MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton has once again been recognized for its award-winning workplace culture. Great Place to Work and Fortune named Hilton No. 1 on the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the U.S. list, marking its ninth consecutive placement on the prestigious list and sixth consecutive year in the top 10. The recognition follows the company’s ranking as the No. 1 World’s Best Workplace and makes Hilton the only hospitality company to have earned the top spot on these prestigious lists. “We are truly honored to be recognized yet again as the No. 1 Best Company to Work For in the U.S. Topping the...

ATLANTA—Davidson Hospitality Group announces its renewed commitment to sustainability and conservational efforts through streamlined engineering management, strategic operational partnerships, robust food and beverage programs, and differentiated guest experiences. “Staying true to our core value of ‘Create Value in All that You Do,’ we are continually focused on identifying areas within our portfolio to save, reuse and conserve,” said Davidson Hospitality Group CEO Thom Geshay. “As environmental stewards, sustaining responsible operations is critical, and we are proud of the progress we have made to contribute to a healthier, cleaner and nontoxic planet.” Stop Food Waste Day Started in 2017 by Compass Group USA, Stop Food Waste...

BARBADOS—Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, will keynote the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism Conference, which will take place in St. George’s, Grenada, from April 22 to 24, 2024. The pivotal conference, produced in partnership with the Grenada Tourism Authority, will explore the 5 Ps—People, Planet, Prosperity, Purpose, and Partnership—with the aim of catalyzing transformative action towards a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future for Caribbean tourism. An industry pioneer and staunch advocate for sustainable tourism, Adam Stewart brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in sustainable development, community-focused tourism, and responsible tourism practices to the conference. As...

PARIS—Accor launched its new Employee Value Proposition (EVP)—“Hospitality is a Work of Heart”—as it seeks to showcase the blend of heartfelt experiences and hospitality artistry that forms its unique talent culture while demonstrating what it means to work in the broader industry and ultimately renewing a sense of enchantment for the sector. The new EVP signature is a response to the ever-evolving hospitality talent landscape which has undergone significant change in recent years. The pandemic significantly impacted staffing levels across the global hospitality industry and gave rise to the “great resignation”. The whole industry has faced the challenge of labor...

MIAMI—In honor of Earth Month, Club Med, the pioneer of the all-inclusive concept, announces several new corporate sustainability responsibility (CSR) commitments as part of its Happy to Care program for Earth Month and beyond. With the core value that sustainability is part of the travel journey, Club Med continues to establish nature conservation programs focused on protecting local environments and furthering both sustainable and regenerative tourism, while engaging guests and local youth through fun and educational workshops. “As we celebrate Earth Month, we are proud to reaffirm our commitment to sustainability through our Happy to Care program. At Club Med, we believe...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), announced plans to expand its travel scholarship program in partnership with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The opportunity to grow the program, and formally connect HBCU students to the real estate investment trust (REIT) industry, was made possible by a 2023 grant from the Nareit Foundation’s Dividends Through Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DDEI) Giving Campaign. “HBCUs are an incredible, yet underestimated, resource for talent,” said AHLA Foundation President Anna Blue. “Travel scholarships are an important tool for fostering inclusion at the earliest stages and help to...

OULU, FINLAND—Scandic has signed a long-term lease agreement with property developer SRV for a new 144-room Scandic Go in Oulu, Finland. The hotel will be centrally located in northern Finland’s largest city and is expected to open during the second half of 2025. The new Scandic Go will have a strategic location in downtown Oulu with direct access to the main square, the historic market hall and many popular restaurants and shops in the heart of the city. Often referred to as the capital of northern Finland, Oulu is a hub for technology, science, and education, appealing to domestic and...

NATIONAL REPORT—Over the past four years, utility costs at U.S. hotels have increased at a pace greater than total operating revenue. As a result, utility department expenses increased from 2.9 percent of total revenue in 2019 to an estimated 3.3 percent in 2023. As hotels have struggled to recover from the pandemic, any rise in cost ratios is an area of concern for owners and operators. The good news is that the pace of growth appears to be slowing down. Year-over-year growth rates for utility expenditures have declined on a dollar per-available-room (PAR) basis from a high of 21.4...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Questex announced that registration is now open for this year’s The Hospitality Show (The Show), which will be held in San Antonio, Texas, from October 28 to 30 at the Henry B. González Convention Center. The Show launched in 2023, when it drew more than 3,800 attendees and successfully sold out every available vendor space on the expo floor. This year’s event will build on that success and cement The Show’s status as one of the world’s premier hospitality technology and operations gatherings. Ecolab, Guest Worldwide, Oracle, Sabre, and Wyndam are confirmed presidential sponsors for The Show 2024. The...

RACINE, WIS.—Dominion Properties, developer of two LEED Platinum multifamily buildings in southeastern Wisconsin, has just achieved LEED Gold for its boutique Hotel Verdant that utilizes geothermal, solar and wind technologies—a renewable energy trifecta not found in any other U.S. hotel. The 80-room property, with a Scandinavian vibe, is located in downtown Racine, Wis., and was once the Zahn’s Department Store building. The building sat empty for 40 years until Dominion Properties transformed it into a business anchor for downtown Racine. Dominion Properties’ Michael O’Connor and his business partner Christopher Adams are the visionaries behind the hotel project. They first met while...