It is survey season. The National Restaurant Assn. (NRA) just released “The State of Restaurant Sustainability 2018.” This past week the Greenview survey for the Green Lodging Trends Report 2018 closed. Be sure to watch for the Report in the coming months. I just learned that the goal for releasing the results of the 2018 Lodging Survey is December. That survey report is produced by the American Hotel & Lodging Assn., American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation, and STR. The 2018 Lodging Survey is focused on much more than sustainability trends. For its report, the NRA surveyed 500 restaurant owners...

Costa Rica’s Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas recently launched initiatives that will help it meet its goal of becoming 100 percent solar-powered and carbon-neutral by 2019. The eco-luxury hotel, noted for its extensive sustainability efforts, organic and biodynamic food and beverage offerings and ethical practices, boasts the highest Sustainable Tourism certification (level five) from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT). As Cala Luna already uses solar-paneled water heaters, this next step will ensure the entire property is powered by solar means. In addition to its ICT certificate, the hotel also holds a Programa Bandera Azul Ecologica (Blue Flag Ecological...

CARIBBEAN—The Prime Minister of Jamaica, The Most Honorable Andrew Holness, President of the Inter-American Development Bank, Luis Alberto Moreno, Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson and World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Jorge Familiar announced the launch of the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator. The Accelerator’s ambitious goal is to work with this unprecedented group of partners to make the Caribbean the world’s first climate-smart zone. The Coalition behind the Accelerator has grown to 26 countries covering a region of 1 million square miles and over 40 million people. Eight Times Olympic Gold Medal Winner Usain Bolt, an...

LAS VEGAS—Wynn Las Vegas announced that its IT infrastructure, housed at Switch’s Core Campus data center in Las Vegas, is being powered by 100 percent renewable energy. This is one of the latest steps in Wynn’s ongoing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and increase clean energy use across multiple areas of the resort. Switch was able to retire over 835 geothermal and solar renewable energy credits in 2016, and expects to retire over 850 in 2017, on behalf of Wynn Las Vegas. Independently tracked and verified, each renewable energy credit is proof that one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity was...

LAS VEGAS—Aiming to strengthen community safeguards and demonstrate leadership in addressing critical social issues, Las Vegas Sands announced Project Protect, a comprehensive global initiative to accelerate its performance in responsible gaming, anti-money laundering and human trafficking prevention. As a global umbrella program to build defenses against these problems, Project Protect coalesces LVS’s efforts around policy and procedural enhancements in each of the core areas and introduces comprehensive team member training to build lasting solutions that meet and exceed government regulations and standard industry performance. Project Protect kicked off with Team Member education activities timed around Responsible Gaming Education Week, August 6...

Costa Rica is arguably the birthplace of ecotourism in Central America, if not all Latin America. It’s blessed with stunning natural beauty and an incredible array of wildlife and ecosystems. It’s also known for its eco-conscious (some call them “green”) hotels, as well as what’s become known as ecolodges. Eco-friendly hotels in Costa Rica are an integral part of the sustainable tourism efforts. These accommodations are a model for providing employment to the local community and promoting environmentally sound practices: recycling, waste and water management, solar energy, etc. The government actively encourages hotel owners to conserve energy through passive design and use...

MIAMI—Karisma Hotels & Resorts, which owns and manages properties in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, has taken a firm stance on sustainability since its inception in 2000, and most recently announced its decision to eliminate the production and distribution of plastic straws across all of its properties. The ban on plastic straws is the latest effort within Karisma Hotels & Resorts’ overall commitment to the environment. In 2013, Karisma created the Passion for Sustainability Program, which includes initiatives promoting conscious tourism, preserving ecosystems, protecting wild and endangered species, and responsibly using natural resources. As part of its most recent...

MADRID, SPAIN—Promoting a greater engagement of the tourism sector with sustainable development is the main objective of the Tourism for SDGs Platform. The online tool is designed to advance the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals through tourism and was developed by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) with the support of Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) constitute an ambitious global agenda for people, planet, prosperity and peace through partnerships. The SDGs aim to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and solve climate change by 2030. The economic relevance of tourism, representing up...

CHICAGO—National Restaurant Association research has found that more restaurant and foodservice operators are integrating sustainability practices into their daily business operations. A survey of 500 restaurant owners and operators examined measures taken, challenges faced and opportunities available by operating more sustainably. Here are some highlights: Efficient equipment is now standard in many restaurants. Most restaurants use energy-efficient lighting, and many use U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star-rated kitchen equipment. Water-saving innovations are also gaining ground, from low-flow toilets to efficient pre-rinse spray valves. Those surveyed said: 79 percent use CFL or LED lighting; 46 percent use EPA Energy Star-rated refrigerators;...

ITHACA, N.Y.—The fifth annual Cornell Hotel Sustainability Benchmarking study has been published. It includes data from substantially more hotels than in all previous years. While the bulk of the data come from hotels in the United States, the study also recorded a greater international participation, with 51 nations and 13 international brands represented. More than 10,400 hotels contributed information regarding their energy and water use, as well as greenhouse gas emissions. Complete as of 2016, the data show that the participating hotels generally have continued to reduce their energy and water usage, although the energy intensity recorded by luxury hotels...