STOCKHOLM—The International Tourism Partnership (ITP) has released its Destination Water Risk Index as part of World Water Week in Stockholm. The Destination Water Risk Index (DWRI) report provides cutting-edge intelligence for the hotel sector and other businesses into the world’s highest risk tourism destinations for water scarcity and pricing premiums. The DWRI is the result of a collaboration between ITP (project lead), Ecolab (sponsor and data provider) and Greenview (data analysis) to overlay existing water risk and hotel industry databases. The Index seeks to help hotel developers, companies, their properties and wider tourism stakeholders to better understand and address their...

NEW YORK—Arlo Hotels, an independent hotel brand, announced the launch of Arlo Cares, a sustainability program designed to spark eco-conscious changes in travel and serve as a home base for green-minded travelers. Arlo Cares encourages guests, locals and partners to embrace a more Earth-ethical way of living, and is launching with an educational speaker series, community outreach opportunities, documentary screenings, charitable celebrations and more. Known for pushing the boundaries in the independent hotel sphere, Arlo was one of the first hotel brands in New York City to commit to phasing out single-use plastics throughout all hotel activity. Arlo NoMad and Arlo...

It was more than 18 years ago that Hasek Communications L.L.C. founded Green Lodging News. Along the way there have been many companies that have earned Founding Sponsor status by supporting Green Lodging News with their ad buying. Green Lodging News has expanded its Founding Sponsorship program to three tiers: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Each tier has its own set of benefits. All Founding Sponsors get their own website page in the Founding Sponsors section for the life of the site and benefit from ad buying discounts, editorial coverage on the website and in the weekly e-newsletter, and social...

FAIRFAX, VA.—Guest Services, Inc. announced that the company will immediately stop using plastic bags at more than 350 properties across the country, continuing its industry-leading sustainability campaign. Following its recently announced “Skip the Straw” initiative to reduce single-use disposable plastic, Guest Services will instead offer guests eco-friendly reusable or paper bags at its managed and owned hotels, state and national park operations, senior living communities, dining venues and retail outlets. The changes will take effect immediately. “We are extremely proud of this most recent development in our ongoing and meaningful sustainability efforts,” said Gerry Gabrys, CEO of Guest Services, Inc. “We expect...

LOUIS, MO.—Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch, a premier business and leisure hotel located in the heart of downtown St. Louis on the iconic Gateway Arch grounds, helped to feed more than 600 local families this summer through volunteering and packing family meals at Operation Food Search. “At Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch, it is our honor to help those in our local community and we are thrilled that we had the opportunity to aid in feeding more than 600 families this summer in our area,” said Randy Thompson, General Manager of Hyatt Regency St. Louis at...

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO—Hotel El Ganzo, which has followed a sustainable model since its inception, has put a stronger plan into action to continue advancing its sustainability efforts. The boutique hotel located at the base of the Puerto Los Cabos Marina in Los Cabos, Mexico is known for its chic, laid-back vibe and robust arts program. However, guests will also find an eco-friendly culture in a hotel that prides itself in going a step beyond encouraging guests to reuse towels and sheets. El Ganzo now equips every room with its own branded cantimplora, a reusable, BPA-free water bottle guests can...

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA—Maria Amalia Revelo, Costa Rica’s new minister of tourism, has revealed her plans to increase tourism to the Central American nation over the next four years. With over 40 years of experience in the airline, tourism and hospitality industry, Revelo has an ambitious agenda to continue placing Costa Rica at the forefront as the most visited destination in Central America. Among her priorities for the next four years are the promotion of small and medium-sized companies while strengthening the joint work between the public and private sector. Great emphasis will also be on the development of new...

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...