MCLEAN, VA.—Event planners continue to look for solutions that help simplify the complex task of organizing in-person or hybrid events in the current environment—particularly as it relates to COVID-19 testing and health screenings. Throughout the pandemic, Hilton has been listening and responding to the needs of its customers, and now Hilton is providing vent planners with COVID-19 testing and health screening resources for their event attendees. “As more customers book in-person meetings and events, there has been a steady increase in requests and questions around COVID-19 testing and screening options for event attendees,” said Frank Passanante, Senior Vice President, Hilton...

ATLANTA—People are more mindful than ever about traveling consciously following the COVID-19 pandemic, reveals a new global survey by IHG Hotels & Resorts. The commissioned research is part of IHG’s launch of “Journey to Tomorrow”: a 10-year action plan comprising a series of far-reaching new commitments to make a positive difference in communities around the world and help shape the future of responsible travel. More than half of the 9,000 adults surveyed across the United States, United Kingdom, China, the UAE, Germany and Australia—with almost two thirds in the United States—agree 2020 and COVID-19 has made them more socially and environmentally conscious about...

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO—Mexico’s Velas Resorts is showing appreciation for healthcare workers by rolling out a new “Let’s Be Thankful” campaign. The goal for the promotion is to give at least 100 free all-inclusive stays to those who have fought tirelessly against the coronavirus pandemic. The resort collection, with properties in Los Cabos, Riviera Maya, Riviera Nayarit, and Puerto Vallarta, will offer a special promotion to help individuals say thanks to members of the healthcare community just by booking a reservation. For every five-night stay reserved by April 30, Velas Resorts will put one night in the prize pot for stays...

DALLAS—Pure Wellness, a global leader in health and wellness for the hospitality industry, has announced that they will add Pure rooms to Loews Boston Hotel, once home to the former Boston Police Headquarters. “The addition of Pure rooms gives the Loews Boston Hotel an additive draw for both leisure travelers and corporate business in the Boston market,” said Brian Shedd, Senior Vice President for Pure Wellness. “Guest needs are changing and providing additional options like Pure Rooms is a smart and strategic investment.” Pure Rooms utilize advanced anti-viral and anti-microbial technology to eliminate contaminants and create the healthiest hotel rooms available....

FAROE ISLANDS—For those of you not familiar with their location, the Faroe Islands are a North Atlantic archipelago located 200 miles north-northwest of Scotland, and about halfway between Norway and Iceland. Like Greenland, it is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Last October, the 130-room Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands opened on the islands in Torshavn with a bundle of unique green features. Green Lodging News recently corresponded with Kate Mikesell, VP Corporate Responsibility, Hilton, and Martin Restorff, General Manager of the hotel, to learn about those green gems. For Kate Mikesell, VP Corporate Responsibility, Hilton: Q: Explain how...

AUGUSTA, MAINE—The Maine Office of Tourism (MOT), in partnership with the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation, has launched Look Out for ME, a marketing and educational initiative to support responsible recreation in the Maine outdoors. With input from leaders in the outdoor recreation industry, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Bureau of Parks & Lands and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, MOT developed a communications tool that is meant as an asset to be shared with both the public and private sectors to reinforce Maine’s outdoor brand and ensure respect and care for natural...

SINGAPORE—Park Hotel Group, a leading hospitality company in Asia Pacific, announced the launch of its Room For Trees program in partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects (Eden), a nonprofit organization that is committed to reforestation and ecological restoration by working with people in their local communities to restore their forests. Through Room For Trees, Park Hotel Group will plant a tree for every booking made with its portfolio of hotels via their website. The partnership with Eden supports the mangrove reforestation project in Biak Island, Indonesia, which involves collaborating with local villagers of Biak to replant, restore and protect their wetland...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A new survey conducted by Morning Consult and commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) shows consumers are optimistic about traveling again in 2021, with 56 percent reporting they are likely to travel for vacation this year. That represents a significant decline from pre-pandemic levels, when approximately 70 percent of Americans took a vacation in any given year, according to OmniTrak (TNS) data. Since the onset of the pandemic, just 21 percent of survey respondents reported traveling for vacation or leisure, and only 28 percent reported staying in hotel. Prior to the pandemic, 58 percent of survey...

DALLAS—Omni Hotels & Resorts has announced its first-ever proprietary coffee brand, Stance Coffee, in partnership with Arkansas-based Westrock Coffee Co., LLC. Through Stance Coffee, Omni Hotels & Resorts delivers great tasting, high-quality coffee built on a commitment of sustainability and innovation. “With Stance, we stand for high quality in every sense of the experience: great tasting coffee, exceptional service and the fairest of treatment of people from farmer to barista,” said Devin Burns, Vice President of Rooms and Food & Beverage at Omni Hotels & Resorts. “Here at Omni, our commitments to local market leadership and corporate responsibility speak to a higher...

NASHVILLE—The Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC) has rolled out its new Tennessee Sustainable Hospitality program. Not currently a certification program, its focus is to share environmentally sustainable best practices that will continue to drive economic activity while conserving and protecting natural resources. At the core of the program are eight resource guides available to businesses in the following areas: energy conservation, water conservation, recycling & waste reduction, food waste reduction, communication and education, green purchasing, green cleaning, and green events. Dobbin Callahan, Skye Con, who runs the Tennessee Green Hospitality program, which does include certification, has not closed...