ATLANTA—The growing urgency of supporting environmental and social justice efforts around the world has fueled a new commitment by UPS to plant more than 50 million trees by 2030, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals period (2015 to 2030). The new effort brings UPS’s commitment to environmental stewardship and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to a new level. While planting 50 million trees will have a measurable impact on the environment, UPS has evolved its strategy to focus on improving lives in Black and underserved communities in the United States and developing areas around the world. Through this...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International is one of the Top 50 Best Companies for Latinas to Work for in the U.S. by LATINA Style, Inc. The full list of selected companies will be published in the upcoming September issue of LATINA Style Magazine. Since 1998, the LATINA Style 50 survey and report has been the standard corporate America uses to measure its diversity accomplishments in the Latina community. This year’s survey directs special attention to Latina promotions, recruitment, and retention, increase in the number of Latina employees at the company and more. Overall, the report recognizes companies who find diversity and...

NORTH QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA—Accor will bring the Fairmont brand to Australia for the first time, with the announcement that the Fairmont Port Douglas is set to open in Far North Queensland in 2023. Set on the edge of two UNESCO World Heritage sites—the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest—the hotel has been sustainably designed to give back to the environment. “We are excited to bring the extraordinary Fairmont brand to Australia and are confident that Fairmont Port Douglas will deliver a new level of luxury and sophistication to one of the country’s most glamourous resort towns,” said Simon McGrath, Chief...

Can the lodging industry learn a few lessons from Walmart? So far there has not been a lot of zero emissions goal setting in our industry at the company level. A search on Green Lodging News produced an article from 2017 that details the plan of Vail Resorts, Inc. It has committed to zero net emissions by 2030. In the last two weeks Walmart announced a target of zero emissions across its company’s global operations by 2040. Walmart also announced it had committed to help protect, manage or restore at least 50 million acres of land and one million...

MIAMI—ABCO Cleaning Products, a leader in sustainable cleaning tools, today released five key considerations for making the switch to a more eco-friendly approach to cleaning. “As a company that fully integrates sustainability, we understand the positive impact that environmentally and socially responsible cleaning programs have on a business’s bottom line and brand reputation,” said Carlos Albir Sr., President, ABCO. “These recommendations will help facilities implement cleaning programs that are better for the environment, and better for business.” Five important considerations when making the shift to sustainable cleaning include: Assess the entire cleaning program. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be tempting...

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND—Nespresso commits that every cup of Nespresso coffee, both for at-home and for professional customers, will be carbon neutral by 2022. This new ambition builds on more than 10 years of work during which Nespresso has reduced its carbon emissions and compensated the remainder through agroforestry. “Climate change is a reality and our future depends on going further and faster on our sustainability commitments. That is why we are accelerating our commitments to offer our consumers a way to drink a carbon neutral cup of coffee by 2022. A coffee, made from the finest and rarest beans, sustainably sourced. I honestly believe that both...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) has released its latest report: The Case for Responsible Travel: Trends & Statistics 2020, a special edition on lessons from COVID-19 for tourism in a changing climate. This annual meta-analysis comes at an unprecedented time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has highlighted the immense need and value of tourism, while fundamentally changing the way destinations, businesses, and travelers will plan, manage, and experience tourism. At the same time, climate change remains an existential threat that has real consequences for destinations and communities everywhere. According to CREST, tourism was frankly on a path of...

NEW YORK—EcoVadis, the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, is launching a first-of-its-kind Carbon Action Module that’s designed to reduce emissions across the supply chain and enable organizations to step up their fight against climate change. The solution will be revealed during Climate Week NYC 2020. A recent EcoVadis analysis of 40,000 global organizations revealed a massive shortfall in supplier carbon reporting and action. The research found that most corporations today only address their direct and indirect emissions, while neglecting those that occur in the value chain. This represents an alarming and severe gap as value chain emissions, upstream...

ATLANTA—IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announced further updates in its efforts to advance equality for all, through key partnerships and programs with the National Urban League, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and Jobs for America’s Graduates. Elie Maalouf, CEO, Americas, IHG, said: “The hospitality that we offer to our guests, colleagues and communities is fundamentally underpinned by a culture of respect and inclusion for all people. We recognize and embrace the role that we can play in standing for justice and opportunity and are honored to support the important work of...

CYPRESS, CALIF.—The TreadRight Foundation, The Travel Corporation’s not-for-profit, has released another short film featuring its “Planet” Ambassador, filmmaker and environmentalist, Céline Cousteau, speaking to the critical role travel plays in empowering local food producers and communities. At a time when it’s clear that the balance between people and the planet has been lost, the film follows Cousteau as she rediscovers her roots in France and meets local producers dedicated to living in harmony with the land that nourishes all people. During this time of physical distancing and sheltering in place, people around the world have been focused on shopping...