INTERNATIONAL REPORT—According to JLL, Asia-Pacific (APAC) investors often underestimate sustainability’s significance during hotel transactions despite mounting evidence of its business benefits in risk mitigation and opportunity creation. This oversight prompts questions about the crucial factors that direct capital allocation towards sustainable real estate and the potential impact on property valuations. Climate change is increasingly emerging as a key downside risk to the hospitality sector and asset values worldwide. Physical climate risks, such as the rising frequency of extreme weather events, directly impact profitability and cash flow stability through business interruptions and higher repair costs. On the decarbonization front, governments worldwide are...

CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR, CALIF.—Five states generating nearly one-third of U.S. economic output are implementing laws requiring detailed greenhouse gas emissions reporting, marking a significant advancement in corporate environmental transparency. California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Colorado—collectively representing $6.6 trillion in GDP—have established timelines for implementation: California: Mandates take effect January 2026. New York: Regulations will be phased in from December 2026 through January 2028. Illinois: Reporting requirements phased in by 2028. New Jersey: Companies with over $1 billion in revenue to begin reporting emissions within four years. Colorado: Reporting to be phased in by 2029. “This coordinated push represents a...

SINGAPORE—Banyan Group, a leader in sustainable hospitality, unveils its 2024 Sustainability Report—One Banyan, One Sustainable Future. The 19th edition reports on the Group’s advancements in driving action and impact across key environmental, social, and economic dimensions, reaffirming sustainability as a core foundation of its business. Guided by its founding mission of “Embracing the Environment, Empowering People” and the belief that travel can be a force for good, the Group’s key progress in 2024 includes: Accelerating decarbonization and energy transition: In line with its ongoing commitment to addressing the business’ environmental impact, Banyan Group continued to invest in energy-efficient infrastructure and on-site renewable energy. Upgrades in lighting...

GERMANY—Germany is introducing stricter certification criteria for hotels to substantiate their climate commitments, marking a significant move against greenwashing. This comes in response to the new Green Claims Directive, which will take effect in September 2026 and aims to ban misleading environmental claims across the European Union. Hotels are required to comply with these new rules by March 2026. The new regulations will require hotels to provide detailed evidence of emission reductions from energy consumption, waste disposal, and other sources. Only about 15 percent of German hotels openly display their climate commitments through certification, significantly less than the 30 percent...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Sri Lanka’s opening of its first hotel managed by an all-female team brought the attention of the world towards gender representation within hospitality workspaces. Amba Yaalu Kandalama, run by an all-female staff—from top management to maintenance—is a bold initiative given that women only comprise 10 percent of the country’s tourism workforce. As we open the conversation about women in tourism and hospitality at large, there is no better time to focus on women’s impact within the sector than International Women’s Day. Addressing the Challenges Faced by Women Despite their significant contributions, women in hospitality and tourism continue to face numerous challenges: Due...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launched LEED v5, the latest version of its flagship LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building program. LEED v5 builds on the 25-year legacy and global impact of LEED, updating and strengthening the most widely recognized, influential sustainability standard for the building industry while providing user-friendly tools for building owners and teams to pursue certification through enhanced technology updates. “Since its public launch 25 years ago, LEED has profoundly impacted millions of people in cities and communities around the world,” said Peter Templeton, President and CEO of USGBC. “LEED v5 raises the bar, further defining and...

CABO ROJO, PUERTO RICO—Reuben Brothers and Three Rules Capital announced that Audubon International—the environmentally focused nonprofit organization offering members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect the areas where we all live, work, and play—has approved Esencia to pursue its highest accolade in environmental stewardship: the Signature Platinum Certification. Set on 2,000 acres of tropical natural beauty on Puerto Rico’s southwestern coast, Esencia is a new cosmopolitan coastal community that seamlessly integrates hotels, branded residences, and amenities across a sensitively designed master plan at Boquerón Bay in Cabo Rojo. In a rare endeavor, the developers are pursuing certification for the entire development,...

BELLEVUE, WASH.—Staypineapple, the national boutique hotel brand, has continued to build on its sustainability achievements over the past year. The company is expanding green practices across all properties and at the corporate level. With these efforts, it is positioning itself as a forward-thinking leader in the hospitality space. “At Staypineapple, we are proud of the significant progress we’ve made in fostering a more sustainable environment for our guests, team members and the communities we serve,” said Dina Belon, President of Staypineapple. “In 2024, we set clear goals to reduce our carbon footprint, and I’m excited to say we’ve made solid...

AMSTERDAM—Booking.com released the 10th edition of its annual research exploring consumer attitudes and intentions with regards to the social and ecological impact of travel. With insights from 32,000 travelers in 34 countries, and amid growing discussion of the impact of tourism on destinations, the research concludes that, for the first time, more than half of travelers (53 percent) are now conscious of travel’s impact on communities as well as the environment, and that two thirds (69 percent) now want to leave places better than when they arrived. Booking.com’s new research takes a community-centric lens. Asking respondents not just how they...

NATIONAL REPORT—As a hotel owner or resort operator, you have opportunities to make a welcoming environment for your guests while contributing to a healthier planet. One effective way to achieve both is by repurposing materials within your establishment. This approach can save costs and enhance guest comfort. Plus, it can improve your property’s aesthetics and bolster your reputation as an eco-conscious business. Here are practical ideas for repurposing materials for comfort and sustainability. Get started and make the most of the benefits behind these sustainable shifts. Upcycled Furniture for Unique Aesthetics Transform guestrooms and communal areas by incorporating upcycled furniture. For instance, reimagine old suitcases into storage chests. Also, try repurposing any reclaimed wood...