ITHACA, N.Y.—In the wake of the settlement for the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a new report from the Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) at Cornell University chronicles the communication factors that led to canceled travel plans and poor regard for BP as a corporation. The report, “How the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Damaged the Environment, the Travel Industry, and Corporate Reputations,” by Alex Susskind, Mark Bonn, and Benjamin Lawrence, is available at no charge from the CHR. Susskind is an associate professor at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration (SHA); Bonn is a professor...

MELBOURNE, FLA.—Benjamin Stern, a Melbourne, Fla.-based, 16-year-old entrepreneur, is developing a shampoo, conditioner and body wash delivery system that could help rid the lodging industry of the millions of plastic amenity bottles that are mostly landfilled or otherwise recycled. It is not a dispenser but a way of placing a product inside of a water soluble ball. Stern’s company is called Nohbo, his product is patent pending and close to the point of delivery to a couple of major hotel chains for testing.Stern was inspired to help do something about plastic waste while watching a film in January 2014...

FORT MYERS BEACH, FLA.—Providing a peaceful experience for guests as well as the environment that surrounds it, Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina announced that it has renewed its Florida Green Lodging Designation.Being the first resort in Fort Myers Beach involved in the Florida Green Lodging Program since 2008, Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina is now a 2 Palm status property with the program. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection launched the program in 2004 as a voluntary initiative to recognize facilities in the hospitality industry that utilize efforts to conserve and protect the state’s natural resources. To...

EAGLE BEACH, ARUBA—Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort continues to expand its green initiatives with its new LEED Silver certification. Known as the Caribbean property with the most sustainability certifications, Bucuti’s new LEED designation is from the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the world’s foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), January through July 2015 was the warmest seven months in recordkeeping history and 2015 is...

LISBON, PORTUGAL—The five-star Corinthia Hotel Lisbon has been recognized by the 2015 World Travel Awards in Sardinia, Italy, as Europe’s Leading Green Hotel for its outstanding energy efficiency hotel project as well as Portugal’s Leading Conference Hotel for its outstanding business facilities and service.For the second year in a row, Corinthia Hotel Lisbon has been distinguished by the prestigious World Travel Awards. The Corinthia Lisbon was among the final shortlist of eight nominees from the Europe category and was elected Europe’s Leading Green Hotel. The distinguished panel of judges and the consumer travel buyer also elected the Corinthia Hotel...

NATIONAL REPORT—A little more than six years after it first began taking applications, the Tennessee Green Hospitality program now has 82 businesses certified. Sixty-five of those businesses are lodging establishments. Among the certified hotels that are part of the Tennessee program are the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Jackson, Nashville Airport Marriott, and the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Knoxville At Cedar Bluff. Perhaps a first for welcome centers in the United States, all 14 Tennessee Welcome Centers are also certified.Each of the businesses in the program have submitted applications and then undergone an on-site inspection by Skye Con’s...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International employees have pledged more than $6 million this year to The MGM Resorts Foundation to support 1,400 nonprofit organizations and programs serving the resort company’s host communities in Nevada, Michigan and Mississippi, as well as other regional and national nonprofit organizations.“Every year our employees inspire us with their community spirit, and this year they have far exceeded our expectations,” said Phyllis A. James, Executive Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer of MGM Resorts International. “We are extremely proud of the model of compassion and giving our employees represent, and of the improvements their generous donations...

CHENGDU—China’s Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain is going the extra mile with conservation and environmental responsibility. The resort, which opened August 1, incorporates all the Six Senses sustainability benchmarks for which the group is recognized and has now taken a step further with the introduction of a Tesla Model S electric vehicle for airport transfers.As the first hotel in Chengdu to offer such a sustainable experience, it is a testament to the eco-friendly initiatives that drive Six Senses. The vehicle, which accommodates three to four passengers and offers generous luggage capacity, travels up to 310 miles (500 kilometers) on...

LOS ANGELES—This weekend starting on September 25 is Green Festival’s fifth Expo in Los Angeles. The organizers of the event have once again partnered with international thinkers, innovators, and leaders in the world of sustainability.The speakers at Green Festival Expos are articulate, powerful advocates for a just and sustainable world. From authors and filmmakers to politicians, musicians and scientists, these renowned individuals inspire packed audiences with their expertise—one of the most compelling draws to Green Festival since 2002. This year’s speaker line-up exemplifies why Green Festival is the largest, most-respected event of its kind and this year’s Los Angeles...

QUITO, ECUADOR—There is natural beauty everywhere at Mashpi Lodge near Quito, Ecuador. But there is more—much more—including scientific research and findings of interest not only to guests but also to the scientific community. A recent discovery at the 3,200-acre Mashpi Rainforest Biodiversity Reserve surrounding the Mashpi Lodge has everybody hopping. It is a new species of treefrog: Mashpi Torrenteer (Hyloscirtus mashpi). Carlos Morochz, Research Director at Mashpi, first saw Mashpi Torrenteer in 2011: “I sensed it was something different, so I went to Luis Coloma of Centro Jambau who suggested the frog required more detailed study.”Led by Morochz,...