INTERNATIONAL REPORT—“Net-zero hotels” are something no one had heard of ten years ago, but now an increasing number are redirecting their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and achieve this gold standard in hospitality sustainability. While this is an encouraging step—you might call it a breath of fresh air—the wider environmental challenges facing the hotel sector remain stark. According to the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance’s Global Hotel Decarbonisation Report, the sector must reduce its emissions by two-thirds by 2030 and 90 percent per room by 2050 if it’s to contribute to the goals set out in the Paris Climate Agreement. These ambitious...

LONDON—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reports a significant decrease in the climate footprint emissions of travel and tourism. Despite this positive development, the WTTC urges the sector to continue to innovate and invest in green technologies. WTTC’s latest Environmental & Social Research (ESR), created in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, reveals that in 2023 Travel & Tourism accounted for 6.7 percent of all emissions globally, down from 7.8 percent in 2019, when Travel & Tourism was at its peak. The research showcases an important achievement with the sector’s economic contribution growing faster than its environmental impact. Last...

TROY, N.Y.—Audubon International—the environmentally focused nonprofit organization offering members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect the areas where we all live, work, and play—announced that it is one of 49 organizations to meet Travalyst’s criteria for lodging industry sustainability certification through its Green Lodging and Green Hospitality Programs. Founded in 2019 by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, Travalyst is a not-for-profit coalition of some of the biggest brands in travel and technology including Booking.com, Expedia Group, Google, Skyscanner, Travelport and Trip.com Group. The coalition works to bring sustainability information to the forefront to help travelers make more informed choices on where they spend their dollars. “Being included among...

NATIONAL REPORT—Certified B Corporations have long been recognized globally as companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability for business-driven positive impact, yet they remained relatively under the radar within the tourism sector. However, the travel industry has witnessed significant growth in B Corps in the last few years, marking a pivotal shift towards the adoption of more sustainable and responsible business practices. This trend has been further solidified by the recent inclusion of B Corp Certification on Travalyst's first-ever list of sustainability certifications, standards, and schemes compliant with its discerning criteria. Travalyst is a not-for-profit global...

TROY, N.Y.—Audubon International—The environmentally focused nonprofit organization offering members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect the areas where we all live, work, and play—announces that The St. Regis Bahia Beach, long a sustainability-driven luxury resort on Puerto Rico’s north shore, has achieved Green Lodging/Green Hospitality Platinum Certification. “On an island blessed with such a rich and deep commitment to its environment, The St. Regis Bahia Beach has taken that commitment even further, indeed to the highest level of Green Lodging certification we offer,” says Christine Kane, CEO of Audubon International. “They are a strong partner and proof positive that...

TILLAMOOK, ORE.—In a powerful step towards responsible travel, the Oregon Coast Visitors Association (OCVA) announces its partnership with Kind Traveler’s Every Stay Gives Back program. This collaboration marks a significant moment for Oregon’s responsible tourism efforts, empowering travelers to support community well-being and environmental preservation along the Oregon Coast through thoughtful travel choices. Kind Traveler launched the Every Stay Gives Back program in September 2023 and has since raised more than $304,352 in donations for local charities across participating destinations and lodging partners in just one year. Through the Every Stay Gives Back partnership, a portion of every guest stay with...

MIAMI—The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) announced a strategic partnership with Viva Resorts by Wyndham, a collection of all-inclusive vacation resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, to drive sustainable development and responsible tourism in the Caribbean. This collaboration aligns with the ongoing objectives of the USAID Caribbean Sustainable Ecosystems Activity. PADF and Viva Resorts by Wyndham share a common goal: to take impactful actions that enhance sustainability and promote the well-being of local communities. This partnership focuses on tackling key challenges such as solid waste management and coastal and marine conservation, ultimately protecting the Caribbean’s natural resources and enhancing the...

Hotel owners are looking for fresh ideas to save money and create a better guest experience. Learn if solar energy is worth the investment for your hotel. The adoption of solar energy in hotels is a strategic move toward sustainability and financial efficiency. Hotel owners are looking for ways to reduce their reliance on the electrical grid and lower operational costs. Solar energy offers a renewable and sustainable alternative for hotels, so you might wonder if it is worth the investment for your establishment. Electricity bills are significant expenses for hotels; solar panels can drastically cut operational costs by providing a...

BERLIN, GERMANY—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) celebrates yet another milestone as over 5,000 properties across more than 80 countries have now embraced its Hotel Sustainability Basics (Basics) program. Hotels in major destinations across Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia-Pacific have adopted Basics, and the programme continues to receive global support with new partnerships in tourism powerhouses such as Japan, the Philippines and India. Designed to guide hoteliers in their initial steps towards enhanced sustainability, Basics is an independent verification program, supervised by renowned assessors Green Key and SGS, ensuring rigorous standards and credibility. The programme empowers hotels of all sizes with a...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. announced the launch of Connect Responsibly with Marriott Bonvoy Events (Connect Responsibly), a program designed to help meeting planners embed sustainability into their events at participating hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Connect Responsibly plans to offer meetings and events customers access to detailed Meeting Impact Reports to measure the environmental impact of their events and select options to purchase carbon credits. The program is anticipated to go live at managed and franchised properties from participating brands globally by the end of October. “There is nothing like connecting in person, and doing so responsibly makes it that much...