BRUSSELS—Radisson Blu is the winner of the 2017 IMEX-GMIC Innovation in Sustainability Award with its Blu Planet program, the responsible business initiative of Radisson Blu hotels around the world. The IMEX-GMIC award celebrates inspiring brands that drive sustainability forward through innovation, collaboration and idea sharing. “We are determined to help protect the Earth’s priceless water supply,” says Inge Huijbrechts, Vice President of Responsible Business for the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. “We launched Blu Planet to conserve water and help bring safe drinking water and sanitation to communities in need. Blu Planet is a key pillar of our group’s Responsible Business...

MGM Resorts International recently released its 2016 Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report. I recently wrote about Hersha Hospitality Trust’s 2016 Sustainability Report and just posted about the Javits Center releasing its first Sustainability Report. It must be reporting season. MGM Resorts’ report describes its CSR philosophy, governance and culture, and summarizes its developments in the pillars of Diversity and Inclusion, Philanthropy and Community Engagement and Environmental Sustainability. The report is long—173 pages—but MGM has a lot of good stories to tell. For example, in 2016, 5,600 employees donated 103,000 volunteer hours of community service. MGM achieved LEED Gold certification...

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN—Sixteen good practices in Gastronomy Tourism from different countries are showcased in the 2nd UNWTO Report on Gastronomy Tourism, touching on issues such as seasonality, training and innovation, ICT-related initiatives and wine-related itineraries. The publication stresses that in terms of tourist motivations, experiencing gastronomy is now at a similar level to visiting a museum, enjoying music and admiring the architecture of a destination. In this sense, gastronomy tourism has strong potential to improve destination management, promote cultures and contribute to other sectors such as agriculture and food manufacturing. The commitment of gastronomy tourism towards the principles of sustainability...

BENTON HARBOR, MICH.—Whirlpool Corp. announced a renewal of its longtime collaboration with Habitat for Humanity for the remainder of 2017, continuing to provide a new range and refrigerator for every new Habitat for Humanity home in the United States. “We thank Whirlpool for their long-term support of helping families obtain decent and affordable housing,” said Colleen Finn Ridenhour, Senior Vice President of Development, Habitat for Humanity International. “Whirlpool’s generosity has helped families transform their lives, and we look forward to continuing to work together.” For the eighth consecutive year, Whirlpool Corp. will participate in a blitz build with the Kelley School...

NEW YORK—New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (NYCCOC) President and CEO Alan Steel announced the issuance of the Javits Center’s first-ever Sustainability Report, which outlines the efforts to green the largest convention center in New York. The 31-page report details a host of sustainable initiatives implemented at the Javits Center, including a significant reduction in the building’s energy consumption, the creation of a wildlife sanctuary and the establishment of partnerships with educational and community institutions, as well as customers and other government organizations. To read the entire report, visit www.javitscenter.com. Since 2014, 26 bird species have been observed on or...

NATIONAL REPORT—The survey that is the basis for the annual Green Lodging Trends Report has launched and will remain open through 7 p.m. EST June 20. Click here to participate! The Green Lodging Trends Report is the lodging industry’s annual exercise to assess and catalyze green innovation, best practices, and awareness regarding the state of sustainability across hotels worldwide. Participants benefit from a free compare report—an opportunity to learn how their property is aligned with best practices, and where it is behind among peers locally and worldwide. Participants also have an opportunity to discover new innovative practices that hotels are...

NATIONAL REPORT—For a sizeable number of today’s one billion tourists, the prospect of pristine mountain slopes, sun-drenched beaches and nature at its best is worth traveling long distances for. Yet for all the good they do for local economies, a steady stream of tourists can also have a significant environmental impact as infrastructure springs up to accommodate their needs while increased water consumption and waste generation put pressure on local resources. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) estimates hospitality’s annual footprint to total around $4 billion in energy use, 1.2 trillion gallons of water and millions of tons of waste. The global hotel...

WOODRIDGE, ILL.—To continue their mission of being a strong supporter of the communities they serve, Gerber Plumbing Fixtures and Danze, Inc. have made a significant donation of clothing items to Repeat Boutique in the Wheaton/Glen Ellyn area of Chicago. Gerber and Danze employees rallied together to collect hundreds of new or gently used men’s, women’s and children’s clothing items to donate to this organization serving area residents.  Repeat Boutique was founded in 1973 as a way to provide updated clothing to missionaries returning to the states. Today, the not-for-profit organization provides clothing and practical household goods to those in need. Gerber...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Clean the World, a leader in global health, has launched new Veteran Hygiene Kits to improve the lives of veterans. These life-saving hygiene kits are specialized for veterans and include basic hygiene products as well as important protective items, too. The kits feature resealable bags, two bars of new soap, bottles of repurposed shampoo and conditioner, toothbrushes and toothpaste, razor and shaving cream, comb, socks, deodorant, and inspirational note cards. “Many of our veterans lack the basic hygiene amenities needed to keep them safe and healthy,” said Shawn Seipler, Founder and CEO for Clean the World. “It is our duty...

LAS VEGAS—This week, MGM Resorts International released its Annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, a comprehensive publication that details the company’s corporate citizenship efforts across the 12 month span of 2016. The annual report, titled “MGM Cares”—the company’s CSR brand—is available now for download at the company’s website. The report describes MGM Resorts’ CSR philosophy, governance and culture, and summarizes MGM Resorts’ developments in the pillars of Diversity and Inclusion, Philanthropy and Community Engagement and Environmental Sustainability. Last year’s CSR efforts were a continuation and expansion of a commitment the company made officially in 2000, when MGM Resorts pioneered the...