ANGUILLA, BRITISH WEST INDIES—Anguilla’s Frangipani Beach Resort has announced the completion of a large-scale sustainable energy project to generate clean, reliable power to the hotel. The new solar panels system is projected to power 70 percent of the resort. Featuring 800 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, the 370 kilowatts (KWh) solar installation will offset a portion of Frangipani Beach Resort’s energy demand, taking up approximately a quarter of an acre of the hotel’s main entrance. In addition, two solar canopies have been added over the resort’s parking structure, which converts sunlight into electricity. “Sustainability has always been important to us, and we’re...

Vios Spa Group Sustainable Solutions for Spas and Hospitality Vios Spa Group is a consulting group providing quality standards, education, and certification. Shelley Lotz, Principal of Vios Spa Group, has 30 years of experience in the spa/wellness industry as an owner, educator, and esthetician. She wrote Green Spas and Salons: How to Make Your Business Truly Sustainable and is a contributing author of the textbook Milady’s Standard Esthetics Fundamentals. She is also a Certified Sustainable Building Advisor. The Vios Certified Sustainable Spa™ is a global certification recognizing spas as leaders in sustainability + standards. Consumers can locate Spas with Healthy Standards...

BANGKOK—Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, is focusing on three key sustainability initiatives as part of the company’s recently announced 2019 Sustainability Plan: eliminating single-use plastic products; reducing its food waste footprint; and expanding its support of local farming and produce-growing communities. No Single-Use Plastic Products by End-2019 The elimination of single-use plastic items is part of the “Centara Earth Care” program aimed at encouraging hotel guests and tourists to be proactive about energy saving, waste reduction and sustainable environmental tourism. The sustainability plan covers five types of single-use plastic items, including drinking straws, laundry bags, take-away food containers,...

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN—Electrolux, an appliance industry sustainability leader, reported a 66 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from its operations since 2005, and highlighted how significant investments at manufacturing sites and in new product platforms will make a major contribution to the company achieving its climate targets. In the 2018 Sustainability Report, Electrolux presents facts and figures showing the company’s progress towards its targets in the nine key areas outlined in its sustainability framework, For the Better. Read the full report here. Contributing to the CO2 reduction achieved until 2018, 24 of Electrolux manufacturing sites now only procure electricity from renewable energy sources....

LAS VEGAS—For the 12th consecutive year, MGM Resorts International participated in Earth Hour, the worldwide effort that puts climate change in the spotlight. A total of 19 MGM Resort properties around the globe, as well as T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, turned off all non-essential exterior lighting, rooftop signage and marquees to symbolize MGM’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability. All interior and essential lights remained on during this time, and property operations were not affected. Earth Hour was held on March 30, 2019 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time and is sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund. Every year millions of people, businesses and landmarks set aside an hour to host events, switch...

You do not have to look far to find examples of human rights violations by Saudi Arabia. Last year’s killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul is a recent prominent example. Saudi Arabia’s intervention in the war in Yemen is another example. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, 56,000 civilians and combatants were killed in Yemen between January 2016 and October 2018. Terrible for such a small nation. It is certainly challenging to lift Saudi Arabia up as a country to emulate but some recent news out of the country on...

Name: John Janucik Title: Executive Chef Location: JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes Years in Current Position: Almost three years Primary Responsibilities: “I focus on food quality, food specs, menu development, guest satisfaction scores, event survey scores, wages, financials, associate engagement, recruiting, training, and growing talent within.” Organization’s most significant f&b-related, sustainability-related accomplishment: “Whisper Creek Farm. It is our 7,000-square-foot fruit and vegetable garden with an adjoining 11,000-square-foot outdoor event space.” Organization’s most significant f&b-related, sustainability-related challenge moving forward: “The culinary talent has shrunk greatly. The talent pool is small. Hiring good talent and developing them. Also, increasing our volume of donations to Second Harvest Food...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—This Saturday, March 30 at 8:30 p.m. local time, individuals, businesses and cities around the world will switch off their lights for one hour to celebrate Earth Hour and recommit to protecting the planet. From the Sydney Opera House to the Empire State Building and the Eiffel Tower, thousands of iconic landmarks will join millions of people to show their support for the fight against climate change and the conservation of the natural world. Earth Hour comes at a critical juncture in the history of the planet and humanity. From devastating wildfires to unprecedented hurricanes, the negative impacts of accelerating...

I spoke yesterday with the representative of a company that is developing a customizable water product that will be available in a carton to the entire lodging industry soon. Water is sold in a paper carton like cartons you purchase milk or orange juice in. Compared to plastic and glass, the carbon footprint of a carton is significantly less. It biodegrades much faster than plastic while still being recyclable. The carton I learned about has no BPAs or VOCs. I was sent some images of cartons that had been customized with photos of hotel properties on the outside and...

SHANGHAI—Travelzoo, a global publisher of exclusive offers and experiences for members, has seen a highly positive reaction from its members in China to the company’s #GreenAmbassador initiative. The #GreenAmbassador is the first in a series of initiatives to be launched by Travelzoo as part of its new Global Sustainability Campaign to champion sustainable travel solutions for the world. China is now the fastest-growing market for new-energy vehicles in the world. In 2014, only 74,763 new-energy vehicles were sold in China; by 2017, that number had increased by over 1,000 percent to 777,000 (source: South China Morning Post, April 2018). Recognizing...