LONDON—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in partnership with Omran, unveiled its Environmental & Social Research (ESR) 2025, showing that while the sector has surpassed its pre-pandemic economic peak, its carbon footprint remains below 2019 levels, and its positive social impact continues to grow. According to the global tourism body, Travel & Tourism’s global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2024 have fallen by 9.3 percent since 2019, when Travel & Tourism was at its peak, and now accounts for a 7.3 percent share of total global GHG emissions, down from an 8.3 percent share in in 2019. While the sector’s environmental...

NATIONAL REPORT—Your lodging property might have a hidden energy thief that’s hurting your sustainability goals: your air ducts. Problems like leaks, poor insulation, or blockages can prevent air ducts from functioning as efficiently as they should. And the harder your HVAC system has to work to compensate, the more energy it consumes—increasing your carbon footprint as a result. When air duct issues arise, many people notice higher energy bills but struggle to pinpoint the cause. This problem can persist for a long time. But when you’re familiar with the most common air duct problems that waste energy, how to spot...

BOULDER, COLO.—Global design studio WATG, a leader known for delivering dynamic hospitality destinations around the world, has completed the architecture and landscape architecture of Limelight Boulder, a new lifestyle hotel by Aspen One located on the University of Colorado—Boulder’s campus. Situated within Boulder’s “The Hill” neighborhood, known for its vibrant academic community, Limelight Boulder adds 252 guestrooms and suites to the city’s hospitality offerings. Developed by Aspen One in partnership with University of Colorado—Boulder and the City of Boulder, the hotel serves as a new “living room” for the city at a prominent gateway between the campus and the surrounding neighborhood. Built to...

NEW YORK—The public hearing process for Caesars Palace Times Square concluded last week with majority public support for the project. Across two in-person public hearings and thousands of email submissions, a broad coalition of local residents, small business owners, Broadway workers, labor unions, community leaders, elected officials, hotels and iconic entertainment venues spokes out in favor of Caesars Palace Times Square—the proposal for a world-class gaming and entertainment destination from SL Green, Caesars Entertainment, Live Nation, and JAY-Z’s Roc Nation. Across both public hearings, hundreds of people came out in support of the project. Hundreds more were turned away when...

COLUMBUS, OHIO—Chief Judge Algenon L. Marbley of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio rejected efforts by hotel defendants to escape liability in a federal human trafficking case (Civil Action 2:19-cv-00849). In a Court Opinion and Order filed Monday, September 22, 2025, Judge Marbley emphasized that the case centers on whether hotels that rented rooms to traffickers can be held responsible under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). He explained that the statute was written to hold accountable not only traffickers themselves, but also those who facilitate the industry. Judge Marbley further underscored the critical role hotels play in...

WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONTANA—Where geysers erupt, bison roam, and the horizon stretches wide with possibility, a new hotel is bringing travelers even closer to the wonder of it all. Starlite Yellowstone, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is now open in downtown West Yellowstone, just minutes from the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Developed by East Avenue Development LLC and managed by Vista Host, the 133-room hotel was designed to reflect the wild beauty, rich history, and spirit of the land that surrounds it. With natural textures and thoughtful design throughout, Starlite Yellowstone blends upscale comfort with a deep sense of place, offering travelers...

NATIONAL REPORT—Cold-storage rooms may look like simple metal boxes, but their performance is governed by what lies between the inner and outer walls. Insulation determines how efficient the refrigeration is, how much energy is consumed, how long it resists moisture and corrosion, and, ultimately, how reliably it protects food or pharmaceuticals. As energy codes tighten and operating margins shrink, cold storage manufacturers are rethinking everything from the materials they use to the systems that shape them. The industry is moving toward three central priorities: higher performing insulation, precision driven automation, and more sustainable manufacturing practices. Why Traditional Foam Falls Short For...

ATLANTA—The 2025 ASHRAE Building Decarbonization Conference, set for October 22 to 24, 2025, in Chicago, will be the gathering place for professionals to determine how to accelerate building decarbonization strategies. “Decarbonization is not just about technology. It’s about rethinking how we design, operate, and value our buildings,” said 2025-26 ASHRAE President Bill McQuade, P.E., CDP, Fellow ASHRAE, LEED AP. “This conference is about equipping building professionals with the strategies, partnerships and tools needed to make measurable progress. This is the ‘must-attend’ conference for professionals in the business of designing, constructing or operating buildings.” The two-and-a-half-day program will feature 21 seminars, 14 panels,...

HELSINKI—For the second year in a row, Helsinki has been ranked first in the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index. The international Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index measures the sustainability of tourist destinations in four different categories based on more than 70 indicators. Over a hundred cities around the world committed to sustainability are included in the comparison. This is the second consecutive year that Helsinki has topped the ranking. “Helsinki is investing in sustainable growth in tourism. Our aim is to make Helsinki a welcoming destination for a steadily rising number of travelers. Being the world’s most sustainable tourist destination for the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The AHLA Foundation announced partnerships with the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (ICHRIE) and the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA) designed to strengthen opportunities for young people seeking professions in the industry. Building on the Foundation’s legacy of scholarship support for hospitality students, these strategic alliances represent an evolution of the Foundation’s talent pipeline mission—bridging the gap between higher education institutions and industry workforce needs. “We’re not just funding education—we’re investing in the alignment between academic learning and professional readiness,” said Kevin Carey, AHLA Foundation President and CEO. “These partnerships give us the...