DALTON, GA.—According to The Washington Post, the costly Southwest drought, caused by climate change, isn’t going away and a new report shows how extreme climate conditions have intensified the current drought and are a harbinger of the future. Protecting the planet and conserving natural resources are primary tenets of green building, and artificial grass leader Grass!365 believes synthetic turf solutions are the way of the future, given their ability to save water, while enhancing comfort and efficiency, in our parched country. “Our business has been booming over the past few years,” said CEO of Grass!365, Stan Pennington. “We’ve experienced 25...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Travel Assn. convened top leaders in travel, transportation and technology with policymakers and administration officials for the association’s first-ever Future of Travel Mobility summit recently. Discussions focused on issues central to the coming decade and beyond of transportation and technology innovation that will reshape how people travel, and which will ultimately enhance the traveler experience. Key topics included sustainability, seamless and secure travel, and innovative and emerging technology. New research by Ipsos released by U.S. Travel underscored the necessity of accelerating the advancement of new technologies and innovations, as highlighted at the summit. Over the next two to five years, one-in-four...

MILWAUKEE, WIS.—Zurn Water Solutions Corporation announced it joined the United Nations Global Compact Initiative—a voluntary leadership platform for the development, implementation, and disclosure of responsible business practices. Joining the initiative aligns with Zurn Water Solutions’ recent transition to a pure-play water solutions company that provides a premier ecosystem of products and solutions that protect human health and the environment. Zurn Water Solutions operates as an inherently sustainable company by providing water solutions to customers while conducting business in a safe way for its employees and communities. “Our participation in the UN Global Compact connects with our core values and our commitment to water,...

PHNOM PENH—CARDAMOM Tented Camp in Cambodia has witnessed the return of a small herd of elephants to its conservation area, after an absence of five years. A large group of Smooth Coated Otters are back too. Forest rangers discovered and photographed elephant footprints and droppings inside the 18,000-hectare forest concession, which the camp protects, with help from Wildlife Alliance and the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF). “From the size of the dung and the number of footprints, it seems that this is a herd of nine elephants comprising four adult females, their calves and one juvenile,” said John Roberts of GTAEF,...

Not enough companies and suppliers use video to highlight their programs and products. It is a missed opportunity. E-mails that include videos that have been sent out by Green Lodging News have consistently been opened and clicked through more than those without videos. Getting a message across that you want folks to remember is so much easier using video. In case you missed it, prior to the holidays, Hilton released the latest installment of its new “Extending Our Stay” video docuseries, which is focused on sustainable travel and creating meaningful change in the world as part of the company’s “Travel with Purpose”...

ATLANTA—ASHRAE’s new global headquarters will operate at net-zero-energy (NZE) performance following the recent installation of a large photovoltaic (PV) system. “Completing the installation of our PV system marks a tangible milestone for ASHRAE that will demonstrate to others how to successfully move on the path to NZE status,” said 2021-22 ASHRAE President Mick Schwedler, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, LEED AP. “This project is special because it’s a testament to ASHRAE’s leadership and commitment to sustainability and showcases innovative built environment technology. We are extremely proud of this important accomplishment.” In January 2020, ASHRAE began a $20 million renovation project on its new global headquarters building,...

A Sustainable Tourism Destination Management certificate is being designed and produced by Cornell STAMP with eCornell to be distributed worldwide, via cooperation with the Travel Foundation and the United Nations World Tourism Organization, and with support from the German Corporation for International Cooperation. Lead instructors are Megan Epler Wood and Dr. Mark Milstein, who will be joined by a wide range of experts from leading institutions and destinations worldwide with illustrative case materials. The certificate will be offered through an 8-module online learning program with 40 hours of video and additional resource materials. The program will challenge professionals and students to advance their skills to document social and environmental...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Furniture retailers and manufacturers have responded more than ever to guidance that helps protect forests and contribute to sustainable use of wood and other materials, according to a new report. The 2021 Wood Furniture Scorecard, from the National Wildlife Federation and Sustainable Furnishings Council, assessed 118 furniture retailers on their wood sourcing policies. “We’re witnessing an industrywide shift toward sustainability, which is noticeable not only through the growing number of companies voluntarily getting involved in this process, but also by the increasing scores of the companies that have been scored in previous years,” said Barbara Bramble, Vice President of International Wildlife Conservation and...

ENGLEWOOD, COLO.—Bona US, a global, sustainably-driven company that supplies products for installing, renovating, maintaining, and restoring premium floors, has announced that it purchased 35 acres in Monroe, N.C., where it will add on to its existing facility. The new, 280,000-square-foot building officially broke ground recently at an event hosted at the facility. Bona expects the building to be completed in late summer 2022. “As our business continues to grow, investing in our current factory site aligns with our core commitment for a sustainable future,” said Phil Nicolette, Senior Director of Operations and Supply Chain, Site Manager - Monroe, Bona. “By...

DUBAI, U.A.E.—Accor, a world-leading hospitality group with over 400 hotels across India, Middle East, Africa, and Turkey is expanding its footprint in Eastern Africa with the opening of the first Mantis property in Kenya. The Mantis Masai Mara Eco-Lodge is set to become a highlight property for the brand and the group, offering direct access to the Mara-Seregenti game reserve: the ideal location for unique safari experiences. Mantis was founded in 2000 by global entrepreneur and conservationist Adrian Gardiner and features a diverse collection of extraordinary destinations around the globe. Since joining forces in 2018, Accor and Mantis have worked together...