ATLANTA—AAHOA issued the following statement in response to the tragic murder of Hemant Mistry (59), a respected AAHOA Member and veteran hotel owner/operator from Oklahoma City, Okla. According to police reports, a 41-year-old suspect was arrested and is now in custody following an altercation on Saturday, June 22, during which he punched Mistry, who died Sunday from the impact. Local sources indicate that Mistry had asked the suspect to leave the property. This incident bears a heartbreaking resemblance to the murder of Pravin R. Patel, owner of the Hillcrest Motel in Sheffield, Alabama, who was killed under similar circumstances in February. “Our hearts go out to...

OTTAWA, ONT.—Green Key Global, the leading sustainable certification program for hotels in North America, powered by the Hotel Association of Canada and the American Hotel and Lodging Association, announced it has signed an agreement with Choice Hotels International, Inc. to offer its franchisees preferred services as properties seek its sought-after sustainability certification. With the agreement, Choice hotel owners in the U.S. will have the opportunity to harness Green Key Global’s expertise to optimize operations for sustainable practices and potentially get Green Key Eco-Rating and Green Key Meetings certifications. For certification, Green Key Global partners with a third-party accredited audit facilitator,...

TROY, N.Y.—Audubon International—the environmentally focused nonprofit organization offering members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect the areas where we all live, work, and play—is now the exclusive environmental stewardship partner for world-class golf and resort developer The Cabot Collection. Its portfolio includes the award-winning Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Cabot Saint Lucia in the Caribbean, Cabot Revelstoke in British Columbia, Cabot Citrus Farms in Florida and Cabot Highlands in Scotland. In this exclusive, groundbreaking partnership, Toronto-based Cabot becomes the first multi-property brand to enroll every golf course and surrounding built environment into Audubon International’s comprehensive, all-inclusive Platinum Signature Sanctuary certification program, which was introduced in 2023. Platinum...

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...