ATLANTA—The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) and the Energy & Environment Alliance (EEA) announced a partnership to help establish unified sustainability standards, benchmarks, and performance metrics specifically tailored to the hotels and lodging sector. AAHOA’s 20,000 members own 60 percent of the hotels in the United States; the EEA’s membership represents around 45,000 hospitality assets globally. As investor demand grows for transparent, reliable, and comparable sustainability disclosures, the partners will contribute to the work of the Special Taskforce on Sustainability Standards for the Hotels and Lodging Sector. The Taskforce aims to align the hospitality industry with globally recognized standards, including those set by...

CHICAGO—NeoCon announces a dynamic new 7th Floor Exhibit Hall experience, set to debut at the 56th annual NeoCon, June 9-11, 2025. Boasting nearly 200 leading companies and emerging talents from around the globe, the redesigned floor will introduce a “halls within a hall” concept and feature dedicated, amenity-rich spaces for immersive activations, programming and more. The thoughtful layout—with four main zones organized by key product categories—will enhance navigation, enabling attendees to quickly find exhibitors and solutions tailored to their needs while giving exhibitors more focused opportunities to connect with target audiences. Eye-catching hospitality spaces by Chicago-based Elise Metzger, founder of...

NORTH BETHESDA, MD.—Choice Hotels International, Inc. is announcing a new campaign benefitting the American Red Cross relief efforts to help people impacted by the 2025 California wildfires. Choice Privileges members’ donations to the Red Cross will now be eligible for a match from Choice Hotels of up to $25,000. “We are committed to supporting the communities affected by the wildfires in California. By matching donations, we hope to amplify the impact of our members’ generosity and provide much-needed assistance to those in need,” said Megan Brumagim, Vice President, Upscale Brands & Chief Sustainability Officer, Choice Hotels International. Additional donations may come from Choice Hotels...

MADRID, SPAIN—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) unveiled its latest report, exploring the critical gap between travelers’ desire for sustainable options and their actual behavior. Launched at FITUR 2025, Madrid, the report Bridging the Say-Do Gap: How to Create an Effective Sustainability Strategy by Knowing Your Customers was developed in collaboration with WTTC knowledge partner YouGov. The report explores the disconnect between what travelers say about sustainability and the choices they ultimately make. It provides actionable guidance to Travel & Tourism businesses on how they can address this gap by offering solutions that make sustainable travel both more accessible and more...

BALI, INDONESIA—The Apurva Kempinski Bali has elevated its global standing as a leader in sustainable luxury by being awarded “Best Sustainable Hotel” at the 18th edition of the Ultimate Luxury Travel Related Awards (ULTRAs), held in London in early November. This accolade highlights the resort’s dedication to delivering responsible luxury experiences while underpinning its commitment to environmental, social, and governance principles into its operations. Voted by 28 million members of the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty program, The Apurva Kempinski Bali was recognized among world-leading hotels, destinations, airlines, and airports at the elegant awards ceremony, the ULTRAs (Ultimate Luxury Travel Related Awards) which took place at The...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A review by the SUN DAY Campaign of data recently released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) confirms that during the first three-quarters of 2024, solar remained the nation’s fastest growing source of electricity as the mix of all renewables increased their output by nearly 9 percent. In its latest monthly “Electric Power Monthly” report (with data through September 30, 2024), EIA says the combination of utility-scale and “estimated” small-scale (e.g., rooftop) solar increased by 25.9 percent in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Utility-scale solar thermal and photovoltaic expanded by 30.1...

NATIONAL REPORT—According to a global sentiment survey conducted by leading travel technology innovator Sabre, the travel industry is witnessing a shift in trends in 2025. The survey reveals that most respondents plan to take at least two vacations in 2025, a 6 percent increase from 2024. Additionally, nearly a quarter of survey respondents plan to embark on four or more trips, an increase from the previous year. This suggests prioritizing global travel, with Sabre’s global travel insights confirming this trend. Asia Pacific travelers are leading the way in 2025 travel plans, showing a 34 percent increase in bookings for the year. This...

PARIS—UNESCO and the Relais & Châteaux Association announce having signed a partnership agreement to develop and implement joint projects supporting the sustainable conservation and use of biological diversity through the world’s hospitality and culinary traditions and savoir-faire. “The partnership with UNESCO is a natural step for our Association to take: Our objective is to support and encourage change, to continue to rethink our properties’ operational models so as to dovetail travel—a source of personal enrichment—with environmental, social, and economic objectives,” explains Laurent Gardinier, President of Relais & Châteaux. “Never in history has nature experienced such dramatic decline. One million species—of the eight million...

NORWALK, CONN.—Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization and a leader in improving the way the healthcare system addresses and treats substance use disorders, announced a new partnership with Northstar Travel Group, a leading global provider of trusted information and experiences for the travel industry. Over the next year, Northstar Travel Group will highlight evidence-based information, educational resources, and engagement opportunities to those in the hospitality and travel industries to address substance use disorder. This treatable medical condition impacts the industry at a higher-than-average rate. According to a recent report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, employees in the accommodations...

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN—Addressing world leaders during Ocean Action Day at COP29 in Baku, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) called for urgent climate investment in coastal and marine tourism to protect it from escalating climate risks. To achieve necessary mitigation, WTTC says that coastal and marine tourism will require annual investments of $30 billion for direct emissions reduction, with total needs reaching as high as $65 billion when including climate adaptation efforts. Developed in collaboration with Iberostar Group and Oxford Economics, the soon to be released report, “Climate and Ocean: Quantifying Coastal and Marine Tourism and Protecting Destinations,” underscores the dual...