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News & Features

Whether an industry announcement, or a hotel accomplishment, Green Lodging News reports on the most up-to-date news and offers a unique perspective on trends—all with the purpose of making your company more profitable. Got news or a story idea to share? We frequently post contributed articles here. Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

News & Features

Home News & Features
Whether an industry announcement, or a hotel accomplishment, Green Lodging News reports on the most up-to-date news and offers a unique perspective on trends—all with the purpose of making your company more profitable. Got news or a story idea to share? We frequently post contributed articles here. Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

U.S. Sustainable Travel Insights Report 2024

DUBLIN, IRELAND—The “U.S. Sustainable Travel Market - Focused Insights 2024-2029” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering. The U.S. sustainable travel market was valued at $66.22 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach a value of $116.46 billion in 2029, growing at a CAGR of 9.87 percent from 2023-2029. The U.S. sustainable travel or tourism market has seen remarkable growth and transformation in recent years, reflecting an increasing awareness and concern for environmental and social issues. Sustainable travel encompasses a range of aspects, including eco-friendly accommodations, responsible tourism practices, and eco-conscious transportation options. Additionally, travelers can opt for eco-friendly lodgings like ecolodges, treehouses, and sustainable resorts that aim to...

Hotel Maria in Helsinki Announces Its Green Key Certification

HELSINKI, FINLAND—Helsinki’s newest urban sanctuary, The Hotel Maria announced that the Green Key jury granted the hotel with the coveted Green Key certificate at its first meeting in 2024. Green Key is a leading sustainability program in the tourism sector. The Green Key certificate is recognition of commendable sustainability work, and its criteria meet the growing expectations of customers and partners regarding the sustainability of tourism services. The Hotel Maria, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Legend Collection, has been committed to sustainability since its inception, and earning the Green Key certificate and meeting corresponding requirements have been longstanding goals. These requirements...

Carnival Corp. Unveils New Solar Park in Dominican Republic

MIAMI—Underscoring its commitment to sustainability, Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise company, unveiled a new solar park at its Amber Cove Cruise Center in the Dominican Republic. The park’s 1,800-plus solar panels will supply 80 percent of the port’s energy demand. Carnival Corporation, Carnival Cruise Line and Amber Cove Cruise Center celebrated with a ribbon cutting that was attended by government, industry, and community leaders, including Joel Santos, Minister of the Presidency of the Dominican Republic, and Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line. “As we bring guests to enjoy the beauty and rich culture of the Dominican Republic, we also take our environmental stewardship here...

Chef Christopher Galarza on the Electrification & Decarbonization of the Commercial Kitchen

VERONA, PA.—The electrification and decarbonization of the commercial kitchen is becoming a hot topic throughout the hospitality industry. Green Lodging News recently addressed the topic in a Publisher’s Point of View column which highlighted the work of the William J. Worthen Foundation. The Foundation addresses all-electric kitchens in its “The Building Decarbonization Practice Guide.” Also championing a transition to all-electric and less carbon-intensive kitchens is Chef Christopher A. Galarza. A strong proponent of electric induction cooking, he is the author of Understanding the Green Industrial Revolution, An Interdisciplinary Look At the Hospitality Industry, Founder/Culinary Sustainability Consultant with Forward Dining...

Hyatt Regency Debuts New Collaboration with Personal Training Platform, Future

CHICAGO—Building on Hyatt’s purpose of care and commitment to wellbeing, Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced an exclusive collaboration between the Hyatt Regency brand and Future, a personal training platform that connects users with an ongoing fitness coach to create customized virtual workouts, further complementing World of Hyatt members and guests’ wellbeing journeys. Launching at 26 Hyatt Regency hotels and resorts in the U.S., these Hyatt Regency hotels invite guests and members to enjoy complimentary guided workouts developed by Future trainers that are customized for each hotel and resort’s fitness center and equipment. With this new collaboration, Hyatt builds on its commitment to wellbeing and the Hyatt...

Booking.com Moves Towards Prioritizing Third-Party Certifications

AMSTERDAM—Reaffirming Booking.com’s commitment to showcase more sustainable travel options to all of its customers, and to help support accommodation partners on actions they can take to operate more sustainably, the leading digital travel platform has announced some updates to how it will display more sustainable choices to travelers around the world, focusing on third-party certifications. Booking.com will now introduce a label to acknowledge when a property has achieved a third-party sustainability certification coupled with the ability to filter searches accordingly. To date, over 16,500 properties have a third-party sustainability certification displayed on the platform. Moving forward, the Travel Sustainable name,...

Hard Rock Unveils ‘WE ARE’ Initiative with Eva Longoria & Charity Partners

HOLLYWOOD, FLA.—To celebrate International Women’s Month last month, Hard Rock International announced a new “WE ARE” initiative honoring its ongoing commitment to championing women’s health and empowerment. Through its “WE ARE” campaign, Hard Rock has joined forces with Eva Longoria to encourage women around the world to share their personal stories, help uplift women’s narratives on critical issues and spotlight nearly 1,000 performances by talented female musicians in special events at its Cafe, Hotel and Casino locations. Hard Rock is also releasing a limited-edition t-shirt and exciting food and beverage menu items. Through its charitable arm, Hard Rock Heals...

Two Victoria Hotels Lead the Way in Supporting Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada

VICTORIA, B.C.—Starting March 1, 2024, The Parkside Hotel & Spa and Huntingdon Manor are directing a portion of their Climate Contribution Fee—aimed to support sustainable initiatives—to the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC). Indigenous Tourism is currently the fastest-growing market segment in the tourism sector. ITAC helps to promote and develop authentic Indigenous tourism experiences across Canada. Their Indigenous Tourism Destination Fund (ITDF) offers a collaborative approach for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses to support the growth in Canada. By supporting this initiative, partners of ITAC help fulfill the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action #92 by fostering respectful relationships and ensuring Indigenous communities...

It is Official: Green Key Global Jointly Operated by AHLA, HAC

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) announced that Green Key Global, the sustainability certification body for hotels, is now jointly operated by the associations in the U.S. and Canada. A roster of hotel companies across the continent, including Accor, Best Western, Choice Hotels, Crescent Hotels & Resorts, Highgate, Hyatt, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, and more continue to lead the way as some of Green Key Global’s partners committed to sustainability through their involvement with the third-party certification program. HAC created Green Key Global in 1994 to certify hotels’ environmental sustainability policies and...

Atrium Hospitality Debuts WomenRISE Program

ALPHARETTA, GA.—Coinciding with Women’s History Month this month, Atrium Hospitality announced the launch of WomenRISE, the company’s new Hotel General Manager Development Program targeted to female leaders. Alpharetta, Georgia-based Atrium Hospitality is one of the nation’s largest hotel operators. The company manages a portfolio of 80 hotels, representing well-known brands such as Hilton, Marriott, IHG, and Wyndham, in 28 states. Atrium operates approximately 20,000 guest rooms/suites and 3 million square feet of event space. “We’re excited to offer Atrium’s WomenRISE program to hasten the career paths of women in hospitality, a group that tends to be underrepresented at the General...