LOS ANGELES—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the AHLA Foundation, and The BHN Group/Northstar Travel Group announced that Mark Hoplamazian, President and CEO, Hyatt, will be awarded the Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award. Hoplamazian will be recognized during the AHLA Foundation’s fundraising gala, Night of a Thousand Stars on Sunday, January 21, as well as during the 23rd annual Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) on Tuesday, January 23. “Mark’s tenure at the helm of Hyatt is not just inspiring, it’s a testament to his remarkable leadership and aptitude for empathy. Beyond the boardroom, he’s championed countless initiatives that raise...

DALLAS—In support of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, G6 Hospitality, the parent company of Motel 6 and Studio 6, is renewing and expanding its long-standing efforts to combat human trafficking and raise awareness around the widespread issue. This month, G6 Hospitality will launch a new version of its best-in-class training, “The Room Next Door,” a comprehensive program the company developed to help hotel teams identify the signs of human trafficking in the lodging industry. The training, required at every Motel 6 and Studio 6 location, is aimed at building awareness of the signs and response protocol for human trafficking. The company is also renewing ongoing...

SHAWANO, WIS.—The Network of Executive Women in Hospitality (NEWH)’s biennial Leadership Conference will take place in Nashville from February 15 to 17, 2024. Hosted at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel, the event draws leaders in the hospitality industry from all over the world. Over the three-day conference, attendees will discuss strategy, share insights on emerging trends, and get to know their peers in a lively, encouraging environment. Embodying NEWH’s mission to support the advancement of professionals in hospitality, the 2024 Leadership Conference’s schedule comprises insightful panel discussions, compelling breakout sessions, and immersive keynote speakers. In addition to exploring educational offerings, attendees...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, launched a new platform to streamline its scholarship application process. The platform not only improves the user experience but includes a built-in eligibility assessment that allows students to access every Foundation-hosted opportunity for which they qualify. The Foundation has long supported rising hospitality talent through the generous support of individual donors and corporations, contributing nearly $17 million to eligible students across the United States to date. “The AHLA Foundation has been committed to supporting hospitality students for 70 years,” said Anna Blue, President of AHLA Foundation. “Increasing access to resources...

GATLINBURG, TENN.—Running Rock Eco Resort, now under construction, will soon be a groundbreaking net-zero, eco-friendly, and nature-focused resort nestled in the Smoky Mountains. From its own mountaintop on a 260 acre property overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the resort offers more than a mile of mountaintop views, a mile long meandering stream, and a stunning 40-foot cascade. Opening in 2025, it promises an unmatched and sustainable experience of nature’s beauty tucked away among the best of the southern Appalachians. Running Rock Eco Resort is intentionally devoted to sustainability and reverence for its pristine tapestry of untouched nature. The owners, Jake...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. announced it has once again ranked among the top 100 companies on Dave Thomas Foundation’s “Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces” list, which recognizes organizations that strive to build families through adoption. For the fourth consecutive year, HGV was named first in the hotel and travel industry on the Foundation’s “Best By Industry” list. “What an honor to be recognized once again by the Dave Thomas Foundation for our industry-leading adoption assistance benefits,” said Pablo Brizi, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer & Corporate Affairs at Hilton Grand Vacations. “This is a great reflection of our ‘Putting People...

MADRID, SPAIN—In a joint effort to promote sustainability in the Travel & Tourism sector, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Biosphere have inked a partnership to promote sustainability criteria in the hotel industry under the Hotel Sustainability Basics initiative. In the current landscape of globalization and information saturation, where sustainability holds paramount importance, the proliferation of new standards and eco-labels poses a significant challenge for the sector. Identifying clear and consistent sustainability criteria has become increasingly difficult. Biosphere and WTTC have joined forces and solidified their commitment to fostering a more sustainable hotel industry to establish fundamental steps for...

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND—South Pole’s latest annual Net Zero Report found that the majority of surveyed companies in nine of the 14 major sectors are intentionally decreasing their climate communications, otherwise known as “greenhushing”, first evidenced by South Pole in 2022. This year’s report, which surveyed over 1,400 companies with dedicated sustainability leads, across 12 countries and 14 sectors, takes a closer look at companies choosing to not publicize their climate strategies or goals and deliberately decrease or cease external communications around them. The report confirms, for the first time, that the trend of greenhushing is present across nearly every major sector around the...

BANGKOK—When the Diriyah Company announced a unique giga-project with distinctive cultural, historical, and tourism landmarks, it invited international partners to come together and construct a new legacy for Saudi Arabia. Six Senses will help bring this to life through a new hotel in Wadi Safar, which lies just west of Diriyah and northwest of Riyadh. “As the Kingdom evolves and opens to tourism, it is garnering strong interest among international visitors to explore its heritage sites and outstanding natural beauty,” said CEO of Six Senses Neil Jacobs. “We are excited to be working closely with Diriyah Company as we align...

MIAMI—Reinforcing its position as a leader in the purpose-driven luxury and lifestyle hotel segment, SH Hotels & Resorts—founded by hospitality visionary Barry Sternlicht—is embarking on a significant worldwide expansion of its portfolio across four continents and 13 countries and territories. With more than 30 hotels and branded residential projects open and in the pipeline, plus several deals in the LOI stage, SH Hotels & Resorts is shaping the future of hospitality by creating transformative spaces and experiences across some of the world’s most dynamic hotel brands: 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, and Treehouse Hotels. This growth underscores the company’s commitment to...