The future of transportation is undoubtedly electric, and the United States is on the verge of an EV revolution. Investments by the government in publicly accessible EV charging stations are critical to bringing in this shift. The recently announced National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funding gives state and local governments a powerful weapon for shaping the landscape of the U.S. EV charging infrastructure. The implications of this funding reach far and wide, impacting various industries, including hospitality. Hospitality owners and managers play a vital role in accommodating the growing number of EV owners, and by understanding what NEVI funding means...

BETHESDA, MD.—The Ritz-Carlton announced a new Ritz Kids program, designed to engage young guests with immersive and unforgettable travel experiences across all of its 15 hotels in Greater China. In key cities from Beijing to Shanghai, Guangzhou, Sanya and Hong Kong, Leo the Lion, the program’s newest mascot, will engage with kids on bespoke activities and adventures around the hotels as they learn about local art, culture, cuisine, and nature. Kids will also receive a take-home Leo the Lion plush toy as a keepsake of their stay. As part of the newly evolved program, the highly popular Ritz Kids Night Safari also...

The hospitality industry has experienced a significant transformation with the rise of social media. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have revolutionized how businesses connect with consumers. Simultaneously, sustainability has emerged as a crucial aspect of the hospitality sector, driven by increasing environmental concerns and consumer demands. In this context, harnessing social media trends can drive innovative approaches for sustainable hospitality. This article explores the impact of social media on the industry, the importance of sustainability, case studies highlighting innovative approaches, strategies for leveraging social media trends, and the challenges and potential pitfalls involved. Understanding Social Media Trends Social media trends...

NEW YORK—The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW), with more than 400 independent luxury hotels in over 80 countries, unveiled their Sustainability Leaders collection. From modern metropolitan towers to tented jungle sanctuaries, the collection was created to recognize Leading Hotels that are committed to preserving the environment and the cherished values and cultural heritage of their destinations. “We are excited to introduce our Sustainability Leaders Collection to celebrate our member hotels who have gone above and beyond to protect their piece of the planet,” said Lauren Alba, Vice President Global Marketing and Communications, The Leading Hotels of the World. “The...

Booking.com, one of the world’s leading digital travel companies with 28 million reported accommodation listings, just released its seven predictions for travel in 2024. Booking.com commissioned research among more than 27,000 travelers across 33 countries and territories. Not surprisingly, several of the predictions have connections to trends that I cover hear on Green Lodging News. Says Booking.com, “Heat has officially had its vacay heyday, with scorching temperatures pushing the mercury to record-breaking levels and causing heat waves around the world. Sweltering conditions are accelerating a rise in travelers chasing cooler climes to revive and refresh themselves. The majority (51 percent)...

How do Americans currently feel about tipping at hotels? A new survey by Forbes Advisor revealed that 22 percent of Americans do not think they should have to tip hotel employees. That is just one of the findings about tipping from the survey of 2,000 Americans by market research company OnePoll. Some additional findings: Sit-down restaurants is where people tip the most (58 percent). For hotel services: 24 percent. A vast majority of respondents (64 percent) reported leaving a tip at least 11 percent higher when they tip digitally compared with tipping in cash. It’s possible that buyers don’t feel the...

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND—U.K. hotels that fail to offer onsite electric vehicle (EV) charging risk driving away guests and missing out on invaluable Total Revenue Per Available Room (TRevPAR), a new report from SMS plc has revealed. Past encounters and the availability of EV charging are causing frustration among hotel guests who’ve embraced the EV revolution. As a result, over two-thirds (67 percent) of respondents state that it is now influencing their choice of hotel, with almost a half (48 percent) of U.K. EV drivers simply choosing not to stay at a hotel without onsite EV charge points. The study of over 1,000...

Is there a connection between ESG commitment and financial performance? A new study by Kroll, a leading independent provider of global risk and financial advisory solutions, says yes. The ESG and Global Investor Returns Study analyzed data on over 13,000 companies across a variety of industries around the globe and found that companies with better ESG ratings outperformed their peers with lower ratings. “The future of ESG and sustainability investing will depend on investor confidence in the reliability of ESG ratings and ESG disclosures, and their relevance as an indicator of public company performance,” says Carla Nunes, Managing Director and Global Leader of the Valuation...

MCLEAN, VA.—According to a recent global survey conducted by Hilton and Ipsos, travelers say they will reduce other areas of personal spending to prioritize leisure travel in 2024, with a majority across generations indicating their No. 1 reason to travel in 2024 will be to rest and recharge, with more emphasis on sleep than ever before. Those insights and more were unveiled with the launch of Hilton’s third-annual trends report: “What Millennials, Gen Z, Gen X and Baby Boomers Tell Us About Travel in the Year Ahead.” In addition to defining the preferences and passions of the 2024 traveler,...

ATLANTA—IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announced a partnership with Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition to turn guest spending into support of reforestation projects around the world. During the month of October, IHG will donate $2, the approximate cost of growing one tree, to Conservation International for their tree restoration work, for any transaction of $50 or more on a Mastercard card at select IHG-branded properties in the US*. Guided by Conservation International and World Resources Institute, the Priceless Planet Coalition is a program that unites corporate sustainability efforts and engages businesses and consumers to...