PALMA, SPAIN—Iberostar Hotels & Resorts is a hotel chain with more than 120 four- and five-star hotels, located in the most popular holiday destinations in Europe, Africa, and America. The Iberostar hotel portfolio offers customers beachfront hotels, city hotels and heritage hotels. In addition, there is the Grand category, the highest level of luxury and excellence. Iberostar’s Wave of Change movement is an initiative based on three complementary but different action lines: eliminating the consumption of single-use plastics, promoting responsible seafood consumption and the improvement of coastal health. Leading Iberostar’s work under the Wave of Change movement is Dr....

BETHESDA, MD.—It is with profound sadness that Marriott International announces that Arne M. Sorenson, President and CEO, unexpectedly passed away on February 15, 2021. In May 2019, the company announced that Sorenson had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. On February 2, 2021, Marriott shared the news that Sorenson would temporarily reduce his schedule to facilitate more demanding treatment for pancreatic cancer. Sorenson became the third CEO in Marriott’s history in 2012, and the first without the Marriott surname. A visionary leader, Sorenson put the company on a strong growth trajectory that included the $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels &...

DALTON, GA.—Troy Virgo, Director of Sustainability at Shaw Industries, has been selected by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) to receive a 2020 IWBI community award recognizing outstanding members of the WELL AP and WELL Faculty community. Virgo joins a group of honorees from around the globe who are leading the charge to revolutionize the way we think about our buildings, communities and organizations, and the impact they have on our health and quality of life. Virgo has served as a member of IWBI’s Materials Concept Advisory team since 2018, an advisory created to explore, better understand and ultimately, more...

Names: Kate Wilson Title: Senior Director of Sustainability Company: Vail Resorts Years with Vail Resorts: Almost three years Primary Responsibility: “I am lucky to run Commitment to Zero. We own and operate 37 resorts globally. We made a bold sustainability commitment to have a zero-net impact by 2030. I work on the strategy and implement these goals.” Organization’s most significant accomplishment in global corporate responsibility: “We reached our 50 percent waste diversion goal nine months ahead of schedule.” Organization’s most significant challenge moving forward in global corporate responsibility: “Waste is still a huge challenge for us because of where these resorts are located. Two towns...

PENSACOLA, FLA.—Innisfree Hotels, the largest beachfront hotel owner-operator on the Gulf Coast, has appointed Rusty Branch to the position of Vice President of Community Engagement. The role is newly created, and as the first to take its title, Branch will focus on bettering and giving back to the communities where Innisfree does business. “Innisfree is working hard to create generational changes in the communities where it does business—and beyond,” said Julian MacQueen, founder of Innisfree Hotels. “We wanted to create a role that was solely dedicated to moving our community-based initiatives forward, so we can create tangible, positive impact in...

CHICAGO—Hotel Chicago West Loop has announced the appointment of a new, dynamic leader who plans to expand the property’s immersive art program in 2021. In his role as General Manager of the independent, four-year-old boutique hotel, Andrew Hilliker is responsible for overseeing operations as well as maintaining prominence within the competitive marketplace as the hospitality and travel industries rebound from COVID-19. His primary strategy for elevating the guest experience moving forward centers on the hotel’s unique art and culture initiative. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Hilliker, a passionate hotelier who has worked his way up from bellman to...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) staff and Board of Directors announced this year’s recipient of the Martha Honey Legacy in Responsible Travel Award: Judy Kepher-Gona, Founder and Principal Consultant at Sustainable Travel and Tourism Agenda (STTA). The inaugural Legacy in Responsible Travel Award was made last year to Dr. Martha Honey on the occasion of her retirement to honor her leadership and accomplishments in responsible travel. At that time, the CREST Board of Directors decided to make this an annual award to someone in the global tourism industry making a significant difference in pushing the envelope in responsible...

Names: Kate Mikesell Titles: VP, Global Corporate Responsibility, Hilton and President, Hilton Effect Foundation Company: Hilton Years with Hilton: 11 Primary Responsibility: “My primary responsibility is helping Hilton as it continues to redefine responsible travel. I spend most of my time talking about resources and how we are measuring. Are we on pace? Are we falling behind? It is a lot of conversation with team members and community leaders.” Organization’s most significant accomplishment in global corporate responsibility: “Being able to say this is the direction we want to go and letting our team take over. The Hilton Effect Foundation and the impact it is...

BETHESDA, MD.—Arne Sorenson, President and CEO of Marriott International, has been awarded the 2020 Out & Equal Ally Changemaker Award. According to Out & Equal, this award recognizes an LGBTQ Ally who has made a significant contribution to advancing workplace equality. As allies, they uplift the voices of marginalized groups and have shown a unique commitment to LGBTQ workplace rights and will have used their talents to further that cause, even if at some risk. “Marriott, like Out & Equal, is committed to creating a culture of belonging for all. I am honored to accept this recognition on behalf of...

INCLINE VILLAGE, NEV.—Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, the only waterfront resort in North Lake Tahoe, announces Kemp Dowdy as its outdoor and adventure specialist. Through this new role, Dowdy will work one-on-one with guests to curate and personalize their Lake Tahoe experience. “I am thrilled to be the outdoor and adventure specialist at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe,” said Dowdy.  “Lake Tahoe is a gem of a destination, and it provides endless possibilities for getting outside and enjoying unforgettable adventures. With such a wide range of premier experiences available right outside our doors, it is my role to...