ITHACA, N.Y.—Cornell’s Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) has released the latest benchmarks from an ongoing international project to create default sustainability data for the global hotel industry. The report, “Hotel Sustainability Benchmarking Index 2016: Energy, Water, and Carbon,” led by Eric Ricaurte in collaboration with 11 global hotel firms, analyzes data provided for 8,880 properties. The report, which details the Cornell Hotel Sustainability Benchmark Index (CHSB), is available at no charge from the CHR at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration.“By adding new segmentation by climate and hotel type, we have strengthened our industry-centric approach to this effort, given...

DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA—The Tanzanian based Bakhresa Group has appointed Verde Hotels from South Africa to develop and manage the total overhaul and upgrading of the old Mtoni Marine Hotel in Zanzibar, 2 kilometers from Stone Town. The brand new five star property will be known as Hotel Verde, Zanzibar’s greenest hotel.“We are serious about being the leaders of the green economy sector and therefore we approached the developers of Africa’s greenest hotel, Verde Hotels, to ensure that Hotel Verde Zanzibar will be the greenest hotel in East Africa,” stated Said Salim Awadh Bakhresa, Chairman of the Bakhresa Group.Hotel...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International’s commitment to changing young people’s lives has resulted in more than 4,000 youth employed into the company’s European operations since 2015. An additional 8,000 training opportunities in the form of work experience placements and apprenticeships have been created since 2015, giving young people an invaluable step into employment.Marriott’s commitment to tackling youth unemployment has shaped a promise to create 20,000 training opportunities for young people by 2020 and Marriott can now reveal that it has reached 40 percent of its target in just 12 months. This result has inspired the company to go one step further...

DANBURY, CONN.—Keeping properties performing at peak efficiency is a top priority of Meyer Jabara Hotels (MJH). From the laundry facility and guestrooms to parking lots and rooftops, the East Coast hotel management company is committed to making each of its 22 hotels representing 4,000 guestrooms across 10 states energy efficient and operating green. “In today’s world, we need to manage down to the penny, and utilities are a major cost to the operation of the hotel,” said Justin Jabara, MJH VP of Development and Acquisition. “The better we can manage the consumption of energy, gas and water, the more money...

NEW YORK—New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (NYCCOC) President and CEO Alan Steel announced the creation of a live video web stream from the Javits Center’s green roof, the second largest of its kind in the United States. The live stream, which displays a rooftop view of Manhattan’s rapidly developing West Side, will be available 24 hours a day and provide users with a unique perspective of the 6.75-acre green roof. Since its installation in 2014, the green roof has become a sanctuary for area wildlife, serving as a home for 17 bird species, five bat species and 300,000...

NATIONAL REPORT—A new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) outlook shows that many coral reefs across around the world will likely be exposed to higher-than-normal sea temperatures for an unprecedented third year in a row, leading to increased bleaching—and with no signs of stopping.While the bleaching event is global, it will hit the United States hard, especially in Hawaii, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Florida Keys, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The deeper reefs in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, 100 miles off the coast of Texas in the Gulf of Mexico, are...

AMSTERDAM—Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT), a confirmed responsible business leader in the travel industry, released its fourth annual Responsible Business Report. The report shows how CWT is leading as an ethical and socially responsible company. It also highlights unique and personal stories from employees around the world, showing how they are bringing responsible business to life inside the company. Kurt Ekert, CWT’s recently appointed President and CEO, commented, “When I joined the company in April, it immediately became clear that Responsible Business is an integral part of the CWT culture and the way we do business. I’m excited about the journey...

NATIONAL REPORT—A majority of travelers in the United States spend more money per trip, travel more frequently and stay longer when destinations offer sustainable practices, according to a report released by Sustainable Travel International and Mandala Research.The 2016 Role of Sustainability in Travel & Tourism report revealed compelling results, most notably that 60 percent of U.S. travelers (105.3 million) have taken a “sustainable” trip in the last three years and that these travelers are extremely valuable to the tourism industry. These travelers spend more (on average $600 per trip), stay longer (seven days compared to four days) and bring...

DALLAS—Just as Omni Hotels & Resorts says “goodnight” to millions of guests every year, the luxury hotel brand will now Say Goodnight to Hunger! For every stay booked directly on the brand’s website, OmniHotels.com, it will make a donation to Feeding America to provide a family of four dinner for an entire week. Donations will benefit Feeding America and local members in the 42 communities where Omni Hotels & Resorts’ 60 properties are located.Omni’s goal is to help Feeding America provide more than 18.2 million meals each year for food banks to feed kids, families and seniors in communities...

PHILADELPHIA—It was just a year ago that Hersha Hospitality Trust released its first Sustainability Report. Last month, Jay Shah, CEO of the lodging REIT, announced the release of the company’s second Sustainability Report. According to Bennett Thomas, Senior Vice President of Finance and Sustainability for Hersha, it is one of only a few lodging REITs to issue a sustainability report. “Hersha is one of the few lodging REITs that report on sustainability,” Thomas says. Hersha’s second report reflects the activities of its 55 owned hotels.Last year was another strong year for sustainability accomplishments for Hersha. For the third time...