KINGSTOWN, ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES—The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has recognized eight tourism entities from CTO-member countries with its top awards for embracing sustainable tourism principles. The awards were presented on August 29 at the closing of the CTO’s Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Following a rigorous judging process by an esteemed panel of judges, across various tourism development and related disciplines, the winners for the eight awards were selected out of 38 entries and are as follows: Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award recognizes a product or initiative that contributes to a...

POKHARA, NEPAL—Swiss International Hotel Sarowar, an upscale, 96-room hotel in Pokhara, Nepal, offers stunning views of the Himalayan Ranges and the famous Phewa Lake. What is most impressive about this property is its eco-efficiency—the attention to green design and sustainability from below ground to the rooftop. Swiss International Hotel Sarowar opened at the beginning of this year. The hotel is powered by the sun, heated and cooled using geothermal technology and sells its digested combination of human and food waste as organic manure at the local market. Swiss International Hotel Sarowar sits 2,655 feet above sea level. Its design incorporates...

ORLANDO—The U.S. Green Building Council Sustainable Hospitality Host Committee will hold its third annual Sustainable Hospitality Summit on September 20 at the LEED Gold Grand Bohemian Hotel in Orlando. USGBC Florida will host the event that will convene industry experts focused on the sustainable footprint of the hospitality industry: resilient design strategies, reducing carbon emissions and waste, curating wellness experiences, crafting healthy communities and prioritizing human capital. The Title Sponsor is EXP. A total of 125 executive-level hospitality professionals are expected. The full-day leadership summit will showcase innovation in sustainable hospitality, operations, resilient design and corporate social responsibility. The summit...

KINGSTOWN, ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES—The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority (SVGTA) have been monitoring developments surrounding Tropical Storm Dorian in light of the Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development—otherwise known as the Sustainable Tourism Conference—scheduled to be held here this week. In view of the pending storm and the resultant flight cancellations today, the CTO and the SVGTA wish to advise that the conference will proceed. However, the conference will now officially begin on Wednesday, August 28 instead of Tuesday, August 27, with the general sessions taking place on Wednesday and...

NEW YORK—New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (NYCCOC) President and CEO Alan Steel announced the issuance of the Javits Center’s 2019 Sustainability Report—An Unconventional Oasis, which outlines the efforts to further improve the sustainability of the busiest convention center in the United States. The 39-page report details the latest advances of the robust sustainability program at the iconic facility on Manhattan’s West Side, including the installation of state-of-the-art, energy-efficient equipment and policies, a growing wildlife sanctuary on a 6.75-acre green roof and a new project in conjunction with the New York Power Authority to install the largest rooftop solar...

BANGKOK—Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas has been voted the world’s No. 1 Hotel Brand for the third year in a row by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine, the largest and most influential travel magazine in the United States. A meaningful brand is at the heart of any thriving business. It is what people connect to more than any product. According to Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs, there is no promotion or offer in the world that can influence brand love as much as employees. “This is a joyful opportunity to recognize our hosts, who live our values and...

NATIONAL REPORT—When people think of hotels, they envision either luxury vacation destinations or necessary places to rest while traveling on business. However, hotels represent a far more vital force in the economy of the locations they serve. Obviously, hotels draw tourist traffic which goes on to patronize local businesses, but they can do much more. Some hotels lead the way when it comes to sustainable innovation. Others take charge of balancing the needs of local merchants with those of the tourists they serve. Here are five ways hotels can work to boost their local economy. 1. Bringing Jobs to the Area One...

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND—Nespresso is partnering with Swedish bike brand Vélosophy to produce a stylish bicycle made from recycled aluminum coffee capsules, demonstrating both brands’ commitment to a circular economy. One thousand limited edition RE:CYCLE bikes made from over 300,000 recycled Nespresso Arpeggio capsules have been available from August 12, sold exclusively on Vélosophy’s ecommerce platform velosophy.cc. Aluminum is one of the world’s most valuable resources, because it can be re-melted and reused infinitely. Designed to highlight the potential of recycling Nespresso’s aluminum capsules, RE:CYCLE encourages consumers to consider how they can make a positive impact. Sustainability & Style Meet Jean-Marc Duvoisin, CEO of Nespresso, said:...

SEDONA, ARIZ.—Travelers from around the world will have a new reason to visit the soaring, majestic red rocks of Sedona, Ariz. when Ambiente, A Landscape Hotel opens in late 2020 as the first of its kind in North America. Developed, owned and managed by Two Sister Bosses, a Sedona family-owned and -operated company, Ambiente is uniquely designed to blend in with the surrounding geological wonderland and gives guests the opportunity to experience and embrace the natural beauty that surrounds them in what USA Today named among the “Most Beautiful Places in America”. Ambiente is comprised of 40 cubed-shaped, guest Atriums that...

SINGAPORE—In celebration of its 25th Anniversary and the recent World Environment Day, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts has introduced a slew of groupwide sustainability initiatives to raise awareness and make a positive impact on the environment and surrounding communities. Supporting World Environment Day 2019’s theme of Air Pollution, the Group aims to plant more than 25,000 trees by year-end around participating resorts worldwide under its Stay for Good Greening Communities program. Air pollution is a global crisis—according to the World Health Organization, 92 percent of the world’s population is exposed to poor air quality, which is linked to seven million...