March 3 to 4, I will be attending the AHLA Responsible Stay and Food & Beverage Summits at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner (Va.). Green Lodging News is the media sponsor. An impressive lineup of speakers will be there with educational sessions in Responsible Stay and F&B. Also planned are crossover sessions that touch on both Responsible Stay and F&B. Be sure to watch for coverage of the Summits on Green Lodging News in the coming days. No other event in the U.S. lodging industry is so focused on corporate social responsibility and no other event attracts such a high...

NATIONAL REPORT—In the latest episode of Matt Talks Hospitality, Matt Welle sat down with Floris Licht—hotel general manager and founder of Hotels for Trees—to explore a deceptively simple question: do guests really need their room cleaned every day of a multi-night stay? This question opens the door to a broader conversation about how hotels can rethink housekeeping for a more efficient, sustainable and guest-centric future. The Hidden Opportunity Inside Stayover Cleaning Stayover cleaning has long been treated as the default. If a guest is in-house, the room is cleaned. Yet behavior is shifting. Many travelers don’t require daily linen changes or full servicing,...

TYSONS CORNER, VA.—The AHLA Food & Beverage Summit will take place on Tuesday, March 3 and will be followed on March 4 by the crossover AHLA Food & Beverage Summit and AHLA Responsible Stay Summit. All events will be held at the Hilton McClean Tysons Corner, Va.* Click here for more information. The AHLA Food & Beverage Summit will cover the following topics: “Trendologist: Food & Beverage—What’s Shaping the Menu?”, “What’s Pouring Next? Beverage Trends to Watch,” “Sip Smarter: Understanding the THC Beverage Landscape,” “Navigating the Future of Beverages,” “Beyond the Menu: Innovation Shaping Hospitality F&B,” and “From Tech to...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Water is a utility cost that is tied to nearly every operational process in a hotel, from guestrooms and kitchens to cooling towers, laundry, and landscaping. The way properties track and account for water consumption may differ and so can the accuracy of the data. The 12th Revised Edition of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI) changes that. Through its new Energy, Water, and Waste (EWW) schedule, hotels are now required to report both cost and consumption of water as part of their financial statements. Do not miss the corresponding webinar, “USALI 12, Understanding the EWW Schedule: Part...

LINCOLNSHIRE, ILL.—LG Electronics USA has been recognized for strong sustainability in the hospitality industry, following its latest evaluation in the MindClick Sustainability Assessment Program (MSAP), the respected third-party program measuring the environmental and health impact of products used in commercial spaces. LG hospitality TVs, digital signage displays and commercial monitors earned Leader-level for credit in key categories, including guest health and responsible supply chain, and demonstrated consistently strong performance across additional impact areas evaluated in the program.* LG is the only commercial TV, digital signage and monitor manufacturer recognized in the MSAP, with top scores in guest health and responsible supply...

BALI, INDONESIA—Sudamala Resorts, a collection of culturally grounded boutique resorts across Indonesia, continues to strengthen its commitment to sustainable tourism through integrated environmental initiatives that balance refined guest experiences with long-term ecological responsibility. A significant milestone is the introduction of a comprehensive solar energy system at Sudamala Resort, Seraya, in Labuan Bajo, Flores. The system now supplies approximately 80 to 85 percent of the resort’s operational energy requirements through renewable solar power. Comprising 480 solar panels with a total capacity of 300 kWp and supported by a 770 kWh Battery Energy Storage System, the installation generates an estimated 410,000 kWh...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added Next Step Flooring Solutions to the “Flooring/Mat” category of its Green Product & Service Directory. Next Step Flooring Solutions, now part of the T2 Site Amenities family, delivers commercial grade, custom designed mats proudly made in the USA. From branded entrance and lobby mats to durable elevator mats, the company provides tailored solutions for hotels, luxury apartments, mixed use developments, educational facilities, and office environments. There is no limit on logo, color, shape and size (including wrapping around revolving doors). Floor mats can contribute 1.5 points toward LEED certification. The backing on floor mats...

Following the Trump administration’s attempt to end the highly popular Energy Star program last year—the $33 million program was saved with bipartisan support—it, in case you missed it, has rescinded the central scientific finding that underpins much of the nation’s climate pollution rules, its most aggressive action yet to halt initiatives that address planetary warming. According to NPR, the 2009 Environmental Protection Agency endangerment finding was a determination that pollutants from developing and burning fossil fuels, such as methane and carbon dioxide, can be regulated under the Clean Air Act. The EPA now argues that the Clean Air Act does not give...

SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA—At a time when travel is no longer defined merely by changing locations but by understanding the soul of the places visited, Marriott International hotels transform Latin America into a living map of flavors, art, history, and traditions. Through a curated selection of properties in Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama, and Peru, the company invites travelers to immerse themselves in experiences that foster a deep and meaningful connection with the identity of each destination. In Guanacaste, W Costa Rica Reserva Conchal elevates tasting into a cultural experience. Its Rum & Chocolate Tasting offers a sensory journey that brings together aged rum and...

NATIONAL REPORT—Cold-storage rooms may look like simple metal boxes, but their performance is governed by what lies between the inner and outer walls. Insulation determines how efficient the refrigeration is, how much energy is consumed, how long it resists moisture and corrosion, and, ultimately, how reliably it protects food or pharmaceuticals. As energy codes tighten and operating margins shrink, cold storage manufacturers are rethinking everything from the materials they use to the systems that shape them. The industry is moving toward three central priorities: higher performance insulation, precision driven automation, and more sustainable manufacturing practices. Why Traditional Foam Falls Short For...