BETHESDA, MD.—As the nation’s appetite for travel accelerates, travelers are embarking on more purposeful adventures, discovering destinations that connect them to new people, places and experiences. The Washington Post Creative Group and Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s award-winning travel program and marketplace, recently announced a second year of their award-winning collaboration highlighting “regenerative travel,” the practice of planning trips that benefit local communities, economies, and the environment, enriching both the destination and the traveler. Content from the extended collaboration includes visually driven immersive articles and videos that follow the surprising personal journeys of a new generation of travel storytellers in...

TAIWAN—Hotels in Taiwan will be restricted from supplying single-use toiletries unless they are specifically requested, with effect from 2025, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said Monday. Under the new guidelines, which the EPA announced on its website, liquid toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and lotion will have to be provided in bottles with a volume of at least 180 milliliters. Meanwhile, disposable items such as combs, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste and shower caps will no longer be offered in guests’ rooms, though hotels will still be allowed to provide them on request, the EPA said. Once the new rules take effect,...

STOCKHOLM—Scandic Go is the company’s new hotel brand in the fast-growing economy segment. The first Scandic Go hotel will open on Upplandsgatan in Stockholm in September, and Scandic has now signed a lease agreement for another Scandic Go, this time a centrally located hotel with 221 rooms at Fridhemsplan on the island of Kungsholmen in Stockholm. The plan is to open the hotel toward the end of the summer of 2024 following a renovation. Scandic signed the lease agreement with the company’s largest landlord, Pandox. Fridhemsplan is a major gateway to central Stockholm. The residential buildings, restaurants, bars, stores, and...

FAIRFAX, VA.—A new CSR and ESG survey released by the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP), the nation’s leading advocate for corporate social impact professionals, offers exclusive insights into the real-world impact a polarized political environment and increasing demands are having on the ability of corporations to carry out social impact work in communities across the country. The full survey results and key graphs and data illustrating the findings can be viewed here. The survey of 149 companies representing more than $1 billion in community investments, conducted throughout April 2023, found “an important corporate function under intense pressure to produce results in a charged environment,...

NATIONAL REPORT—In recent months, hospitality and tourism industry actors have been eagerly awaiting projections regarding the volume of domestic and international travelers for 2023, hoping that the numbers will reach the level of 2019. Based on current trends, it is expected that in 2023 global tourism will actually outperform 2019, which might be partly due to revenge tourism. For many actors in the industry, this is good news. However, voices have begun to denounce what is being called “overtourism”. For some observers, it has gotten out of hand and there are simply too many tourists. It is true that when you look at...

HOPE VALLEY, CALIF.—Following the successful 2022 opening of its first luxury micro-resort (located in South Lake Tahoe), Desolation Hotel announces its expansion to a second Sierra Nevada location: Desolation Hotel Hope Valley (located in Hope Valley, Calif.). The family-owned, eco-conscious hotel brand now offers two ways to explore this singular Northern California region—and will be running a shuttle between the properties, providing guests convenient access to both experiences. Guests staying at either location may freely access amenities at either property. Formerly known as Sorensen’s Resort, and now Desolation Hotel Hope Valley, this mountain retreat has been a beloved getaway for outdoor and adventure enthusiasts since...

STOCKHOLM—Encompassing an impressive area of over 60 acres, Stockholm Wood City will offer 7,000 office spaces and 2,000 homes in Sickla, located in the southern parts of the capital city of Stockholm. The project will create a dynamic urban setting with a mix of workplaces, housing, restaurants, and shops. Given that buildings contribute up to 40 percent of global CO2 emissions, the real estate industry plays a vital role in driving the shift towards sustainability, and this visionary project showcases the potential of renewable building materials. Working with wood can reduce the climate impact of buildings by up to 50...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The AHLA Foundation announced its inaugural No Room for Trafficking (NRFT) Advisory Council, which includes top leaders from across the hotel and lodging industry. AHLA Foundation’s No Room for Trafficking program aims to unite the industry around collective anti-trafficking efforts that meet the needs of today’s hospitality employers, employees, and the communities they serve. In their role, NRFT Advisory Council members help champion and shape the hotel industry’s unified efforts to support human trafficking survivors with critical resources on their path toward empowerment and self-sufficiency, while uniting and inspiring the industry in the continued fight against trafficking. NRFT Advisory Council efforts include...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. has published its 2023 Serve 360 Report highlighting data as of year-end 2022, and shared the company’s continued progress on its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts. Marriott’s sustainability and social impact platform, Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction, guides the company’s efforts towards its 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Goals. The full report can be accessed on the company’s Serve 360 website. “Since its founding in 1927, Marriott has placed a priority on serving its communities and creating a positive impact wherever we do business,” said Anthony Capuano, President and CEO, Marriott International. “With our size...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Hilton Grand Vacations Inc., the industry-leading global vacation ownership company, has been recognized as one of “America’s Greatest Workplaces” in 2023 by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group. HGV was honored for creating an engaging work experience and for providing best-in-class personal and professional development opportunities. The company was awarded four stars out of five on their score and is the only vacation ownership company on the list. “Our team members are the driving force behind everything we do at HGV,” said Mark Wang, President and CEO at Hilton Grand Vacations. “Their ongoing commitment and dedicated efforts have propelled us to new...