LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International was recently named one of the Best Companies for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) in 2023 by Black Enterprise, a leading media company dedicated to Black business and economic empowerment. This distinction highlights MGM Resorts’ dedication to creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity and provides equitable opportunities for its employees. MGM Resorts is among 60 other organizations and the sole gaming company featured on this year’s list. The businesses selected have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to creating dynamic workforces, diverse corporate governance, expansive supply chains and inclusive management. “MGM Resorts is honored to receive this recognition...

ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA—The Grenada Tourism Authority has unveiled 31 new sculptures to be added to the underwater sculpture park—a thriving underwater oasis that has become a symbol of art, conservation, and cultural pride in Grenada. The unveiling of the new sculptures is part of a rehabilitation and upgrade initiative for the world’s first underwater sculpture park, which celebrates artistic expression and cultural richness by embracing the preservation of marine life. Renowned artist Jason deCaires Taylor, who created the first sculptures for the underwater sculpture park in 2006, contributed 25 of the captivating sculptures in a collection titled “The Coral Carnival”....

RICHMOND, B.C.—Ocean Legacy Foundation (OLF), a nonprofit organization that develops and implements worldwide plastic pollution programs with the goal to end ocean plastic pollution, released results from their plastic pollution study that took place in Antarctica in partnership with Ocean Geographic from February 12 to 23, 2023, as part of the most recent Antarctic Climate Expedition 2023 (ACE 2023). The ACE 2023 was spearheaded by Dr. Sylvia Earle, Oceanographer, Marine Biologist and Explorer, and Michael AW, Ocean Geographic Founder. A total of 120 thought leaders from 20 countries in the fields of science, art, education, and economics, alongside teenagers and corporate executives,...

COLUMBUS, OHIO—Red Roof, a leader in economy lodging, announced its first fully woman-owned franchise since launching its new RIDE with Red Roof initiative. The property is a Red Roof Inn & Suites conversion located in Richland, Miss., and is the second hotel in owner Kalpana Patel’s portfolio. It brings the number of Red Roof properties owned or partially owned by women to more than 35 percent. RIDE (Road to Inclusivity and Diversity in Entrepreneurship) will expand and further diversify hotel ownership and entrepreneurial opportunities for underrepresented groups by focusing on the business needs of entrepreneurs, providing access to capital, educational resources, and the connections needed to...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Nearly 80 percent of travelers will pay at least 10 percent more for sustainable travel features despite the cost-of-living crisis, a Euromonitor International report has revealed. Forty-one percent of travelers are also prepared to pay more than 30 percent extra for adventure and eco-tourism, according to the Voice of the Consumer: Lifestyles Survey, mentioned in Euromonitor’s newly released Sustainable Travel Index 2023. Europe dominates the Sustainable Travel Index 2023 taking the top 17 places. Sweden continues to top the chart, with Finland second and Austria in third. South American destination, Uruguay, has made the top 20 for the first time, moving up 15 places from...

CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels Corp. announced 14 Hyatt-owned hotels in the U.S. have transitioned to 100 percent renewable electricity through Green-e Energy certified Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to match their electricity use. This step is integral to meeting Hyatt’s 2030 science-based target of adopting renewable electricity across all its U.S. hotels, as part of Hyatt’s World of Care caring for the planet priorities. Hyatt’s science-based target includes reducing Hyatt’s Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 27.5 percent by 2030 compared to 2019. Collectively, the 14 Hyatt-owned hotels using 100 percent renewable electricity through Green-e Energy certified Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,100 hotels in over 95 countries, hosted its second BOLD Symposium ahead of the official start of the 2023 National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers (NABHOOD) Hotel Ownership & Investment Summit, followed by a BOLD Bootcamp, a part of its BOLD Incubator. The events are part of Wyndham’s commitment to furthering diversity in hospitality, focused on providing tools and resources to Black entrepreneurs who are exploring the industry and qualified individuals looking to accelerate their path to hotel ownership. Just over a year since...

NEW ORLEANS—The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) is replacing 1.9 million square feet of traditional roofing with a new, energy-efficient roofing system. The $40 million roof replacement project is part of a $557 million capital improvement plan and will be under construction until mid-2024. “We are taking a comprehensive approach to enhancing and transforming our massive facilities in order to elevate the visitor experience and reduce our environmental footprint here at the Convention Center—from new technology inside to new exterior greenspaces and a fantastic new heat-deflecting roof,” said Michael J. Sawaya, Convention Center President/CEO. “This is an...

LAS VEGAS—Caesars Entertainment, Inc., the largest casino-entertainment company in the U.S., released its 2022 Corporate Social Responsibility report. The report highlights progress toward Caesars’ diversity, equity and inclusion goal of gender and racial parity in leadership roles by 2025, progress toward the company’s goal of reduction in Scope 1 + 2 emissions by 100 percent by 2050, investment in local communities, Team Member support and more. “In 2022 we focused on enhancing our existing goals as well as offering more robust support for our Team Members and communities,” said Heather Rapp, Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility for Caesars Entertainment....

ATLANTA—IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, introduced IHG LIFT, an owner growth program focused on creating more hotel development support for historically under-represented groups within the hospitality industry, and further diversifying IHG’s hotel owner community. The company’s new program will help unlock common barriers to hotel ownership among these groups and empower diverse owner-entrepreneurs for success. IHG will commit more than $30 million over the next five years to support the program, which includes support, access to capital and help along the hotel lifecycle, for owners who qualify in the U.S. and Canada. The...