SAN PEDRO, BELIZE—Hilton Worldwide announced the signing of the new Resort at Mahogany Bay Village to Curio – A Collection by Hilton. When open, The Resort at Mahogany Bay Village, Curio Collection by Hilton will be the first Hilton Worldwide property in Belize, as well as the first luxury resort from a global brand in the country.The rustic-chic resort destination is located in San Pedro, Belize on Ambergris Caye, about 15 miles from the mainland and 10 minutes from the San Pedro Airport. With 205 cottage and villa-style rooms, the resort sits on a 60-acre property featuring private residences,...

CANBERRA CITY, AUSTRALIA—Research released by The Australia Institute estimates the tourism industry impacts if severe coral bleaching continues on the Great Barrier Reef. Based on surveys of Chinese, U.K., American and domestic tourists, results show that tourism areas adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef risk losing more than 1 million visitors per year, worth over $1 billion in tourism expenditure. This expenditure supports around 10,000 tourism jobs in regional Queensland, which are also considered at-risk.While many potential visitors will seek out other Australian attractions, this research finds that many will choose to not visit Australia at all. Based on...

ODESSA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Odessa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes 3 Pillar Solutions, LLC to its Green Product & Service Directory in the Auditors/Consultants category. Kathy McGuire is an award-winning Sustainable Development Professional (ISSP-SA) with 10+ years of progressive experience and a proven track record of implementing sustainability projects to reduce waste, engage stakeholders, and increase brand awareness. Her company, 3 Pillar Solutions, specializes in hospitality, golf, sporting events, concerts, fairs and festivals. The company will design a program that will align core business goals with sustainable practices operating as one cohesive unit, which will ensure the...

BANGKOK—For over 15 years the team at Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has been committed to protecting the local environment, communities and culture around each of its hotels and resorts while creating authentic, luxury travel experiences and indigenous adventures for modern travelers. With four luxury resorts in the Maldives—Anantara Kihavah Villas, Anantara Dhigu Resort, Anantara Veli Resort and Naladhu Maldives—guests can take their pick from some of the best locations and experiences in the Indian Ocean, including getting up close and personal with the local marine life and vibrant coral reefs, snorkeling with manta rays in a UNESCO World...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Hilton Prize Coalition, an independent alliance of the 20 winners of the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, announced the release of its short documentary film, “On Shifting Ground,” about the disaster relief efforts of development organizations in Nepal following the 2015 earthquake. The film premiered at Devex World 2016 in Washington, D.C. on June 14. On April 25, 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal. The earthquake and aftershocks killed over 8,000 people and injured more than 21,000. Among those who mobilized staff and resources in the world’s response to this disaster were six Hilton Prize Coalition...

LINCOLN, NEB.—The Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is commemorating the planting of the 60 millionth tree in the United States’ forests. Since 1990, the Arbor Day Foundation has been replanting on state and national forest land through the Replanting our Forests program—an initiative to revitalize forests devastated by natural disaster.To honor this milestone, a tree recognition ceremony was held in Washington D.C. on June 21 with special remarks by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Forest Service Acting Associate Chief Dan Jirón and President of the Arbor Day Foundation Dan Lambe. Additionally, partners will...

BONAIRE, DUTCH CARIBBEAN—In observation of World Oceans Day, Harbour Village Beach Club, Bonaire’s only luxury resort, announces a partnership with noted filmmaker, explorer and ocean preservationist Fabien Cousteau, the grandson of famed explorer Jacques Cousteau, in an effort to raise awareness for ocean conservation efforts among discerning Caribbean travelers.“This partnership perfectly complements Harbour Village’s ongoing conservation efforts,” said Frank J. Gonzalez, Managing Director of Harbour Village Beach Club. “As recipients of the PADI Green Star Award and proud members of Project Aware, we’re excited to supplement our legacy as an environmentally-conscious resort by working with Fabien Cousteau, ultimately achieving...

ITHACA, N.Y.—Even though growth in China has eased, the nation’s hotel industry continues to expand at a rate far exceeding other parts of the world. However, many of the new hotels in China do not meet international sustainability standards, according to a new analysis published by the Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration. The report, “Environmental Implications of Hotel Growth in China: Integrating Sustainability with Hotel Development,” by Gert Noordzy, Eric Ricaurte, Georgette James, and Meng Wu is available at no charge from CHR.“The Chinese government is on board with sustainability, and we...

HOUSTON—Inns have always served not only as havens for weary travelers, but also as centers of community life. At the local inn, business was done, information exchanged, meetings and celebrations held. From its inception, the U.S.-based hospitality management company, Benchmark Hospitality International, has honored this tradition, giving back to the communities in the 40 domestic and global destinations it serves.Now, through its corporate outreach program, Hometown Hospitality Caring for Our Communities, Benchmark will partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) in a nationwide initiative to support the nonprofit organization’s efforts to help children reach their full potential...

NEW YORK—Wild mason bees, some of the most effective pollinators on earth, can now visit 10 new luxurious bee hotels to rest their wings in the United States. These new oases were developed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in partnership with Pollinator Partnership to serve as habitat for nesting and reproduction. Habitat loss is a leading cause for the decline in wild bee populations, which are responsible for the pollination of one-third of the food produced in the United States.“Fairmont is the industry leader when it comes to supporting honeybee health and has been leading this charge over the...