KELOWNA, B.C.—Stemming from a mission to help businesses profitably tackle climate change, sustainability consulting firm GreenStep Solutions has created an innovative program, ecobase Certified, that has helped award winning green hotelier, Greg Salloum, achieve his dream of installing a solar PV array at the Best Western Plus Kelowna Hotel and Suites. “We strive to go above and beyond with our green initiatives,” says Salloum, proprietor of the Best Western Plus Kelowna. “We started with a solar thermal system in 2002 and we’ve done almost everything else we can to reduce our impacts, including our recent LEED Silver Certified environmental wing and...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton recently joined other leading American companies as a founding member of the White House’s First Job Compact. The initiative represents President Obama’s call-to-action for communities and businesses to help connect out-of-school, out-of-work opportunity youth ages 16 to 24 to their first jobs. Hilton has a long history of creating opportunities for young people. In 2014, the company announced a formal commitment to impact at least one million young people around the globe by 2019. The initiative includes preparing young people for success through mentorships, apprenticeships and an innovative career awareness program (Careers@HiltonLive), as well as by employing them directly across all parts of...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The 15 finalists of the National Geographic World Legacy Awards were unveiled. The World Legacy Awards, a partnership between National Geographic and ITB Berlin, showcase the leading travel and tourism companies, organizations and destinations—ranging from entire countries to small islands and from urban hotels to jungle retreats—driving the sustainable tourism transformation of the global travel industry. This year’s World Legacy Awards entries spanned the planet, representing 45 countries and six continents, showcasing how sustainable tourism has no boundaries. Finalists in five award categories were selected by an international team of more than 20 judges. A multi-step judging process also...

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND—Over the last few years, hotel companies have made a determined effort to deal with the impact their business activities have on the environment and communities. Both international hospitality chains and small hotel businesses recognize the tangible benefits in being proactive in mitigating environmental and societal impacts, including real efficiency gains and an enhanced corporate reputation. And in the hospitality industry, as in all industries, a good reputation cannot be bought, it must be earned. In June 2017, The Hotel Yearbook will address these issues by publishing its first special edition focused on sustainable hospitality. Along the same lines as previous editions...

Green Lodging News is in the process of compiling links to hotel and management company green pages. The purpose of the page is to make it easier for companies to benchmark against one another. The page will also make it easier for those others conducting research on sustainable practices in the lodging industry—students and others in academia. Listed adjacent to the company name, where possible, is the name of the company's green or sustainability program. If your company has a landing page for its sustainable (green) practices and it is not listed here, contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor...

LAS VEGAS—Las Vegas Sands Corp. has been identified as a global leader for its actions and strategies in response to climate change, and has been awarded a position for a third time on the Climate A List by CDP, the international not-for-profit that drives sustainable economies. A total of 193 “A Listers” appear on the list, which has been produced at the request of 827 investors with assets of $100 trillion. Thousands of companies submit annual climate disclosures to CDP for independent assessment against its scoring methodology. LVS is among 9 percent of corporations participating in CDP’s climate change program...

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Sealed Air Corp. announced the publishing of its annual Sustainability Report. This year’s report chronicles the company’s journey to achieve its 2020 Sustainability Goals, and provides data showing progress in the year 2015. Sealed Air’s 2020 Sustainability Goals, announced last June, outline the company’s commitment to reduce the overall impact of its operations, including waste, water, energy, and greenhouse gas intensity reduction goals. In addition, Sealed Air committed to products and solutions goals which include an ethical supply chain standard, responsible materials standards, and product development processes which will ensure new products are vetted for both sustainability improvements and...

NEW YORK—American Express has published its first comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility Report since 2008. The report highlights the company’s efforts to create social, environmental and economic value for its stakeholders as well as operate ethically and responsibly. “At American Express, we are dedicated to treating everyone we serve with the utmost care and respect,” said Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and CEO, American Express Co. “As the world evolves, we will continue transforming to meet the needs of our stakeholders while remaining true to the values that have always sustained us.” “The Service Effect” highlights the myriad ways in which American Express’...

MINNEAPOLIS—Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group shared highlights from its 2016 Responsible Business Action Month activities around the world. For past 13 years, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s hotels, corporate and regional offices, and other business units around the world have organized responsible business awareness activities during the month of September and raise funds for the local communities. This year, the group hosted over 1,000 activities, devoted more than 50,000 volunteer hours, and raised a total of $460,000 and in-kind donations of $700,000 for World Childhood Foundation and other local charities. “Each September, our corporate offices and hotels aim to make a positive impact on local communities where we...

BROOKLYN, N.Y.—1 Hotels, the mission-driven luxury lifestyle hotel brand, announced last month that the newest addition to its portfolio, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, will make its debut in February 2017. Green Lodging News ran the press release on the 10-story sustainable ground-up development that will feature 194 guestrooms. As a follow-up to the press release, Green Lodging News sent a list of questions to Waad El Hadidy, Designer at Starwood Hotels Worldwide, to learn more about the project. The following are the questions and answers: 1. What about the building's structure itself will ensure a high degree of energy efficiency?...