I have mentioned Give Kids The World Village several times before on Green Lodging News. For those of you not familiar with the organization, it is a Central Florida nonprofit that provides week-long, cost-free vacations to critically ill children and their families. I just learned that Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach (Fla.) and Davidson Hospitality Group have debuted guestrooms designed to benefit Give Kids The World Village, Guests booking these rooms will have a portion of the proceeds donated to the nonprofit. The Give Kids The World rooms feature partial views of the Gulf and Intracoastal waterways, specialty artwork and decor inspired...

NATIONAL REPORT—In 2026, sustainability is no longer a fringe concern, it’s a mainstream expectation. But while eco-consciousness is on the rise, price sensitivity is still top of mind for most travelers. This creates a tension that every hotelier must navigate: How do you promote your property’s green credentials without alienating budget-conscious guests? Fortunately, it’s not a binary choice. Today’s travelers want eco-conscious stays and budget-friendly hotels, so marketers must learn to balance low-cost actions with high-impact initiatives. And the hotels that strike the right balance will win loyalty, increase direct bookings, and elevate their brand. According to the 2026 TravelBoom Leisure Travel...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Survey results suggest that long-haul travelers visiting Europe are increasingly open to more responsible travel habits, including choosing greener transport options, engaging with local culture, traveling outside peak seasons and exploring destinations beyond traditional tourism hotspots. These are the key findings of the latest Assessment of Responsible Travel Behaviors of Long-haul Travelers to Europe, published by the European Travel Commission (ETC) and conducted by Kairos Future. The research combines a survey of 3,000 travelers across six key overseas markets (Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan and the US) with analysis of online travel discussions and editorial media coverage related to travel to Europe. The...

BELIZE CITY, BELIZE—The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), in collaboration with the Belize Tourism Board, will host the Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development (STC 2026) from April 27-30, 2026, in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. Now in its 17th edition, the Conference will convene regional and international tourism leaders under the theme: “Tourism in Full Color: Integrating Blue, Green, Orange and Beyond Economies into Sustainable Planning and Development.” “STC 2026 reflects the Caribbean’s commitment to reimagining tourism as a powerful driver of inclusive growth, climate resilience and cultural vitality,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, CTO’s Secretary-General and CEO. “By embracing a Tourism...

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.—Whole Systems Hospitality™, a leader in systems-thinking design—seeing hospitality as an interconnected ecosystem, not silos—and Green Lodging News, the lodging industry’s leading environmental news source, have partnered with the Whole Systems Hospitality Podcast to educate and elevate future-focused conversation throughout the global hospitality community. United by a shared belief that hospitality needs clearer stories, stronger guidance, guest centered approaches and sustainability, the two organizations aim to inform, inspire, and help hotels, management firms, suppliers, associations, and destinations to make measurable progress in health and wellness, sustainability, regeneration, and community impact.  Green Lodging News and Whole Systems Hospitality’s combined...

NATIONAL REPORT—In the latest episode of Matt Talks Hospitality, Matt Welle sat down with Floris Licht—hotel general manager and founder of Hotels for Trees—to explore a deceptively simple question: do guests really need their room cleaned every day of a multi-night stay? This question opens the door to a broader conversation about how hotels can rethink housekeeping for a more efficient, sustainable and guest-centric future. The Hidden Opportunity Inside Stayover Cleaning Stayover cleaning has long been treated as the default. If a guest is in-house, the room is cleaned. Yet behavior is shifting. Many travelers don’t require daily linen changes or full servicing,...

JOHNSON CITY, TENN.—American Water Heaters, a leading manufacturer of comprehensive commercial and residential water heaters, announces the launch of its new and improved website, americanwaterheater.com. The updated website is designed to support American Water Heater’s business objectives and better serve its customers’ needs. The new website delivers a sleek, mobile-friendly experience designed for homeowners, trade partners and employees. With streamlined navigation and upgraded search tools, users can quickly find the information they need. Customers can now easily select the right water heater using the Water Heater Selector and find nearby installers through the Where to Buy function. “Being able to leverage research, analytics, and...

More than 10 years ago I wrote about the problems with single-serve coffee and other beverage pods (a.k.a. K-Cups, k cups, kups). Used by the billions around the planet each year, the pods typically end up in a landfill. A number of companies have introduced recyclable or compostable capsules in recent years but not always without criticism. One of the companies touting the recyclability of its K-Cups is beverage giant Keurig Dr Pepper. Turns out Keurig Dr Pepper’s claims of recyclability have gotten it into some hot water. According to truthinadvertising.org, Keurig Dr Pepper is deceptively marketing its single-serve K-Cup...

One of the advantages to living in Florida is the easy access to wildlife. Near my home there are bobcats, alligators, coyotes, smaller critters such as armadillos, turtles and tortoises, and I don’t have to travel far to see dolphins. While visiting one of my favorite local towns, I watched a fisherman pull in a hammerhead shark. Of course there is an incredible amount of bird life, including bald eagles. One of the gentlest creatures around these parts is the manatee (aka “sea cow”) and Florida has a lot of them. They attract a lot of tourists and November 15...

AMSTERDAM—Travel has always been personal, but in 2026 it will move far beyond one-size-fits-all itineraries. In 2026, travelers will reject conventions and lean into passions that feel distinctive and truly their own. From adrenaline-fueled compatibility tests to mystical detours and stays in futuristic homes, every trip becomes a bold expression of individuality and identity: this is who I am, this is what I want, and this is what I love. Now in its tenth year, Booking.com’s Travel Predictions spotlight how people want to experience the world. Over the years, these insights have revealed shifts in travel, from Cool-cationers chasing cooler climates given extreme...