MCLEAN, VA. – To celebrate National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day earlier this month, DoubleTree by Hilton, known for the beloved signature cookie welcome, announced that it will begin offering a new allergy-friendly soft chocolate chip cookie, alongside the original DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie, extending the iconic welcome to even more guests. DoubleTree by Hilton has collaborated with Partake Foods, a leading allergy-friendly food company, to produce the new cookie, with the goal of creating a more inclusive welcoming experience at check-in. More than 32 million people in the United States are affected by food allergies, and others have food intolerances or dietary...

NATIONAL REPORT—Golf courses have always been intertwined with nature. But of late, golf course architects are becoming more aware of the effect of designing and building a course on the surrounding environment, and they’re creating courses that meld harmoniously with the surrounding landscapes. Wildlife conservation on golf courses is becoming a bigger topic by the day. These beautiful, natural spaces can serve a dual purpose with a bit of focused effort behind the scenes. And with organizations like Audubon coming on board, golf courses are no longer simply a field for sports. They’re becoming havens for biodiversity. The best thing about...

SERENGETI, TANZANIA—Long coveted by those who cherish a small and intimate tented experience in one of the continent’s most spectacular wilderness settings, the location of Singita Mara River Tented Camp (MRTC) on a dramatic riverbend in the northernmost tip of the Serengeti has been amplified with its new look. Featuring eye-catching designs inspired by the vibrant colors and patterns of local Maasai geometrics, Mara’s new iteration is a cultural celebration that sets the tone for a stay that is warm, welcoming, and entirely true to this destination. Bold yet relaxed and unfussy, locally made furniture and accessories add comfort, an...

PUERTO AYORA, GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, ECUADOR—The International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA) is calling upon the government of Ecuador to limit land-based tourism growth in the Galapagos Islands and to better regulate this rapidly growing sector of the islands’ tourism industry. The request comes on the heels of the recently released 2023 State of Conservation Report released by UNESCO, which raises concerns about unsustainable tourism growth in the islands. In a letter to Mauricio Efraín Baus Palacios, Ecuador’s permanent UNESCO delegate, IGTOA asked the government of Ecuador to make good on its 2017 commitment to adopt a zero-growth Galapagos tourism strategy...

LAS VEGAS—Las Vegas Sands has released its latest environmental, social and governance (ESG) report outlining the company’s 2022 progress on the corporate responsibility ambitions and priorities established for its 2021-2025 reporting period. Targeted for achievement by 2025, Sands’ performance on its ambitions in the People, Communities and Planet pillars of its corporate responsibility program through 2022 included: People—Aiming toward its 2025 target to invest $200 million in workforce development initiatives to advance Team Members and local talent in the hospitality industry, Sands invested $56 million in 2022 and $113 million since 2021. Funding has supported core initiatives such as the Sands...

KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII—Officially open to guests last month, Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort is privileged to call the sacred land of Kaʻūpūlehu home. An inspired reimagination of the original Kona Village Resort, which first opened in the 1960s and subsequently shuttered in 2011, a familiar silhouette has returned to the island’s horizon. Real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson took a light-on-the-land approach to reconstructing the resort and has partnered with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts to build on that foundation, prioritizing environmental responsibility and care for local culture in the guest experience. Spanning 81 acres of stunning geologic landscape, Kona Village pulls inspiration from Kaʻūpūlehu’s...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—An innovative new project announced earlier this month is aimed at supporting hotels across eight African countries in sourcing more through local supply chains. The project will be run by the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and aims to increase the hospitality industry’s positive impact in local communities and improve hotels’ environmental and social sustainability. The Alliance will work with local Four Seasons, Hilton, Iberostar, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Kerten, Marriott and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts procurement teams and properties, with the support of the Special Initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition” of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association, in partnership with the Hawaii Hotel Alliance, is working with the State of Hawaii to support relief efforts in West Maui following devastating wildfires fueled by Hurricane Dora. “We’re trying to keep the lines of communication open to Lahaina and other parts of West Maui and the greater island,” said Jerry Gibson, President of the Hawaii Hotel Alliance. Most hotels are working off diesel generators, which will need refueling. Access to the area is limited, and hotel properties are working to support the safety and basic needs of their employees, guests, and the West...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA.—Legacy Vacation Resorts (LVR), the highest scoring Certified B Corp hotel company in North America, has just debuted their latest eco-friendly renovation project at the company’s signature Lake Buena Vista property. The multi-million-dollar redevelopment includes enhancements to the resort across the design, guest experience, and sustainability programs. Encompassing 28 three-bedroom villas, the project showcases a seamless integration of the brand persona and core values towards a more regenerative approach to tourism thanks to a variety of elements that lower the overall carbon footprint of the business. Highlights include a new solar panel array, elimination of single-use...

CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBORS, CALIF.—Most plastic bottles today are made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic. Estimates are that about 500 billion PET plastic bottles, mostly made to contain beverages, are manufactured annually. That’s about one million bottles per minute. “If they were stacked like building blocks, that’s enough plastic bottles to reach four-fifths of the way to the sun,” says Steve Ashkin, the professional cleaning industry’s leading advocate for sustainability. “This is creating an environmental nightmare. To prevent this, we first must understand what happens to all that plastic.” According to Ashkin, this is the typical afterlife scenario of PET plastic bottles: Wishful-Recycling Most commercial...