ALEXANDRIA, VA.—On America Recycles Day (ARD), the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) applauded the efforts of bottled water drinkers to “recycle right,” as new research shows that PET bottled water containers are the most common drink container found in curbside recycling bins. The association encourages all consumers to remember the many benefits of always recycling any recyclable packaging. Recycling reduces the amount of material headed for landfills, and it also drastically reduces greenhouse gas emissions. New data from the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) shows bottled water containers make up 53 percent of all PET plastic bottles in...

NATIONAL REPORT—Ambitious climate and decarbonization efforts have heightened the demand for electrified and energy-efficient buildings. Regulatory frameworks are evolving from simple incentives to stringent compliance measures. Recently, states and cities have enacted building performance standards (BPS) that mandate energy performance and emissions reductions, as well as implementing benchmarking and transparency policies. As a result, real estate operators must meet these standards to mitigate financial risks associated with non-compliance, further motivating them to enhance performance. Simultaneously, utilities and third-party program administrators are tasked with meeting multi-year energy savings targets, concentrating on initiatives like peak demand reductions. This alignment of incentives fosters...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and its technology committee, Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG), released an updated buyer’s guide and comparison matrix to help hoteliers assess the latest generation of personal safety devices for hotel staff. HTNG and AHLA first released the Staff Alert Device Buyer’s Guide in 2019 to help hoteliers identify and acquire technology to keep their staff members safe while on the job. This update, compiled by HTNG’s Staff Alert Technology Workgroup, provides information on a range of personal safety devices, such as panic buttons, with the latest technology and features, including: Location accuracy so...

PARIS—In recognition of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and in line with its spirit of care, Accor shines a light on initiatives and partnerships, that Accor teams have developed around the world, to champion gender equality, combat violence and empower women. Accor continuously demonstrates its commitment to gender equality and diversity through global and local initiatives aimed at protecting and empowering women. Whether combating gender-based violence, addressing domestic violence or tackling sexual harassment and workplace sexism, Accor is focused on driving genuine change and making a positive impact. On the world stage, the Group has actively participated in the...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—According to the 2024 European Accommodation Barometer, European hoteliers are setting their investment priorities for 2025 and beyond, aiming to sustain the industry’s positive growth. The report, published by Booking.com in conjunction with Statista, highlights the areas where hotel owners believe their investments will yield the most substantial returns. The report reveals an industry trend towards investing in style and aesthetics, which 69 percent of respondents identified as the prime opportunity. Owners believe stylish interiors, trendy designs, and “Instagrammable” spaces could attract more guests and give them a competitive edge. Comfort and incentivizing repeat visits ranked second, with 67...

NEW YORK—The Points Guy (TPG), the media platform focused on maximizing travel experiences while minimizing spending, released its 2025 Travel Trends Report, highlighting the global conditions that will shape why and where Americans will travel next year. The report found that while expected travel spending has increased in most cases, the desire to travel has not waned heading into 2025. In fact, people are willing to spend even more money on meaningful trips where they can connect with others through cultural moments and shared interests. That said, travelers have a renewed focus on getting the most value for their money (and miles). “It’s...

NEW YORK—Preferred Travel Group is proud to announce the official launch of its Climate Action Plan, a strategic initiative aimed at addressing the climate crisis and driving meaningful change within the travel and tourism industry. This plan, created in partnership with the Travel Foundation, a prominent international sustainable tourism organization, underscores the company’s commitment to reducing its carbon emissions and engaging associates in climate action at every level of the organization. Building on the Preferred Travel Group signing of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, the Climate Action Plan aims to reduce the company’s carbon emissions by 50 percent by...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Since its inception in 2009, Clean the World’s impact has been staggering with 18 million pounds of soap and 10 million pounds of plastic collected from its more than 8,000 hospitality partners worldwide. A total of 28.6 million pounds of waste has been diverted from landfills and 88.5 million bars of reprocessed soap have been distributed to those in need. With the assistance of its hospitality partners, soap bars and amenity bottles are collected for processing in one of Clean the World’s five global locations. This year alone, 200,000 new hotel rooms will be added to the mix of...

PARIS—The hotel and travel industry is constantly in flux, forever influenced by travelers’ changing preferences, aspirations, and needs worldwide. 2025 is poised to introduce several exciting trends that will significantly shape the industry and redefine how people travel. These trends, driven by technological advancements, environmental consciousness, and evolving consumer behavior, have been identified through an extensive analysis of UK search data, survey insights, and keyword search volumes. One of the standout trends of 2025 is the rise of AI-tineraries. According to an Accor survey, 13 percent of Brits are expected to utilize AI-powered tools for their travel planning in 2025....

PHILADELPHIA—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the release of PERFORM, a new offering that empowers organizations to transform real estate portfolios into sustainability success stories. PERFORM provides guidance, tools, and third-party verification from GBCI, helping organizations meet sustainability goals and reporting requirements while improving portfolio-wide performance. “PERFORM helps organizations advance sustainability across their real estate portfolios, ensuring every building—regardless of type or starting point—contributes to achieving organizational performance goals,” said Peter Templeton, President & CEO, USGBC and GBCI (Green Business Certification, Inc.). “USGBC and the green building community are committed to wholesale market transformation, which means accelerating and scaling measurable performance...