What grade would you give your hotel(s) when it comes to engaging guests in sustainability efforts? Think about your guests’ entire experience—from the moment they learn about your property, to the point of reservation, check-in, their stay with you, to the moment they check out. Where are there missed opportunities to let your guests know about what you are doing to minimize your property’s environmental impact? Oftentimes, hotels do a lot to reduce their energy and water consumption and reduce waste, but it is back-of-the-house activity. Or maybe it is right in a guest’s face, but they do not know...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Nearly 80 percent of travelers will pay at least 10 percent more for sustainable travel features despite the cost-of-living crisis, a Euromonitor International report has revealed. Forty-one percent of travelers are also prepared to pay more than 30 percent extra for adventure and eco-tourism, according to the Voice of the Consumer: Lifestyles Survey, mentioned in Euromonitor’s newly released Sustainable Travel Index 2023. Europe dominates the Sustainable Travel Index 2023 taking the top 17 places. Sweden continues to top the chart, with Finland second and Austria in third. South American destination, Uruguay, has made the top 20 for the first time, moving up 15 places from...

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK—BeCause, a startup enterprise software company transforming how the hospitality, travel, and tourism industries manage their sustainability data, has announced a new partnership with global online travel platform Booking.com. Through a dedicated API, the partnership will make it possible for Booking.com to receive updated data in real time about accommodations that have earned an array of more than 40 recognized third-party sustainability certifications. This will enable the company to more efficiently present reliable, up-to-date information about those accommodations with a third-party certification, so travelers can make a more informed choice for their next trip. The ability to transparently communicate credible...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Print Plast announces the launch of its new wooden hotel key cards. The hospitality industry has traditionally relied on plastic hotel key cards, contributing to the global plastic waste problem. The new wooden hotel key cards are a game-changer, offering a sustainable alternative without compromising on functionality or design. The wooden hotel key cards are made from sustainably sourced wood, a renewable and biodegradable material. This shift from plastic to wood is expected to significantly reduce the industry’s plastic waste. For every million traditional key cards replaced with wooden hotel key cards, Print Plast can prevent approximately five tons of plastic...

MIAMI—1 Hotels, the mission driven luxury lifestyle brand, is introducing Certified Sustainable Gatherings, a new approach that offers the opportunity to create unforgettable events that are designed to minimize environmental impact. Whether it’s a corporate event, gala, meeting, wedding or private celebration, Certified Sustainable Gatherings provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to bring a vision to life while working in harmony with the planet. At 1 Hotels, commitment to sustainability has always been at the forefront of event (and meeting) planning. The newly introduced Certified Sustainable Gatherings offers clients the opportunity to plan an event that is fully dedicated to eco-consciousness. 1...

BETHESDA, MD.—As the nation’s appetite for travel accelerates, travelers are embarking on more purposeful adventures, discovering destinations that connect them to new people, places and experiences. The Washington Post Creative Group and Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s award-winning travel program and marketplace, recently announced a second year of their award-winning collaboration highlighting “regenerative travel,” the practice of planning trips that benefit local communities, economies, and the environment, enriching both the destination and the traveler. Content from the extended collaboration includes visually driven immersive articles and videos that follow the surprising personal journeys of a new generation of travel storytellers in...

The hospitality trade is experiencing another strong year in both leisure and business travel, continuing its rebound. “The post-pandemic urge to travel remains strong, which should drive continued growth in 2023. In the U.S., RevPAR was up 8.1 percent in 2022 from 2019, and Europe was up 6.1 percent for the same period,” according to EY. Combine this with record growth in electric vehicle sales and you have the recipe for a year in which it is likely that more EV drivers will be staying at hotels than ever before. What’s missing from this recipe is the current lack of...

NATIONAL REPORT—Social media has become such a powerful online space that it is used for various purposes, including driving change and influencing behaviors. When it comes to promoting sustainability practices, social media is an unparalleled online space that you can use to educate, inspire, and engage a wide audience. Since there are millions of active users on various social media platforms, these platforms are ideal to encourage and promote sustainable practices among a wide audience. Let us explore a few ways social media can be used to promote sustainability practices. Define Your Sustainability Goals & Messaging Before you dive into promoting...

NEW YORK—When you are traveling, choosing the right hotel is an essential part of your trip. Recently, more people are looking for hotels that align with their interest in purpose-driven travel. To meet this demand, American Express Travel is expanding its signature hotel programs and making it easier for Card Members to identify hotels that can have a positive impact on their local communities and the environment. This year, Amex Travel added a record 250 new properties to its Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection programs. The new additions include some of the most sought-after hotels around the world, including...

NATIONAL REPORT—With more drivers switching to electric vehicles each year and the demand for EV charging stations increasing, more restaurant operators are exploring the possibility of installing them at their locations. Subway and Domino’s are just two restaurant brands investing in this super-charged technology. Starbucks is another, having recently purchased 60 ChargePoint DC fast chargers for up to 15 locations along a 1,350-mile route from the Colorado Rockies to Seattle. Investing in EV charging stations not only helps support sustainability goals, it’s also a potential driver of more customer traffic at the restaurants where they exist. Why? Drivers charging their vehicles would...