LOS ANGELES—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), The American Hotel & Lodging Foundation, and The BHN Group announced David Kong, the recently retired president and CEO of BWH Hotel Group, has been named the inaugural recipient of the Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award. Kong was recognized during the AHLA Foundation’s premier fundraising gala, the Night of a Thousand Stars on Sunday, January 23, 2022, as well as during the 21st Annual Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. The Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award is a new award named for the late Arne Sorenson,...

BROOKLYN, N.Y.—Getaway, the hospitality company that offers mindful escapes to tiny cabins in nature, hired Carlos Becil as its first-ever Chief Experience Officer last July, following a monumental year of growth and $41.7M Series C funding. As the former CMO of Coach and Equinox, and VP of Brand Management for Starwood, Carlos is bringing a dynamic perspective to Getaway, helping take it from a “tiny cabin” rental company to a global hospitality business. Green Lodging News recently interviewed Becil about Getaway and its growth. The following are our questions and Becil’s answers: What do you consider to be your primary responsibilities? You have...

NEW YORK—Business Travel News, the leading trade publication covering the $1.4 trillion global managed travel and procurement industry, named HRS CEO Tobias Ragge among the 25 Most Influential Executives of 2021. This marks the fourth time in the past seven years that Ragge is included in this prestigious collection of prominent industry leaders. Citing HRS’ accomplishments via the introduction of its groundbreaking Green Stay Initiative, Business Travel News editors commended Ragge and the HRS team in its December 13 issue. “Several hotel companies have said that the number of requests from buyers about sustainability practices has skyrocketed in the past year. One problem: there is no single...

BALI, INDONESIA—Sustainable wellness brand, REVĪVŌ Wellness Resorts, has appointed Kimberly Rose Kneier as its new Wellness Director, with responsibility for leading the Wellness Department across the portfolio as REVĪVŌ enters an exciting period of growth. With impeccable academic credentials, a wealth of international experience and an established track record for creating powerful, personalized health programs, Kimberly will use her passion for holistic wellness to design and deliver bespoke transformational wellness retreats focusing on resetting the immune system, stress relief, anti-aging and more. Kimberly brings over 20 years of dedicated experience as a wellness practitioner in the hospitality industry. Originally from Canada, Kimberly...

EAGLE BEACH, ARUBA—Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort is helping guests take vacations today that protect the vacations of tomorrow. As the Caribbean’s first and only certified carbon-neutral hotel, the resort stay is already net-zero and guilt-free. Now with the addition of the world’s first Carbon Offset Concierge—Jareth Vermeulen—guests can elevate their experience by making their entire vacation guilt free by offsetting their travel emissions. How it Works Every major airline servicing Aruba offers carbon emissions offset purchases on its website. Guests can certainly select that on their own or have their travel professional do so at the time of booking their...

BANGKOK—Neil Palmer takes on the role of Chief Operating Officer of Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas to look after the brand’s growing portfolio of hotels, resorts, and spas in 20 countries, with a further 34 properties signed into the development pipeline. He will also focus on translating the Six Senses vision of reconnection into emblematic resort locations, downtown addresses, and new residential offerings. Palmer has 37 years of international hospitality experience, most of which he spent with Starwood Hotels & Resorts. In his role as Senior Vice President Operations Asia Pacific, he developed the company’s hotel portfolio and oversaw the...

FISH CAMP, CALIF.—Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite has named Brett Archer as general manager of the 352-room resort located at Yosemite National Park’s south gate and set on 75 forested acres featuring the main lodge, cottages and its two-bedroom Explorer Cabins, which opened in summer 2019. Archer joins Tenaya Lodge from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, where he served in the same capacity. The appointment is a homecoming for Archer who has spent most of his nearly 30-year career in Yosemite and over 25 years with Delaware North Companies. Prior to Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Archer was assistant general manager at Tenaya...

GULF BREEZE, FLA.—Innisfree Hotels announces the appointment of Brittney Barnett as Director of Sustainability. Barnett comes to Innisfree with more than seven years’ experience in development economics, urban and regional planning, and sustainability. As Director of Sustainability, Barnett will focus on building out the “Planet” portion of Innisfree’s Triple Bottom Line, which prioritizes People, Planet, and Profit as key components of the company’s culture and operations. Focusing on implementing environmental initiatives, Barnett hopes to foster company-wide regenerative practices and mitigate the overall environmental impact of Innisfree’s portfolio. “I am most looking forward to engaging with our guests, the communities in which we operate, and forging...

LOS ANGELES—Green Globe Certification, a leading sustainability certification for the travel and tourism industry, announces the appointment of Birte Pelayo to the role of Chief Executive Officer. Pelayo joined Green Globe Certification in 2009 as a new graduate and has worked across the company with a focus on membership services and certification. Recently Pelayo held the position of Chief Operating Officer, overseeing partnerships and certification verification as well as management of administration services. “Since joining Green Globe my ambition has been to consistently deliver a highly reliable sustainability certification for hospitality, travel and tourism businesses worldwide,” said Pelayo. “My goal as...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Board of Directors announced that Mahesh Ramanujam will be stepping down as president and CEO of USGBC, Green Business Certification, Inc. (GBCI) and Arc Skoru, effective Nov. 1, 2021. This announcement comes as a part of the organization’s review of its structure, go-to-market strategy and leadership to optimize the organizations’ support of the green building community, expand the green building marketplace, increase access to sustainable, healthy and resilient places, and ensure organizational excellence. “Mahesh Ramanujam has a deep dedication to the green building movement and has worked tirelessly to advance the goals of...