SAN DIEGO—Evans Hotels, one of the premier hospitality leaders in Southern California, is pleased to announce its new corporate social responsibility program called WE CARE along with its first annual scorecard. Evans Hotels is a family-run business with a deep commitment to San Diego; its portfolio includes Bahia Resort Hotel and Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa in Mission Bay as well as The Lodge at Torrey Pines, the AAA Five Diamond property in La Jolla. The WE CARE social responsibility program is in line with the company’s belief that its hotels are both “of the community” and “for the community,”...

The Biophilia hypothesis, according to Encyclopedia Brittanica, is the “idea that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life.” Biophilia has influenced architecture and design significantly in recent years and is highlighted in a new book by Amanda Sturgeon entitled, “Creating Biophilic Buildings.” Be sure to check it out. Amanda is CEO of the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), a leading organization that focuses on the transformation to a world that is socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative. She is the founder and driving force behind the organization’s Biophilic Design Initiative...

BURBANK, CALIF.—The Walt Disney Company has committed $2.5 million to aid in humanitarian relief efforts across Florida, the Caribbean and other areas impacted by Hurricane Irma. The donation will support the disaster response and recovery efforts of the American Red Cross, UNICEF, Save the Children, and other nonprofit organizations. “We’re donating $2.5 million to support relief and recovery efforts in response to Hurricane Irma,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company. “This is in addition to nearly $16 million we raised after Hurricane Harvey to help ensure storm victims have the support needed to recover and...

LONDON—The International Tourism Partnership (ITP) announced the four Goals supported by ITP member companies as the major industry reference point to drive progress towards sustainability. The ITP Goals are a carefully constructed and practically achievable response to four of the core sustainability issues impacting responsible hospitality providers globally. At a glance, they include: • Youth Employment: Collectively impact one million young people through employability programs by 2030, thereby doubling the industry’s current impact on youth unemployment. • Carbon: Embrace science-based targets, and encourage the wider industry to join in reducing emissions at scale. • Water: Embed water stewardship programs to reduce the...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—In addition to a half decade of recognition in North America by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, Wyndham Worldwide is for the first time being named a socially responsible leader in Europe through the FTSE4Good Index Series. FTSE4Good measures the performance of companies demonstrating strong environmental, social and governance practices. Wyndham Worldwide has built Corporate Social Responsibility into its business to deliver great experiences for its customers, results for its shareholders, and service to its communities. Building on five consecutive years of recognition as a Dow Jones Sustainability Index hospitality leader in North America for its responsible business practices,...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Imagine traveling from the mountains and rainforests of western Canada to the beaches of the Caribbean and Cuba, and finally ending up along the U.S.-Mexico border—all within eight hours. Invited guests will do just about that on World Tourism Day, September 27, 2017, when the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) and UN Environment—North America Office co-host a Forum showcasing the importance of the UN’s declaration of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. The one-of-a-kind event will take place at the UN Foundation in Washington, D.C. “The UN’s international year is important for so many reasons,” says...

NATIONAL REPORT—Glass is 100 percent recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity. Glass recycling rates vary around the country because of container deposit legislation or how it is collected and recycled. As part of single-stream recycling, glass often breaks, tainting the end product. The contaminated recyclables then end up in the dump. In fact, glass represents roughly 40 percent of landfilled recyclables. Hoteliers can play a part in helping to keep glass out of the landfill by working with their waste collectors and also by purchasing products that utilize recycled glass. Recycled glass has many...

NEW YORK—The Grand Hyatt New York in Midtown Manhattan was presented the Energy Efficiency Leader Award on September 19 by Trane, a leading global provider of indoor comfort systems and services and a brand of Ingersoll Rand. The award recognizes the hotel’s outstanding commitment to best practices in energy efficiency and sustainability after a retrofit resulted in reduced energy use by 1,352,007 kilowatt hours (kWh) and reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 950 metric tons. Grand Hyatt New York’s completion of upgrades improved the hotel’s bottom line, while simultaneously enhancing sustainability. These upgrades demonstrate an outstanding commitment to environmental stewardship...

LONDON—S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI), one of the world’s leading index providers, and RobecoSAM, an investment specialist focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing (SI), recently announced the results of the annual Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) review. Launched in 1999, the DJSI World represents the gold standard for corporate sustainability and is the first global index to track the leading sustainability-driven companies based on RobecoSAM’s analysis of financially material Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors and S&P DJI’s robust index methodology. Every year, RobecoSAM assesses the world’s largest companies via its Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), which uses a consistent,...

WALLAND, TENN.—For the first time in 40 years, Blackberry Farm announces a new property, Blackberry Mountain, opening in late 2018. With the creation of Blackberry Mountain, the Beall family is expanding their commitment to preserve the land surrounding the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and continuing the tradition of offering legendary hospitality. Uninhibited, dramatic views of beautifully diverse terrain paired with a mountain-inspired wellness program are the focal points of the experience that invites guests outside to seek adventure and explore the property from base to peak. “Breaking ground on Blackberry Mountain is the culmination of many dreams,” said Proprietor...