CHEVY CHASE, MD.—PM Hotel Group, a leading hotel management company working with luxury lifestyle properties as well as branded, independent select-service hotels across the country, announced its partnership with Procure Impact. As part of their commitment to the Dignity of Work Pledge, PM Hotel Group has pledged a goal of creating 2,000 hours of work for overlooked populations through purchases of products on the Procure Impact platform. This new partnership is the latest example of PM Hotel Group seeking to create positive change in the communities in which it operates. “PM Hotel Group believes in people-first hospitality. We are proud to stand...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Marriott Vacations Worldwide, a leading global vacation company, is granting its 100th wish as part of its two-year partnership with Make-A-Wish. This sponsorship grants vacation experiences to wish kids and their families at our Vacation Club resorts. Marriott Vacations Worldwide recently welcomed nine-year-old Layla Catts and her family to the Sheraton Vistana Resort in Orlando. Staff at the resort treated her to a VIP pool party and brought in a petting zoo, including a private pony ride for Layla. Marriott Vacations Worldwide launched its partnership with Make-A-Wish in February 2022 and is proud to support its mission of bringing children’s wishes...

GULF BREEZE, FLA.—With National Oceans Month this month, Innisfree Hotels is welcoming guests to engage in sustainable activities at its more than two dozen properties in coastal Florida and across the Southeastern U.S. “At Innisfree, we partner with locally led organizations to ensure we have a positive impact in the communities where we live and work,” said Bethanne Edwards, Director of Sustainability at Innisfree Hotels. “Our local sustainability partnerships center around environmental conservation, education, advocacy and community-building efforts.” With so many beach- and waterfront properties in its portfolio, Innisfree Hotels’ environmental initiatives naturally include ones that specifically benefit oceans and waterways....

VISTA, CALIF.—A little-reported fact is that heat wave frequencies in the United States are increasing. In the 1960s, we averaged about two major heat waves per year. Today, we are experiencing more than six. Further, these heat waves are lasting longer. In the 1960s, heat waves lasted about 22 days. Now, they average 72 days. And one more heat stat. The number of people in emergency rooms due to heat exposure has increased from 151 out of 100,000 emergency room visits a few years ago to more than 180 today. So, what steps should employers take to protect workers from extreme heat...

MONTEVERDE, COSTA RICA—Hotel Belmar in Costa Rica is redefining what it means to create a local experience for guests through its new menu and sustainability initiatives. The award-winning, carbon-neutral hotel’s dining including Restaurante Celajes, Cervecería Belmar, and its Juice Bar and Tea Room take a hyper local approach to sourcing ingredients, prioritizing sustainable practices. Under the creative guidance of Chef Alvaro Rodríguez, the hotel’s new menu iterations highlight organic produce and ingredients sourced from the hotel’s expanded organic garden, the carbon-neutral farm Finca Madre Tierra, and local foraging. The new menu was intentionally designed to lower the hotel’s carbon footprint, with a...

TAIPEI, TAIWAN—Silks Hotel Group (SHG), a multinational hotel chain based in Taiwan, partnered with the nonprofit animal protection organization, Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan, and the Taiwan Mennonite New Dawn Educare Center for people living with physical or intellectual disabilities, to advocate for sustainable practices in Taiwan’s livestock industry. Their collaboration was unveiled at a press conference recently, where SHG pledged to purchase free-range eggs as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts and in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SHG announced that by the end of 2026, all restaurants in Regent Taipei will fully transition to using free-range eggs,...

PARIS—Novotel, Accor’s founding brand, announced the launch of an international partnership with WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) that will see Novotel champion the protection and restoration of the ocean through science-based action and conservation projects. WWF is a global leader in building a sustainable future for people and the planet. Under the three-year agreement, from 2024 to 2027, WWF France will provide technical expertise to Novotel, helping its 580 hotels worldwide to have a positive impact on the ocean, challenging and guiding the brand and its properties throughout many aspects of its operations. The partnership will also see Novotel sponsoring several...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced the winners of the 2024 Energy Star Partner of the Year Awards. These 211 organizations, which represent the top Energy Star program partners, are making significant contributions in support of the clean energy transition. They come from 38 states and localities, representing multiple economic sectors. The winners were recognized at an event in Washington, D.C. “President Biden’s Investing in America agenda creates unprecedented opportunity to build a clean energy economy, and private sector partners through programs like Energy Star are leading the way,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate this...

WAILEA, HAWAII—Hawaii’s five-star, five-diamond Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea announces the launch of the Blue Aina guest experience, an addition to the Resort’s Malama Hawaii program. Launching in tandem with National Oceans Month, this new initiative aims to cultivate a sense of ocean conservation and environmental stewardship among guests, providing a unique and educational adventure that underscores the Resort’s unwavering dedication to regenerative travel, tourism, and sustainability. The term “Blue Aina,” translating to “Blue Land,” symbolizes the interconnectedness of land and sea, echoing the shared responsibility to protect and preserve the environment. This ethos embodies the essence of Four Seasons Resort Maui and is reflected in...

LAS VEGAS—Twenty-five years ago, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas made waves when it pioneered the convention-hotel concept and delivered Venice’s canals to the Las Vegas desert, gondoliers and all. Coinciding with this momentous birthday, the iconic resort unveils a new era ushered in by its $1.5 billion reinvestment project. Following the recent launches of HaSalon, Voltaire Belle de Nuit, and Sphere at The Venetian, the resort’s comprehensive top to bottom reimagining touches everything from a rebrand of The Venetian’s iconic lion logo to a redesign of the resort’s greatest assets, its suites, which remain the largest standard room on The Strip. Available...