STAMFORD, CONN.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. released its 2014 Global Reporting Index (GRI G4), outlining the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, community involvement, opportunities for associate development, and best practices in corporate governance. The Index follows previous publication of a full Global Citizenship report in 2014 and a periodic update earlier this year.“At Starwood, the work we do to be good global corporate citizens touches every aspect of our business and publishing the Global Reporting Index helps us communicate the important work we do throughout the world to carry out that promise,” said Ken Siegel,...

ITHACA, N.Y.—Throughout the world, human traffickers use hotels and other hospitality locations to kidnap and exploit their victims, many of whom are children. A new report from the Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration calls on the industry to fight back against trafficking of children. In the report, “Adopting the Code: Human Trafficking and the Hospitality Industry,” Michele Sarkisian outlines the dimensions of the problem and gives specific strategies for ending this practice. Sarkisian is president of P3 Advisors, and a CHR research fellow. The report is available from CHR at no...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton Worldwide announced an upgrade to LightStay, its in-house corporate responsibility measurement platform, across the company’s more than 4,440 properties globally. With new features and enhancements, this next generation of LightStay now serves as the comprehensive, one-solution platform for all environmental, operational and social impact reporting for Hilton’s global portfolio of hotels.    The year-long upgrade was based on in-depth analysis of hotel data across Hilton’s global portfolio from the last five years. With thousands of metrics, Hilton improved LightStay to help hotels better manage energy and water usage as well as drive improvement across hundreds of indicators over...

OAKLAND, CALIF.—The Clorox Co. announced it has become a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s largest corporate responsibility (CR) initiative. Signatories pledge to support and promote 10 principles in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption.“Corporate responsibility has been a cornerstone of our company since our founding in 1913, and we look forward to working with other like-minded companies and organizations to support the UN’s 10 principles,” said Clorox CEO Benno Dorer. “Through our CR Strategy and 2020 goals, we will continue to make sustainability core to how we do business.”Clorox was...

LAS VEGAS—For the ninth year, Black Enterprise (BE) magazine has named MGM Resorts International one of the “Best Companies for Diversity” in the United States based on its diversity and inclusion practices. MGM Resorts is the only company in the integrated resort industry, and the only company based in Nevada, to be named to the magazine’s list.The 40 companies featured in the publication’s special report demonstrate a commitment to diversity in one or more of four key areas, including: Board of Directors mix, employee diversity, senior management mix and supplier diversity. Of those 40 companies, MGM Resorts was among...

LONDON—The International Tourism Partnership (ITP) and Greenview have launched the free Hotel Footprinting Tool which allows anyone easy access to the carbon and energy footprint of hotels worldwide. The Hotel Footprinting Tool uses data from the annual Cornell Hotel Sustainability Benchmarking Study.It’s now far easier for hotels to compare their own carbon footprint to industry averages in their locality. Businesses seeking to map the footprint of their own hotel stays and meetings can now access more accurate figures for hotels in the area and market segment, rather than using broad industry averages or having to contact individual hotels for...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton Worldwide announced a new GED Assistance benefit that will give thousands of eligible Team Members the opportunity to earn their high school equivalency diploma. The new program marks the largest, most comprehensive high school diploma assistance benefit provided by a major hospitality company in the United States.The GED Assistance program is available to all full-time U.S. Team Members at owned and managed hotels and corporate offices with six months of service or greater. The new benefit will provide one-on-one advising and test preparation support. It will be free of charge for Team Members, and will also cover...

BETHESDA, MD.—This month Marriott International celebrates more than 25 years of its global diversity and inclusion program, along with the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and National Disability Employment Awareness Month in the United States. The company’s recently released 2015 Sustainability Report highlights its support for diversity and inclusion commitments such as these, as well as its recent achievements and initiatives supporting the environment, local communities and youth employment.Marriott spotlights a nonprofit partner that shares its founder’s name—the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities. Celebrating its 25th year, the Foundation’s Bridges from School to Work...

FAJARDO, P.R.—The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has named the winners for the inaugural CHIEF Awards honoring member hotels and tourism-related enterprises for best practices in Business Operations, Sales & Marketing and Sustainable Practices. Awardees were announced at the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) which took place October 2 to 4, 2015 at El Conquistador Resort, A Waldorf AstoriaResort in Puerto Rico.“We have witnessed extreme forward-thinking programs from each of the winning companies who rightfully earned top honors in these important categories,” said Emil Lee, President of CHTA.The resort which earned top honors for the Sustainable Practices...

PARIS—In celebration of Global Handwashing Day Hilton Worldwide and Clean the World announced that Hilton Paris Opera is the first ever hotel in continental Europe to partner with Clean the World. Hilton Paris Opera will lead the European rollout of Clean the World by contributing discarded soap and bottled amenities that will be recycled to benefit European citizens who are at risk for hygiene-related illnesses. As the world’s largest soap recycler, Clean the World has contributed to a 30 percent reduction in pre-adolescent deaths from hygiene-related illnesses since 2009. Hilton signed a master agreement with Clean the World earlier...