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Choice Hotels International Announces 2024 Grant Recipients
NORTH BETHESDA, MD.—In celebration of Giving Tuesday, Choice Hotels International, Inc. announced the 2024 recipients of its “Your Community, Your Choice” grant program. Through this program, Choice supports causes that are meaningful to hotel owners by offering grants to local organizations. These grants have funded causes that address food security, veteran support, aid for abuse and trafficking victims, youth education, animal shelters, and more.
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the initiative, which has donated a total of $275,000 to local nonprofits through more than 70 hotels across the United States since its inception in 2019. “At Choice Hotels, we believe in the...
Regal Hotels Pioneers Green Meetings, Elevating Sustainable Practices for MICE Events in Hong Kong
HONG KONG—Regal Hotels has introduced Green Meetings, a unique, all-in-one business solution designed to empower event organizers to achieve their sustainable goals. By collaborating with Regal Hotels, event organizers can effortlessly offset their carbon footprint while enjoying low-carbon meetings and events curated by sustainability and culinary experts. Green Meetings are powered by the Institute of Sustainability and Technology (IST). Based in Hong Kong, IST serves as a knowledge partner, with the mission to empower sustainable solutions for the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges via education and technology. Through shaping dialogue and standards, it aims to accelerate the...
Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Women Rise in Business Travel Industry, Yet Barriers Persist
NATIONAL REPORT—As revealed in a recent study by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), women are gaining ground in the business travel sector, both as industry professionals and as travelers themselves. However, a persistent gender gap in senior leadership roles overshadows these advancements.
The GBTA study reveals that women form the majority of professionals on both the buyer and supplier sides of the travel industry. Women represent 67 percent of travel managers and buyers and account for 57 percent of GBTA-affiliated travel suppliers and travel management company professionals. However, the data shows that women are less represented in senior executive roles, with...
Los Cabos Tourism Launches Kind Traveler’s Every Stay Gives Back Responsible Tourism Program
LOS CABOS, MEXICO—With the season of giving upon us and as part of an ongoing commitment to responsible tourism, Los Cabos announced its partnership with Kind Traveler’s Every Stay Gives Back community impact program. This collaboration marks a significant milestone, as Los Cabos becomes the first destination partner in Mexico and Latin America to join the initiative, empowering travelers to support community wellbeing, environmental initiatives, and animal causes in Los Cabos through travel choices that benefit the local economy.
Kind Traveler is an internationally awarded, responsible travel platform that empowers travelers to create positive change in local communities by supporting environmental and social initiatives through their stay with participating lodging...
Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Becomes First U.S. Destination Marketing Organization to Offer Hotel Certification Incentives with Green Key Global
MIAMI—The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) has become the first destination marketing organization in the United States to provide incentives for the Green Key Global Eco-Rating certification for hotels. This groundbreaking initiative, supported by the Greater Miami Beaches and Hotel Association (GMBHA), offers GMCVB hotel members a 50 percent discount on Green Key’s Eco-Rating certification registration and audit costs.
By partnering with Green Key Global, one of North America’s leading sustainability certification bodies for the hospitality industry, the GMCVB aims to empower local hoteliers to enhance their sustainability practices. This innovative collaboration not only positions Miami-Dade County as a frontrunner...
Coverings 2025 Plans Orlando Show with Early Registration, Special Hotel Rates & Award Entries Now Live
ORLANDO, FLA.—Coverings, the largest, world-class showcase of ceramic tile and natural stone in North America, has announced Coverings 2025 registration with early-bird registration perks, competitive hotel rates and coveted award opportunities.
Industry professionals are encouraged to register well in advance to secure their badges for Coverings 2025, returning to Orlando, Florida’s Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), April 29-May 2, 2025. Entry badges for Coverings 2025 will grant access to a comprehensive conference program and international product exhibition with 1,100 global exhibitors, showcasing the latest in tile and stone innovations. Entry will also include admission to show floor stages, activations, tours...
Hyatt to Add Hotel La Compañía del Valle, an Art and Wellness House, in Panama
CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Shebandowan Holdings, S.A. announced plans for Hotel La Compañía del Valle in Valle de Anton, Panamá, slated to open in early 2025. Located approximately 50 miles west of its sister hotel, Hotel La Compañía in Casco Antiguo, this new thought-provoking hotel will allow guests and World of Hyatt members to explore a new destination in central Panamá surrounded by biodiversity, mountains, and lush landscape. At its core, Hotel La Compañia del Valle will serve as an art and wellness house, inclusive of a one-of-a-kind sculpture park with art pieces around the corridors and hotel public areas...
Guests With Autism: A Study on Social Sustainability
In today’s evolving business landscape, social sustainability has emerged as a crucial pillar of responsible governance, emphasizing the importance of creating supportive, inclusive environments that benefit individuals and communities. For the hospitality industry, social sustainability involves fostering an atmosphere where all guests feel valued and understood, including those with invisible disabilities like autism.
This approach aligns with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and opens new brand opportunities to serve a broader demographic. By making accommodations for autistic guests, hotels can enhance guest satisfaction, loyalty, and inclusivity—essential qualities for a socially sustainable business.
Expanding Hospitality to Include Guests with Autism
As mid-level...
Apple Hospitality REIT Publishes Annual Corporate Responsibility Report
RICHMOND, VA.—Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. published its annual Corporate Responsibility Report, which details the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, strategy and initiatives and features its commitment to environmental sustainability, corporate employees, hotel associates and guests, communities, and other stakeholders.
Justin Knight, Chief Executive Officer of Apple Hospitality, commented, “Our hotels span a vast array of urban, high-end suburban and developing markets that offer guests a wide variety of reasons to travel. Whether our guests travel for business, leisure or small group gatherings, we are dedicated to providing outstanding accommodations while remaining mindful of our environmental footprint and ensuring...
Mainsail Lodging & Development Raises $13,500 for Hurricane Helene and Milton Relief
TAMPA, FLA.—On Thursday, Oct. 17, and Friday, Oct. 18, six Mainsail Lodging & Development hotels hosted events raising $13,500 to support Florida and Georgia communities impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Participating venues in Florida included EDGE Rooftop Cocktail Lounge (Epicurean Hotel in Tampa); Hi-Fi Rooftop Bar (Fenway Hotel in Dunedin); and Beacon Social Drinkery (Luminary Hotel & Co. in downtown Fort Myers). In Georgia, Hightales Rooftop Bar (Hotel Forty Five in Macon); Oliver’s Twist Bar & View (Trilith Guesthouse in Fayetteville), and The Office Bar (Epicurean Atlanta in Midtown) also joined the efforts. The funds will go directly to the American Red Cross and Giving Kitchen to aid communities impacted...