BELIZE CITY, BELIZE—The Belize Tourism Board announces the launch of “No Barriers Reef,” a pioneering initiative designed to make the breathtaking natural wonders of Belize accessible to every Belizean. This innovative project, which went live on Saturday, June 8, in honor of World Ocean Day, is a testament to Belize’s commitment to the appreciation and preservation of our oceans and natural heritage. In collaboration with The Zimmerman Agency, Belize introduced an innovative virtual reality (VR) experience this past March that immerses viewers in the stunning beauty of the Belize Barrier Reef, the largest living reef in the northern hemisphere. The primary goal of this initiative is to provide Belizeans,...

CALGARY, ALBERTA—PBA Group of Companies (PBA) and its partner Concord Hospitality have officially started converting the former 12-storey office building, Canadian Centre into an Element Hotel by Westin. PBA saw an opportunity to satisfy the growing demand for additional room capacity in Downtown Calgary and to drive economic impact. As a 226-suite hotel, with fully furnished extended stay units, and a sophisticated design aesthetic, the Element Hotel will offer guests a warm and hospitable experience infused with cultural touches and elevated details. “We’re honored to help take one of the first steps in transforming our downtown into a differentiated residential and recreational district that serves...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. hotels added 700 jobs to their payrolls in May, according to the latest government data that shows the nationwide workforce shortage continues to make it difficult for hotels to fill open jobs. Total hotel employment stands at about 1.92 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s 191,500 fewer workers in the industry than in February 2020, just before the pandemic hit, a shortfall that reflects the scarcity of available employees since then. “Hotels are ready to grow and create more jobs, but the nationwide workforce shortage that has persisted in the post-pandemic economy is preventing that from happening,” said AHLA Interim...

LONDON—Ennismore, the fastest-growing lifestyle and leisure hospitality company, and Our Habitas, the sustainably forward hospitality brand, announced that they have entered a strategic partnership. Ennismore will take over the management and growth of Our Habitas, which will join Ennismore’s global collective of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands. Founded by entrepreneur Oliver Ripley in 2016, Our Habitas’ mission is to create human connection and empower local communities through unique hospitality experiences worldwide. Our Habitas currently operates ten cultural-defining resorts across a range of breathtaking locations across four continents, including Tulum, Mexico; AlUla, Saudi Arabia; Atacama, Chile, and the Kalahari Desert in Namibia....

PARIS—Following the conclusion of the Group’s 2024 Annual General Meeting, Accor—a world-leading hospitality group—unveiled its purpose statement: “Pioneering the Art of Responsible Hospitality, Connecting Cultures, with Heartfelt Care”. Recognizing the importance of Purpose, Accor built this framework following an extensive company-wide consultation process leveraging Purpose taskforce and Ethics Committee workshops as well as ExCo members, Heartists and external stakeholder interviews, gathering more than 50,000 quotes from nearly 10,000 people. Accor has long committed itself to sustainability and taking a community-centric approach, with care for people and planet running throughout its strategy. Purpose has long been at the core of everything the...

NATIONAL REPORT—In a groundbreaking initiative to combat human trafficking, the British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA), Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), Saskatchewan Hotel & Hospitality Association (SHHA), Manitoba Hotel Association (MHA), and Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association (ORHMA) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to develop and deliver human trafficking awareness and prevention training and resources to hotels—with the goal of training every hotel employee from British Columbia to Ontario. Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in Canada, with thousands of victims being exploited annually. The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking estimates that over 1,400...

NEW YORK—Internationally recognized culinary innovator, author, educator, and humanitarian José Andrés has been announced as the opening keynote-session speaker for the second iteration of The Hospitality Show, produced by Questex and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). Additional speakers and programming updates will be announced in the coming months. In this lively discussion on Monday, October 28 titled, “Changing the World Through the Power of Food,” Andrés will share his passion for affecting positive change, along with his belief in the principle that “food is a basic human right.” Andrés is a committed advocate of food and hunger issues and has championed the role of chefs in the...

NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS—The Bahamas has been awarded the prestigious Caribbean Destination Resilience Award by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) in collaboration with the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST). This award is a testament to The Bahamas’ unwavering commitment to sustainability and resilience in tourism, aligning with the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Caribbean Destination Resilience Award acknowledges destinations that exhibit a deliberate focus on resiliency, particularly through innovative strategies and collaborative efforts that engage both public and private sector stakeholders. The Bahamas’ exemplary initiatives in addressing climate change and fostering...

MIDLAND, N.C.—Hoteliers in search of alternatives to plastic bottled water have a new option to consider: an on-site micro-bottling system. Available from Boomerang Water and about the size of an ice machine, the system can fill up to 400 reusable bottles an hour. The Boomerang Bottling System is already in use at properties including the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (Hawaii) and The Boca Raton (Florida). At the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, 910,000 plastic bottles were diverted from landfills and waterways in one year. At The Boca Raton, 419,750 plastic bottles were diverted in a year. The Statler Hotel at...

HARTFORD, CONN.—In a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong led 16 states in sounding the alarm over pervasive plastic microfiber pollution, urging EPA and NOAA to use the full extent of their authority to protect public health and the safety of our oceans. Synthetic clothing sheds tiny plastic strands—called “microfibers”—when it is washed. It is estimated that approximately 640,000 to 1,500,000 plastic microfiber pieces are shed per wash cycle. It is estimated that the United States and Canada pollute an estimated 878 tons of microfibers into the...