NATIONAL REPORT—For a sizeable number of today’s one billion tourists, the prospect of pristine mountain slopes, sun-drenched beaches and nature at its best is worth traveling long distances for. Yet for all the good they do for local economies, a steady stream of tourists can also have a significant environmental impact as infrastructure springs up to accommodate their needs while increased water consumption and waste generation put pressure on local resources. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) estimates hospitality’s annual footprint to total around $4 billion in energy use, 1.2 trillion gallons of water and millions of tons of waste. The global hotel...

WOODRIDGE, ILL.—To continue their mission of being a strong supporter of the communities they serve, Gerber Plumbing Fixtures and Danze, Inc. have made a significant donation of clothing items to Repeat Boutique in the Wheaton/Glen Ellyn area of Chicago. Gerber and Danze employees rallied together to collect hundreds of new or gently used men’s, women’s and children’s clothing items to donate to this organization serving area residents.  Repeat Boutique was founded in 1973 as a way to provide updated clothing to missionaries returning to the states. Today, the not-for-profit organization provides clothing and practical household goods to those in need. Gerber...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Clean the World, a leader in global health, has launched new Veteran Hygiene Kits to improve the lives of veterans. These life-saving hygiene kits are specialized for veterans and include basic hygiene products as well as important protective items, too. The kits feature resealable bags, two bars of new soap, bottles of repurposed shampoo and conditioner, toothbrushes and toothpaste, razor and shaving cream, comb, socks, deodorant, and inspirational note cards. “Many of our veterans lack the basic hygiene amenities needed to keep them safe and healthy,” said Shawn Seipler, Founder and CEO for Clean the World. “It is our duty...

LAS VEGAS—This week, MGM Resorts International released its Annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, a comprehensive publication that details the company’s corporate citizenship efforts across the 12 month span of 2016. The annual report, titled “MGM Cares”—the company’s CSR brand—is available now for download at the company’s website. The report describes MGM Resorts’ CSR philosophy, governance and culture, and summarizes MGM Resorts’ developments in the pillars of Diversity and Inclusion, Philanthropy and Community Engagement and Environmental Sustainability. Last year’s CSR efforts were a continuation and expansion of a commitment the company made officially in 2000, when MGM Resorts pioneered the...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton released a progress update on the implementation of its global commitment to responsibly source its seafood by 2022. The report details how Hilton established a baseline of its seafood purchasing data, created relevant training for all Team Members and deepened partnerships with related non-governmental organizations and suppliers. Progress against the company’s commitment includes: Hilton has collected and analyzed available seafood purchasing data across more than 350 hotels, 500 suppliers and across 57 species groups, to establish a baseline of its seafood purchasing data. Hilton has developed training resources on responsible sourcing and sustainable seafood, and rolled them...

DALLAS—Kimberly-Clark, a leader in sustainably-made personal care products, announced a unique three-year agreement and collaboration with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) designed to raise awareness of the importance of choosing products that use fiber from responsibly managed forests. As part of the new “♥ YOUR  PLANET” (“HEART YOUR PLANET”) campaign, the company will display WWF’s iconic logo on its paper towel, facial tissue and toilet paper products sold in North America. |This initiative is part of an eight-year partnership between the two organizations, and is a natural next step in advancing responsible forestry through consumer education and engagement. The WWF logo will be...

HONG KONG—Burba Hotel Network (BHN), Horwath HTL, and Stiles Capital Events, co-hosts and organizers of the annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), announce that entries for the HICAP 2017 Sustainable Hotel Awards are now being accepted. The deadline for submissions is August 1, 2017. The 28th annual HICAP will be held October 18 to 20, 2017, at the InterContinental Hong Kong. The annual HICAP Sustainable Hotel Awards were launched in 2007 and are designed to recognize hotels in the Asia Pacific region creating innovative new methods, strategies and technologies to face today’s sustainable development challenge, while providing tangible examples...

KEY WEST, FLA.—If entrepreneur Tony Webb attracts the interest he needs, there could be as many as 15 Planet Ocean Underwater Hotels in the coming years. Webb, Founder and Managing Director of Planet Ocean Underwater Hotels, LLC, is targeting waters off Cuba for the first 12-room property that will sit about 24 to 30 feet below the ocean’s surface. Fifteen sites are being planned for locations in the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean. One purpose of the business venture is to raise awareness about the precarious state of global coral reef health. Webb...

NEW YORK—The International Living Future Institute (ILFI), a collective of leading green building experts and thought leaders who created the groundbreaking Living Building Challenge program and—most recently—the Living Product Challenge, presented Humanscale with the 2017 Manufacturer Visionary Award for their commitment to transparency, their completion of the Living Product Challenge, and their overall mission to create a future that is socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative. By recognizing Humanscale’s comprehensive efforts to create a net positive impact on the earth, the award further distinguishes the brand as a leader for sustainable manufacturing across industries and around the world. “The...

BANGKOK—Teachers across mainland China are improving the lives—and future careers—of Chinese youth by gaining new industry knowledge and teaching techniques through the China Hospitality Education Initiative (CHEI), a project of The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation. CHEI was recently presented with the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Tourism for Tomorrow People Award during the 17th WTTC Global Summit in Bangkok. Award submissions were judged by a panel of independent experts, academics, business leaders, and NGO and government representatives. WTTC recognized CHEI for its focus on providing training and professional development resources for teachers across China, improving hospitality and tourism...