LONDON—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reiterated the importance of women’s engagement in Travel & Tourism to catapult its growth and achieve a thriving and resilient sector at the Women Deliver Global Conference in Kigali, Rwanda. Speaking at the conference, Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, emphasized the importance of promoting women’s involvement in the sector and overcoming challenges for success in the business world. The event served as a platform to address the challenges faced by women in the Travel & Tourism sector and explore strategies to overcome them, aiming to inspire change and promote equal opportunities for women...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. recently announced that it has signed an agreement with Delaware Investment Limited to open its first JW Marriott luxury safari lodge in the Serengeti, Tanzania. Expected to open in 2026, the lodge will be situated within the Serengeti National Park, a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most renowned safari destinations in Africa, home to endless plains, the incredible Great Migration, and some of the largest herds on the planet. JW Marriott Serengeti Lodge is expected to offer 30 private suites, including two presidential suites, all of which will benefit from their own...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) President & CEO Chip Rogers is speaking out in support of the H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers (HIRE) Act, which was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas). “As of May, America had 9.8 million job openings, but only 6.1 million unemployed people to fill them. This workforce gap negatively impacts critical sectors of the American economy, especially hospitality. Thankfully, Congress is taking the initiative to address workforce shortages through the bipartisan H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers (HIRE) Act,” said Rogers. “The HIRE Act would make it easier for qualified workers...

BANGKOK—Fully embracing Sustainability as one of the four key pillars of Dusit Graciousness, Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has rolled out a new group-wide sustainability initiative, Tree of Life, designed to ensure the company delivers on its promise to always have a positive impact wherever it sets foot. Intended to cover the entire Dusit group, the program is initially being rolled out to all Dusit Hotels and Resorts worldwide, including 54 properties operating across 19 countries. Other business units, including Dusit Hospitality Education, Dusit Foods, Property Development, and Hospitality-Related Services, will join the program soon. Designed by the...

BETHESDA, MD.—In recognition of World Day against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, Marriott International and the University of Maryland Support, Advocacy, Freedom, and Empowerment Center for Human Trafficking Survivors (the SAFE Center) announced the nationwide expansion of Future in Training (FiT) Curriculum that seeks to equip survivors of human trafficking interested in embarking on careers in hospitality with necessary information and resources. The national rollout will span 11 metropolitan areas throughout the continental United States and is expected to train up to 150 survivors by July 2024. Recognizing that trafficking survivors face many barriers in their search for education...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Wellness amenities at full-service hotels, along with standalone destination wellness hotels (DWHs), are always evolving. Wellness amenities and hotels both come in a variety of sizes, configurations, and service levels. Historically, DWHs have been independently developed and operated as the vision of an owner who wanted to provide an environment in support of a specific lifestyle or wellness practice. The growing awareness of lifestyle choices makes hotel guests increasingly savvy consumers, and as a result, mainstream hotel companies are aggressively courting them with goods and services targeted toward their sensibilities. Hyatt Corp. purchased Miraval Resorts, a destination luxury wellness brand, for...

PALMA DE MALLORCA, SPAIN—Iberostar Group, renowned for its sustainable business model, received the 2023 Condé Nast Traveler award in the “Sustainable & Eco” category, further reinforcing its international standing as a leader in responsible tourism. This accolade recognizes the group’s pioneering Wave of Change movement, which drives the organization’s sustainability efforts. During the awards ceremony in Madrid, Megan Morikawa, Global Director of the Iberostar Group Sustainability Office, said, “Sustainability is the pulse driving Iberostar’s determination to spearhead the responsible tourism model in the industry, with an objective of engaging and raising social awareness about the importance of taking care of our environment even...

MCMINNVILLE, ORE.—The Ground, a Yamhill County-based ecosystem of businesses that connect farms, food and people through hospitality, has expanded guest accommodations across its farms in Carlton and Yamhill, Ore. These farmstays provide an opportunity for guests to both relax and connect with agriculture, nature, and each other. The Ground’s diverse B&B accommodations include Inn The Ground, a unique farmstay built into the hillside, the Yamhill House, a restored 115-year-old craftsman home co-located with the Ground’s Source Farms Retail outlet, and the Tabula Rasa Farmhouse, which opened in 2021. The Ground’s newest B&B offering, Inn The Ground, is a luxurious property built into the working...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—In May 2023, the World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency of international concern and should be treated as an ongoing health issue. For travelers, cleanliness has played a tremendous role even before the pandemic. In this article, we explore whether hotel cleanliness is still a primary concern for travelers after three pandemic years. The short answer is yes. And we offer a few strategies for hoteliers to avoid lower scores by keeping cleanliness standards high. How Cleanliness Impacts Your Hotel’s Guest Satisfaction & Bookings Cleanliness plays a vital role in guest satisfaction. When guests enter a...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Marking a victory for the oceans, Amazon announced in its 2022 sustainability report that its overall use of single-use plastic across its global operations network (i.e., orders shipped through its fulfillment centers) declined by 11.6 percent from 2021 to 2022. The company reported that it used a total of 85,916 metric tons (189 million pounds) of single-use plastic to ship its packages in 2022, down from 97,222 metric tons (214 million pounds) of single-use plastic packaging in 2021. This number excludes shipments for products bought through Amazon’s websites that are not fulfilled by the company. Additionally, the company noted that it...