LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International joined the American Business Act on Climate Change Pledge by pledging to reduce energy consumption 20 percent by 2020, during the National Clean Energy Summit held at the Mandalay Bay Resort Convention Center, sponsored by U.S. Senator Harry Reid, and with closing keynote comments by President Barack Obama.“MGM Resorts is committed to being a leading corporate citizen in all it does,” said Jim Murren, Chairman & CEO of MGM Resorts International. “Climate change and consumption of traditional energy sources are among the most critical issues of our day.”“Innovating our resorts to operate more efficiently while...

NEW YORK—The Bodhi Tree Foundation (TBTF) announces the launch of its Power of 10 initiative, an expansion of its S.A.F.E. campaign created to “Safeguard a Future for African Elephants.” With 10 percent of Africa’s elephant population lost each year, the next 10 years will decide the species’ fate. And in Asia, disappearing habitats due to logging and urbanization have driven once wild elephants to the cities or tourist camps where they face a debilitating lifestyle.To counter forces that are aligned against the elephant, the Power of 10 supports 10 elephant conservation projects in 10 critical landscapes that can make...

LONDON—In the Silver Jubilee year of World Water Week (August 23 to 28), multiple global hotel companies are meeting the challenge “to think innovatively—together—about new development pathways” and are developing a methodology and calculation tool to enable hotel companies and individual properties to measure and report on water consumption in a consistent way.Following the success of the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative, now used by over 21,500 hotels around the world, the International Tourism Partnership (ITP) is developing the equivalent tool for water consumption. As World Water Week demonstrates, water scarcity is a recognized global problem, with demand for water...

STAMFORD, CONN.—With more than half of its current and future properties in areas facing critical water issues, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. shared its holistic water story detailing the company’s efforts to tackle this important matter. As part of the company’s overall strategy on water issues, including scarcity, flooding, and quality, Starwood has set a system-wide water reduction goal, introduced new technology and dedicated on-property actions, offered conservation-focused guest programs and joined with community partners.“Some say water is the new oil and, as we execute a global growth strategy, water is not only an environmental consideration, but also...

ATLANTA—With 12 confirmed dead and more than 120 cases of infection due to legionellosis, New York City Council last week adopted legislation that requires adherence to part of ASHRAE’s newly published Legionella standard.The legislation addresses registration and inspection of cooling towers. It requires owners to create and file a plan to maintain equipment to comply with Section 7.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2015, Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems.The standard provides minimum Legionellosis risk management requirements for the design, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and expansion of new and existing buildings and their associated water systems and components.“Standard...

OAK BROOK, ILL.—The Monarch butterfly population has been in decline, but the Illinois state insect is getting some unlikely help with their migration in the western suburbs of Chicago. At the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center, which features a Horticultural Gallery on its 150 acres of Audubon-certified grounds, waystations are attracting Monarchs on their annual trek south. Due to the spirited efforts of hotel staff and horticulturalist Karen Paquin, who has created an official on-site Monarch habitat, the beloved pollinator is dropping by in significant numbers. “It’s encouraging to see so many Monarchs enjoy our beautiful...

GREENVILLE, S.C.—Discarded soap and bottled amenities left behind by guests at JHM Hotels’ properties now have a second life thanks to a recycling program from Clean the World that helps fight the spread of preventable diseases.Used soap and plastic amenity bottles from all JHM Hotels’ properties are shipped to a Clean the World Recycling Operations Center, where they are sanitized and repurposed. Clean the World’s simple mission is to recycle hotel soap and save lives. The organization has partnered with more than 4,000 hotels and resorts to put life-saving hygiene products in the hands of those who need them...

CINCINNATI—Attendee registration is underway for Boutique Design New York (BDNY), the award-winning trade fair and conference tailored exclusively to hospitality design professionals. The event will be held November 8 to 9 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.Now in its sixth year, BDNY has seen double-digit growth each year since its 2010 debut. This year the trade fair will expand to 600+ manufacturers and marketers in 80,000 square feet of exhibit space, and welcome more than 5,000 attendees.BDNY’s dramatic growth has been recognized by Trade Show Executive magazine’s annual Fastest 50 Awards & Summit for the past three years....

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Twenty-five years after its founding, The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) is still going strong with more than 14,700 members. Earlier this year its annual Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) in Ecuador drew more than 500 attendees from 46 countries. An ESTC is already being planned for April 25 to 28 in Botswana and for the first time ever there will be an ESTC America—at the University of South Florida in Tampa from January 25 to 27. The Tampa event will be limited to 220 participants.As strong as TIES has been over the years, 2015 is turning into...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Board of Trustees of the Destination & Travel Foundation have selected the U.S. National Park Service as the upcoming recipient of its highest honor, the Spirit of Hospitality Award, presented annually to the individual or organization that has shown exceptional dedication and commitment to the travel and tourism industry.The National Park Service turns 100 on August 25, 2016. The centennial kicks off a second century of stewardship of America’s national parks and engaging communities through recreation, conservation, and historic preservation programs.“From the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore to the Florida Everglades and Statue of Liberty, the National...