BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS—The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is creating a plan for systematic development of community-based tourism as a viable niche and will present the details during the upcoming Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development. The event, otherwise known as the Sustainable Tourism Conference (#STC2019), is scheduled for August 26 to 29, 2019 at the Beachcombers Hotel in St. Vincent and is organized by CTO in partnership with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority (SVGTA). At a general session titled “Community-based Tourism Driving Tourism Innovations and Experiences” scheduled 11:30 a.m. on August 27, delegates will be presented with robust market...

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) just released a report entitled, “Sustainability in Hotels: Opportunities and Trends Shaping the Future of Hospitality.” If you are not familiar with the Urban Land Institute, the nonprofit’s mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. The Global CEO of ULI is W. Edward Walter, former CEO of Host Hotels and Resorts. The report, published by ULI’s Greenprint Center for Building Performance, contains case studies and is informed by insights from 25 leading hotel owners, developers, and investors, including members of ULI’s Hotel Development...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A new report from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) suggests that sustainable building practices, including those involving energy and water conservation as well as waste reduction, are increasingly being incorporated throughout the hotel sector to add value and provide a competitive edge to properties. Sustainability in Hotels: Opportunities and Trends Shaping the Future of Hospitality assesses the state of sustainability in the hotel sector by identifying best practices, highlighting industry trends in sustainability, and offering solutions to sustainability-related obstacles. The report, published by ULI’s Greenprint Center for Building Performance, contains case studies and is informed by insights from 25...

According to The Nature Conservancy, approximately 41 million trees are cut down every day—far faster than we are currently replanting them. The consequences of deforestation and other types of land degradation are severe, exacerbating climate change, biodiversity loss, and declines in ecosystem services that hundreds of millions of people depend on. In response, governments around the world have committed to restore 160 million hectares—an area larger than South Africa. But it will take more than government action to execute on these commitments; the private sector has an important role to play, too. That is why I tip my hat today...

Name: Daniella Foster Title: Senior Director, Global Corporate Responsibility Company: Hilton Years in Current Position: Two years, seven months Primary Responsibilities: “I lead global strategy, business integration, youth economic opportunity, social and environmental investments, signature partnerships and ESG reporting across Hilton’s value chain.” Organization’s most significant sustainability-related accomplishment: “Last year we relaunched Travel With Purpose with 2030 goals. Part of those 2030 goals included a lot of industry firsts.” Organization’s most significant sustainability-related challenge moving forward: “The No. 1 challenge is to engage the guest in this journey and help them understand what sustainable travel looks like—the guest engagement piece and how we gamify that.” MCLEAN,...

SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M.—In honor of National Pollinators Week, Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa, a luxury resort located on the Santa Ana Pueblo, is encouraging guests to visit and experience the property’s honey in culinary dishes, specialty drinks and spa treatments. “We began keeping beehives at Tamaya with the simple goal of helping honeybees, which as most people know are under immense stress and populations are declining dramatically,” said Claudia Wattenberg, General Manager at Hyatt Regency Tamaya. “It’s a wonderful bonus that the bees provide us with a small amount of honey we can offer to our guests in...

PUNTA CANA, D.R.—Iberostar Group has opened a new land-based coral lab in the heart of the Caribbean. The lab, officially unveiled June 8 for World Oceans Day, was created to help protect essential ocean life from rising global temperatures in the future—and defend against a new fast-moving coral pandemic today. Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) has cut a ghostly wake of bleached-out coral bones from Central Florida, where it first appeared in 2014, to Mexico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, and now the Dominican Republic, where it suddenly arrived in March. Dr. Megan Morikawa, Iberostar’s Director of Sustainability, who...

PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc., a global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies, has released its 2018 corporate sustainability report, Accelerating Meaningful Change, which highlights its work with leading companies throughout the world to reduce environmental impact and drive cost savings. The 2018 publication is Ecolab’s 12th annual corporate sustainability report. “Whether it’s saving water or reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions, there’s a growing realization that these priorities go hand-in-hand with business growth and profitability,” said Ecolab Chairman and CEO Douglas M. Baker, Jr. “By the nature of our work, we help companies achieve their operational and sustainability goals.” Highlights from...

BOULDER, COLO.—Between Botswana ending its five-year ban on elephant hunting and giraffes being considered for the endangered species list, there’s good reason to be concerned about wildlife conservation in the face of climate change, poaching and overpopulation. Yet there are conservation success stories to tout, too—and eco-conscious wildlife tourism certainly plays a part. Natural Habitat Adventures, a global leader in responsible nature travel and the conservation travel partner of World Wildlife Fund, takes travelers to destinations where some threatened and endangered wildlife species are doing better in recent years. According to the United Nations, travelers are a driving force for positive...

MARIPOSA, CALIF.—AutoCamp announced that AutoCamp Yosemite officially opened its full facilities, including its clubhouse and pool, last month. AutoCamp Yosemite, located a three-hour drive from San Francisco and adjacent to the town of Mariposa, Calif., is the third and largest of the outdoor hospitality properties under the AutoCamp brand. The property features 102 customized Airstream suites, luxury tents, and cabins, as well as a two-story clubhouse, communal fire pits, heated pool, and natural pond. “AutoCamp’s mission is to connect people with the outdoors and each other, and AutoCamp Yosemite represents a landmark moment for our team, the local community, and...