INTERNATIONAL REPORT—A groundbreaking statistical framework, developed under the leadership of UN Tourism, has been adopted by all 193 UN member states. The Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (MST) thus becomes the internationally agreed reference framework for measuring the economic, social, and environmental aspects of tourism. The adoption by the UN Statistical Commission at its 55th session marks a historical milestone towards harnessing the full potential of the sector, providing a solution to the pressing need for a harmonized methodology to effectively assess the sustainability of tourism. “Tourism is a powerful force for positive change when managed responsibly and sustainably,” says Zurab Pololikashvili, UN...

WISCONSIN DELLS, WIS.—The Nelson family, owners and operators of Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, have announced their development of a new distinctive resort experience in the Wisconsin Dells area called Dawn Manor in homage to the historical home previously located on the resort’s land. The lodging at the new resort, named “Kalahari Treehouse Collection at Dawn Manor”, will feature 21 partially supported luxury treehouses and 31 ground-supported houses, in addition to a 10,000-square-foot Wisconsin supper club, named Daylene’s Supper Club at Dawn Manor, all overlooking scenic Lake Delton. “Our family, along with our thousands of dedicated associates, have been bringing beyond-expectations...

SHAWANO, WIS.—NEWH, Inc. introduces the executive committee for 2024 to 2025. This year holds particular significance for the organization, as 2024 marks the grand 40th Anniversary of NEWH. While the official milestone is set for October, the celebration commences early with captivating programs leading up to and during the Hospitality Design’s annual HD Expo in Las Vegas from April 29 to May 2, 2024. Through the years, the hospitality industry’s top talent has served on NEWH’s executive committee. The 2024-2025 committee consists of 15 individuals, including President Sandy Banks, Secretary Jennifer Wellman, Vice Presidents Kevin Swart (Finance), Brittany Spinner (Scholarship), Dallas Bentley...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International announced that it has partnered with the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) to incentivize residential water conservation for its more than 50,000 employees in Southern Nevada. Through a $500,000 grant to the SNWA Water Efficiency Improvement Fund, MGM Resorts employees will earn additional rebates when they take advantage of existing SNWA water savings programs that target residential water conservation. “In light of my pledge to the CEO Water Mandate and commitments to water stewardship in the community, I’m proud to announce a half-million-dollar grant that will educate and empower our employees to make a meaningful impact on water conservation,”...

NORTH BETHESDA, MD.—Sleep Inn, a leading limited service, lifestyle brand from Choice Hotels International, Inc. known for its modern, nature-inspired, stylish design, has revealed the interior details for its latest prototype, Scenic Dreams. Developed in collaboration with developers, owners, and operators, the refreshed Sleep Inn prototype features redesigned guestrooms and common areas that complement the iconic exterior tower and purple accent lighting previously announced in April 2023. Through consumer testing the Scenic Dreams prototype was found to significantly increase guests’ likelihood to stay, while remaining one of the lowest cost hotels to build and operate in midscale. “Choice Hotels strives to bring an intentional approach to design and...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is celebrating a major milestone for its award-winning Women Own the Room initiative, surpassing 15 hotel openings and more than 50 signings in just over 24 months. The first-of-its-kind offering—which has seen its network of current and prospective women hotel owners climb to more than 550—leverages Wyndham’s scale and influence to break down the unique barriers women face on the path to hotel ownership. According to data from U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Castell Project, while women make up nearly 60 percent of the work force in hospitality, they hold only one leadership spot for every 10...

BRISTOL, ENGLAND—Eunomia Research & Consulting, in collaboration with Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC), released a comprehensive report on Polylactic Acid (PLA), a popular bioplastic often touted as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. The report, titled “Bioplastics Are Trash: The Unforeseen Environmental Consequences of PLA from Production to Disposal” provides an in-depth analysis of PLA’s environmental and social impacts, challenging prevailing perceptions of its sustainability. Additionally, Plastic Pollution Coalition has published a supplemental report, “The Environmental Injustices of PLA Bioplastic Production,” which addresses the environmental injustices of PLA production. The supplement further describes the serious social consequences of producing PLA and...

ALEXANDRIA, VA.—The GBTA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), has launched GBTA Sustainable Procurement Standards, an educational resource that corporate travel buyers worldwide can utilize to make informed procurement decisions and deliver on their organization’s sustainability objectives. The Standards also align with the Biden Administration’s formal commitment last December to accelerate sustainable travel practices. Additionally, GBTA Sustainable Procurement Standards help ensure suppliers are better prepared to respond to procurement-related requests in a harmonized way by providing a standard set of questions for assessing the sustainability practices of current or potential vendors, partners, and suppliers. The Standards are a free resource...

BERLIN—BeCause, a technology start-up transforming how the global hospitality, travel and tourism industries manage its sustainability data, has digitized the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance’s (the Alliance) HCMI and HWMI methodologies. The new feature, announced during ITB Berlin, will enable hotels to leverage the Alliance’s free industry measurement tools, the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI) and Hotel Water Measurement Initiative (HWMI). The HCMI, based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, is used to calculate a hotel’s carbon footprint, while the HWMI helps hotels calculate water usage on their properties; both are now available within the BeCause centralized hub. HCMI, the only industry-recognized carbon calculation methodology for over a decade, applies...

BANGKOK—An eco-conscious resort, spa, and residential community will soon be coming to a stretch of the South Carolina shores, including Hilton Head Island, Daufuskie Island, and Bay Point Island. Opening in 2026 and spanning multiple coastal locations, Six Senses South Carolina Islands will be conveniently located just a short distance from the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. The hotel management agreement was recently signed by Timothy Pitcher, President of Whitestone, along with partner Redrock Portfolio, Inc., and Six Senses Chief Executive Officer Neil Jacobs and Chief Development Officer Omar Romero, marking the next chapter in a working partnership extending several years. Hilton...