Add some good wine to your hotel group, mix in some creative marketing, a good portion of a good cause, and bam, you have got a business plan worth replicating throughout the lodging industry. Allow me to explain. Minor Hotels just announced a new partnership with Saving the Wild, a groundbreaking Africa-based conservation charity, with the launch of three “Saving the Wild” wines which will be served in several Minor Hotels properties in Africa. The wines are produced by Hoopenburg Wine Estate, an award-winning wine farm, and feature fine art labels highlighting the need to protect three key species targeted for...

When my son was about 6 years old, he began playing soccer in a local league. Perhaps some of you moms and pops can relate to this but I was “volunteered” by my wife to be his team’s coach. I knew very little about soccer, but I quickly learned the basics. I spent two seasons as coach, have grown to love the game, and have followed my son’s progress ever since—from the parents’ side of the field. (What an adventure even that can be.) The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on June 11 and finishes on July 19. Matches will...

World Oceans Month is a month-long global celebration held every June to highlight the vital role the ocean plays in sustaining life on Earth, regulating the climate, and producing oxygen. The month is anchored by the globally recognized World Oceans Day on June 8. OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels is marking World Ocean Month with its largest coordinated conservation initiative to date across Hawaii, Fiji, Thailand, Mauritius and the Maldives while also releasing its inaugural Sustainability Report. Through its global conservation platform, OUTRIGGER Zone, the company will activate more than 40 ocean-focused programs throughout June involving guests, hosts, marine scientists and local communities. Some...

One of the most fascinating topics I have covered over the years has been the LEED certification of U.S. convention centers. According to Shepard Event Services, in 2026, nearly 30 U.S. convention centers enjoyed LEED certification across Platinum, Gold, and Silver levels. To see Shephard Event Services’ rundown of LEED certified convention centers and what makes each uniquely green, click here. You may just find some best practices to replicate. I will be interviewing some of the folks behind the design and construction of the new Austin (Texas) Convention Center soon. Set to open in 2029, the Center will run...

As described in my April 24 column, if you do business in the European Union, you need to pay attention to the EU Empowering Consumers Directive (EmpCo). As concerns about greenwashing grow, EmpCo is introducing stricter rules for how companies communicate sustainability claims and use environmental labels—in effect beginning September 27. As reported this week on Green Lodging News, the European Travel Commission (ETC), the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) and NECSTouR launched Proof, Not Promises: A Practical Guide to the EU Empowering Consumers Directive for Destinations, a new report designed to help destinations, tourism businesses, and event organizers respond to EMPCo. Please...

I attended HD Expo at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas this past week. It was a busy time for the hospitality design community with approximately 600 exhibitors, more than 100 of which were new to the show. As reported in my news blog last week, there were many speakers and conference sessions, with wellness in design a hot topic. As I walked the trade show floor, I picked up some interesting vendor news and heard some fascinating product development stories. It would be impossible to share all of what I heard but here are some highlights: Agio Hospitality...

The press release I received on April 20 immediately caught my eye. A certain resort announced its first Chief Water Officer (CWO)—a title I have never come across in my many years of publishing Green Lodging News. I was quite intrigued as visions of aerators, low-flow showerheads and toilets, leak detector monitors and other water-saving products and technologies danced through my head. Not a full-time position at the resort—a much larger property or company with multiple properties could only financially justify a full-time position—it was designed to advance responsible water stewardship and sustainable hospitality practices, the press release said, adding, “The...

If you do business in the European Union, you need to pay attention to the EU Empowering Consumers Directive (EmpCo). As concerns about greenwashing grow, EmpCo is introducing stricter rules for how companies communicate sustainability claims and use environmental labels. EmpCo targets B2C communication and strengthens consumer protection. The directive is designed to give consumers clearer, more reliable information about the environmental and social impacts of the products they buy. At the same time, it creates a more level playing field for brands making credible sustainability commitments. The directive covers all consumer-facing commercial practices, meaning it applies not only to packaging but...

Happy Earth Day! (April 22). Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970, marking the birth of the modern environmental movement. Proposed by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson to raise awareness about environmental threats, the inaugural event saw 20 million Americans participate in rallies, teach-ins, and demonstrations across the country. The massive, nationwide turnout led directly to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passage of landmark environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. While initially a U.S. event, it went global in 1990, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries. Earth Day is a...

I had an opportunity to chat with Amy Hulbert, Vice President, Boutique and Upscale Brands, BWH Hotels, this past week about her company’s work to get BWH Hotels green certified. It is not an easy task. The hotel company has 4,000 properties in more than 100 countries. There are currently 578 hotels certified by Green Key Global throughout North America and 915 certified outside of North America—most by Green Key International. Green Key International is a worldwide non-profit program, while Green Key Global is a North American-focused organization owned by AHLA and the Hotel Association of Canada. Green Key certification is required...