, which have been compiled to support businesses of all sizes to support the mental health of their employees. The Mental Health Guidelines build on the Diversity & Inclusion Guidelines released by WTTC in 2020, going one step deeper to focus on mental wellbeing. It will help businesses better prepare for the recovery period following the COVID-19 crisis, and will ensure that as the sector rebuilds, it comes back stronger and better than before. The guidelines come at a time when mental...

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA—The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), the developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism project, has completed the first stage of the LEED for Cities (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum certification in the “Plan & Design” criteria for The Red Sea Project. The award recognizes TRSDC’s execution of practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at improving the sustainability and standard of living for those involved in the project. “As part of our ambition to become standard-bearers in luxury ecotourism, we are proud to have passed this first stage of LEED accreditation. The award is a...

CHICAGO—The National Restaurant Association released its 2021 State of the Restaurant Industry Report, which measures the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the restaurant industry and examines the current state of key pillars including technology and off-premises, labor, and menu trends across segments based on a survey of 6,000 restaurant operators and consumer preferences from a survey of 1,000 adults. The report also provides a look at the path to recovery for chains, franchises, and independents and the year of transition ahead. Key findings regarding the impact of coronavirus on the restaurant industry include: Restaurant and foodservice industry sales fell...

MIAMI—As part of its ongoing commitment to advance opportunity and remove barriers for future women leaders, Florida International University (FIU) and its Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management has partnered with the Women’s Hospitality Initiative (WHI) to implement WHI’s groundbreaking academic course, “From the Classroom to the Boardroom: Leadership for Women in Hospitality.” The for-credit course, which examines the challenges and paths to success for women leaders in the hospitality and restaurant industries, is being offered in Spring 2021. “FIU has long been at the forefront for hospitality education because we are constantly reassessing and updating our curriculum to meet the...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—At the beginning of 2020, no one could have predicted how a global pandemic would upend lives so drastically in a matter of months. Freedom to travel was compromised—and still is, for some. During these unpredictable times, the way of travel and how we see luxury travel has changed, and the new way is here to stay (Phagura, 2020). Sustainable luxury travel was an oxymoron in the past, as people would often imagine sustainability and luxury could not go hand in hand (Lee, 2017). Presently, the new luxury is more about the process and the experience rather than the product....

PORTLAND, ORE.—Allied Market Research published a report, titled, “Ecotourism Market by Traveler Type (Solo and Group), Age Group (Generation X, Generation Y and Generation Z), and Sales Channel (Travel Agents and Direct): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021–2027.” According to the report, the global ecotourism industry generated $181.1 billion in 2019, and is projected to garner $333.8 billion by 2027, witnessing a CAGR of 14.3 percent from 2021 to 2027. Drivers, Restraints, & Opportunities Increase in travel and tourism to unique destinations, inclination toward exploration of wildlife, coral reefs, and pristine undisturbed natural areas, and surge in focus on sustainability drive...

DALLAS—G6 Hospitality, parent company of the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands, has reaffirmed its commitment to raising awareness about human trafficking and supporting the important work being done across industries to end human trafficking. “G6 Hospitality is deeply committed to doing our part to end human trafficking in all forms and to helping increase awareness about this global crime,” said Rob Palleschi, CEO of G6 Hospitality. “Through enhanced training, continuous education, and ongoing partnerships and advocacy work, we remain committed to working with our franchise partners, the hospitality industry and other businesses to continue to combat human trafficking. G6...

SINGAPORE—Ascott Residence Trust (ART) has obtained a S$50 million five-year green loan from DBS Bank Ltd (DBS), making ART the first hospitality trust in Singapore to secure a green loan. Proceeds from the green loan will be used to finance ART’s maiden development project and coliving property, lyf one-north Singapore. lyf one-north Singapore is one of ART’s 15 properties that attained green certifications in 2020, bringing the total number of ART’s green properties to 21. This is about four times more green-certified properties compared to 2019. lyf one-north Singapore achieved the Green Mark GoldPLUS award by Building and Construction Authority...

CHEVY CHASE, MD.—PM Hotel Group hotels from coast to coast adjusted their exterior light to glow amber last Tuesday evening to support the National Covid Memorial installed by the Presidential Inaugural Committee on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. At 5:30 p.m. every hotel in the PM Hotel Group portfolio from New York City to Portland, Ore., accompanied iconic buildings across the United States to light the night amber in honor of the 400,000 Americans who have been lost to Covid. “Every American has been impacted by the pandemic. Honoring the lost family, friends, team members and neighbors is part of...