WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) announced that the GreenStep Sustainable Tourism Standard (version 2) for Lodging and Tour Operators has achieved the “GSTC-Recognized Standard” status. GreenStep’s Sustainable Tourism standard is part of their broader Sustainable Tourism 2030 initiative, which provides programs and services for destinations, tourism businesses, and accommodation providers. The Sustainable Tourism standard enables tourism businesses and accommodations to measure their sustainability performance in several key categories; management, social, economic, natural, cultural, and environmental. To become certified, businesses must receive a virtual assessment, submit evidence, and attain a minimum score. The GSTC-Recognized status refers to GreenStep’s Sustainable Tourism...

PASO ROBLES, CALIF.—Open since June, the luxury boutique Geneseo Inn in Paso Robles, Calif., is one of a number of lodging establishments in the United States built using steel shipping containers—in this case shipping containers from the Port of Los Angeles. Walter Scott Perry of Ecotech Design was the architect of the eight B&B units that sit eight feet above the vines on Cass Winery’s 145 acres of vineyard. The inn also includes a reception area. There is no parking lot for visitors to Geneseo Inn. Each B&B sits above covered parking and the surrounding vineyards. This was done to...

ATLANTA—ASHRAE, a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment, announced a move to its new global headquarters, located at 180 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners, Ga. The Society began renovations in January 2020 on an existing 66,700 ft2 building, originally built in 1978, on 11 acres of land. Located 10 miles north of its previous headquarters building, ASHRAE joins other innovation and sustainability-focused organizations based in the popular Technology Parkway corridor. A short video on the new global headquarters can be viewed on ASHRAE’s YouTube channel. “ASHRAE’s new global headquarters is a prime example of how we are helping to...

LONDON—A staggering 9.2 million jobs could be lost in the U.S. Travel & Tourism sector in 2020 if barriers to global travel remain in place, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) revealed. The new figure comes from WTTC’s latest economic modelling, which looks at the punishing impact of COVID-19 and travel restrictions on the Travel & Tourism sector. According to the latest data, 7.2 million jobs in the United States have been impacted. If there is no immediate alleviation of restrictions on international travel, as many as 9.2 million jobs—more than half of all jobs supported by the sector in...

LAS VEGAS—In light of continued concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, including travel restrictions both domestically and internationally, as well as the current government restrictions and limitations on large group gatherings, the Hospitality Design team has made the decision to postpone the annual HD Expo + Conference until August 2021. Originally scheduled to take place May 4 to 6, 2021, the new show dates are Tuesday, August 24, and Wednesday, August 25, 2021. The show will remain at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. After consulting key exhibitors and attendees, the decision to postpone to August was...

FORT McDOWELL, ARIZ.—On October 29, the new We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort opened its doors, unveiling a contemporary ambiance and visitor-centric experience that raise the bar for Valley casinos. All gaming areas, hotel rooms and public spaces, dining outlets and entertainment venues are 100 percent smoke-free, with four comfortable outdoor areas designated for smokers. In addition, full compliance with all mandated COVID-19 precautions includes taking patrons’ temperatures (only granting entry to those with 100-degree temperatures or less), requiring masks, providing ample sanitation stations, encouraging social distancing, and limiting elevator and outlet occupancy. In addition to offering a full complement of slot machines, tables, bingo and gaming...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. announced it has once again ranked among the top 100 companies on Dave Thomas Foundation’s “Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces” list, which identifies organizations that strive to make adoption a supported option for every working parent. This year, HGV jumped from 47th to 31st place in the top 100 companies and was named first place in the hotel and travel industry on the Foundation’s “Best by Industry” list. “I’m extremely proud of HGV’s continued commitment to support adoptive parents and their families,” said Pablo Brizi, EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer at Hilton Grand Vacations. “This a...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International was ranked No. 107 on Forbes’ list of 750 World’s Best Employers for 2020. MGM Resorts is the only company on the Las Vegas Strip to make the list. Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to compile their fourth-annual list of the World’s Best Employers. They surveyed 160,000 full-time and part-time workers from 58 countries working for businesses with operations in multiple nations or regions. The final list is composed of 750 multinational and large corporations headquartered in 45 countries. Other U.S. companies listed in the Travel & Leisure category include Marriott International (No. 28), Royal...

PALM BEACH, FLA.—Interest in wellness is greater than ever as people are re-evaluating their priorities and try to focus more on their health in a period of much uncertainty, a distressed economy and a public health crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic, participants heard at ILHA’s webinar last month, which was moderated by Roger A. Allen, group CEO at Resources for Leisure Assets. ILHA is the International Luxury Hotel Assn. “We’re very bullish on wellness,” said Susie Ellis, Chairman and CEO of the Global Wellness Institute, one of the panelists at the webinar. She said increased demand has significant implications...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the premier global organization independently recognizing excellence in green business industry performance and practice, announced it has surpassed 1,000 TRUE Advisors. TRUE Advisors are zero waste professionals who are integral in helping facilities achieve TRUE certification and are experts in supporting and implementing zero waste policies and programs across companies. There are now 1,022 professionals in 43 countries who have achieved the TRUE Advisor designation from GBCI. “TRUE focuses on helping buildings, businesses and communities strengthen their commitment to resource management. The transition to a truly circular economy will require us to challenge everything...