ROHNERT PARK, CALIF.—DoubleTree by Hilton Sonoma Wine Country is proud to recognize Jessica Kerns, Banquet Bartender, for achieving the 2017 CEO Light & Warmth Award. This award is the highest honor the company offers and is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate exceptional Team Members and franchisee employees who embody the company’s vision and mission, as well as its values of Hospitality, Integrity, Leadership, Teamwork, Ownership and Now. In 2017, nearly 1,000 Team Members from across Hilton’s managed and franchise network from around the world were nominated by their fellow colleagues for demonstrating the Hilton values at work and beyond....

LONDON—ITP—the International Tourism Partnership—has recruited a new director who will step into the position June 4, 2018. Madhu Rajesh has been appointed and will follow Fran Hughes as director. Rajesh joins ITP from Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), where she is currently Director of Partnerships & Development, prior to which she was Director of Development & Partnerships at The British Asian Trust for nearly five years, working on a range of development issues including human trafficking and youth employment. Rajesh spent the first decade of her career in the travel industry, with international experience working for Hilton, Marriott,...

Name: Laura Abshire Title: Director of Sustainability Policy and Government Affairs Organization/Location: National Restaurant Assn./Washington D.C. Years in Position: 5+ years Primary Responsibilities: “I view my role as someone who is increasing education around sustainability—monitoring everything around the sustainability space and how it impacts our members.” Organization’s most significant sustainability-related accomplishment: “The NRA has done a lot of work linking sustainability efforts with restaurateurs and their daily operations. Raising awareness and inspiring action has been a very big accomplishment.” Organization’s most significant sustainability-related challenge moving forward: “There is so much more work to be done to educate members on sustainability. The lack of infrastructure for...

STOCKHOLM—Vanessa Butani has been appointed new Director of Sustainable Business at Scandic Hotels. Vanessa has broad experience from working with sustainability, corporate strategy and business development, most recently at Electrolux and before that with Plan International and Accenture. She will start her new position at Scandic Hotels in March. Scandic is known for its sustainability initiatives and has had a great influence on the hotel industry when it comes to reducing environmental impact. “I’m excited to be able to take Scandic to the next level of leadership within both environmental and social sustainability,” Butani says. Scandic has worked with a clear...

BANGKOK—Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas announced that Jeffery Smith has been promoted to Vice President, Sustainability from his former role of Director of Sustainability. He takes over the position from Amber Marie Beard who will consult on special projects. Since joining Six Senses in 2016, Smith has been an integral part in supporting the group’s leadership position in sustainable hospitality. He spearheaded the redevelopment of the group’s Earth Lab concept with sustainability leaders from across all Six Senses properties and lead the first Six Senses Sustainability Conference. He continuously coordinates closely with both Technical Services and Operations to ensure that...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Green Seal, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Doug Gatlin as CEO effective January 16, 2018. “We are delighted to have someone with Doug’s experience and 25-year track record in sustainability take the helm of Green Seal at this important time,” said Green Seal Board Chair, Dr. Joanne Fox-Przeworski. She noted that Gatlin has played a pivotal role in the development of two of the most widely recognized voluntary environmental certification programs, namely the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star. “Doug’s personal passion and experience in the arena, along...

Name: Claire Cutting Title: Director, Sustainability Company: Marriott International, Inc. Years in Position: One Primary Responsibilities: “My whole focus is on integrating Marriott’s and Starwood’s sustainability programs. We are trying to make one and one equal three. For example, we both had housekeeping and seafood programs but putting them together can be a real challenge. We are combining the best of both worlds. Each company had its own set of goals. It is like matching apples to oranges.” Organization’s most significant sustainability-related accomplishment: “Launching Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction, Marriott’s new Sustainability and Social Impact Platform. Our goals are huge. It was...

BETHESDA, MD.—JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts announced its partnership with Nora Tobin, naming the health and wellness leader as the brand’s Wellness Ambassador. This partnership stems from JW Marriott’s commitment to the guest passion of well-being, offering busy business and leisure travelers alike new ways to live healthy, fulfilling lives on the road. The collaboration introduces elevated and approachable ways to exercise both body and mind. “We are excited to welcome Nora Tobin as JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts’ Wellness Ambassador, arming our guests with a variety of ways to live well while traveling”, said Mitzi Gaskins, Vice President &...

BALTIMORE—Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants announced the appointment of Juan Webster as General Manager of Kimpton Hotel Monaco Baltimore Inner Harbor. Since opening in downtown Baltimore in 2009, Hotel Monaco Baltimore, home of the former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad headquarters, has been recognized as a one-of-a-kind upscale boutique hotel known for its sleek design, exceptional service, and delicious cuisine from adjoining restaurant B&O American Brasserie. Most recently, the hotel was named the Best Hotel in Maryland by Southern Living magazine on its 2017 South’s Best List. In his new role at Kimpton Hotel Monaco Baltimore, Webster will be responsible for leading and...

Name: Amanda Sturgeon Title: CEO Organization: International Living Future Institute Primary Responsibilities: “My primary responsibilities are to see us being successful in terms of our mission—creating a world filled with living buildings and living communities. My role is to grow the organization, scale our programs, and widen the reach of our programs. We are very innovative—pushing the edge to what may be possible—and pushing people farther than they think they can go.” BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WASH.—As CEO of the International Living Future Institute, Amanda Sturgeon oversees an organization that operates the Living Building Challenge, the built environment’s most rigorous performance standard, and Declare, an...