COSTA RICA—SAHIC organizers are working with the Ministry of Tourism of Costa Rica (ICT) for the first time, to bring together key players who will identify significant challenges and sustainable hospitality development opportunities for the country. Approximately 200 decision makers will gather to discuss hospitality, tourism and lodging investment, as well as development at the forum, which takes place November 13 to 14, 2017 at the InterContinental Costa Rica. The Costa Rica Sustainable Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference will feature five key conference sessions including a: Hotel Leaders’ Panel, exploring the potential for luxury resorts in sustainable Costa Rica; Investment...

LONDON—A new report from the International Tourism Partnership (ITP) reveals that the hotel sector must reduce its carbon footprint by 90 percent by 2050 to play its part in keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius. As COP23 (the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Climate Change) convenes in Bonn, Germany, to further discussions aimed at meeting the Paris Climate Agreement, ITP has revealed the huge contribution hotels must make to help curb climate change. The report by Greenview, commissioned by ITP, clearly shows that to manage the global increase in tourism over the...

OAKLAND, CALIF.—Cradle to Cradle Certified products have been added to the list of third-party certifications recognized under The Home Depot’s expanded Eco Options program. Established by The Home Depot in 2007, Eco Options is a voluntary program that recognizes products that have less of an environmental impact than comparable products in five categories: energy efficiency, water conservation, healthy home, clean air and sustainable forestry. The program allows Home Depot to track environmental product improvements and promote environmentally preferred products to store associates and customers. Suppliers may now use Cradle to Cradle Certified and the Material Health Certificate from the Cradle to...

Name: Amanda Sturgeon Title: CEO Organization: International Living Future Institute Primary Responsibilities: “My primary responsibilities are to see us being successful in terms of our mission—creating a world filled with living buildings and living communities. My role is to grow the organization, scale our programs, and widen the reach of our programs. We are very innovative—pushing the edge to what may be possible—and pushing people farther than they think they can go.” BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WASH.—As CEO of the International Living Future Institute, Amanda Sturgeon oversees an organization that operates the Living Building Challenge, the built environment’s most rigorous performance standard, and Declare, an...

BETHESDA, MD.—From human rights protections to sustainable hotel development, Marriott International yesterday launched a new sustainability and social impact initiative designed to foster business growth while balancing the needs of associates, customers, owners, the environment and communities. Under Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction, Marriott’s new Sustainability and Social Impact Platform seeks to continue the company’s 90-year commitment to the communities it serves, the planet and people worldwide. “As the global hospitality leader with properties and associates across 125 countries and territories, Marriott International has a global responsibility and unique opportunity to be a force for good in all...

PARIS—On October 10, Euro Disney S.C.A. and Pierre & Vacances-Center Parks opened Villages Nature Paris. The ceremony was attended by Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, State secretary to the Minister of Europe and of Foreign Affairs, and Valérie Pecresse, President of the Regional Council of Ile-de-France. The Villages Nature Paris project was born in 2003, and is the product of a vision shared by the founding groups, and based on harmony between man and nature. Each partner brings its individual and complementary knowledge: The Euro Disney group brings its expertise and creativity in theme parks, its mastery of the art of storytelling, and their...

OJAI, CALIF.—Ojai Valley Inn & Spa recently announced the arrival of an on property apiary and launch of an immersive beekeeping experience for guests. In partnership with Ojai Valley Bee Club, the resort’s beekeeping excursion began at the beginning of last month. With each excursion, guests receive an immersive, hands-on beekeeping experience. The outings include an educational journey, tour of the hives, and raw local honey tasting on the patio of the Inn’s new apiary set amidst a lavender and wildflower-studded meadow. “We’re thrilled to introduce this distinctive new program and offer an immersive beekeeping experience to our guests,” said Heather...

BERLIN—ITB Berlin announced their membership in the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund (ATCF), an international nonprofit focused on funding on-the-ground conservation projects around the world. The ATCF provides members in the travel and outdoor industry an avenue to directly support projects that are critical to protecting the future of adventure travel. “Adventure and outdoor organizations have an opportunity to come together as members of the ATCF to protect international travel destinations where we all love to explore, learn and play,” says Soraya Shattuck, ATCF Executive Director. “We are thrilled to have ITB join as a member of the ATCF and demonstrate...

PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide Corp. has announced a global cage-free policy for all of its hotels’ and resorts’ supply chain. This policy is the result of exclusive conversations with The Humane League and members of its global coalition, Open Wing Alliance. The commitment will transition all the company’s 8,100 hotels to source 100 percent cage-free eggs by 2025. The move will impact locations in 66 different countries on six continents. Wyndham explained that in the current egg production system, most egg-laying hens are held in wire cages and given space about the size of an iPad on which to live their...

LONDON—Leading third-party certifier SCS Global Services (SCS) announced the release of a groundbreaking Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) comparing the environmental performance of 10 different raw material sources of manmade cellulose fiber (MMCF). The study examined a broad range of environmental issues, from the time raw materials are obtained from global forests, agricultural operations or other sources, through the production of viscose (also known as rayon) and other MMCFs. Commissioned by luxury designer, Stella McCartney, the report is being made publicly available as a resource for all brands, designers and retailers interested in making informed fiber sourcing choices. This is the first study...