PLAYA GUIONES, COSTA RICA—In a country so well known for its ecotourism and renewable energy leadership positions, it should come as no surprise that one of its hotels has earned the rare LEED Platinum certification. That is what happened this summer at the Olas Verdes Hotel in Playa Guiones, Costa Rica. Luis Pardo, General Manager of the boutique hotel with five casitas, said the property is the first surf hotel in the world and the first hotel in Costa Rica to reach the LEED Platinum level. The Olas Verdes Hotel opened last December, Pardo says. “The owners wanted to have...

DALLAS—Freeman, a leading global provider of brand experiences, announced it has received the prestigious ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management System certification, the first in its industry to do so on a global scale. The certification is an international standard designed to help organizations involved in the events and hospitality industries integrate sustainability into management practices and processes.“Environmental and social responsibility has always been at the heart of Freeman and guides our business,” said Jeff Chase, Vice President of Sustainability for Freeman, who oversees the company’s sustainability initiatives and led the certification effort.“This certification—an industry first—reflects the philosophy of our...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc., a global leader in water, hygiene and energy technology and services, has been named to the 2016 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) North America index, a comprehensive and highly regarded assessment of leading sustainability-driven companies. This is the second consecutive year Ecolab has been named to the North America index, and the company’s third listing since 2012.“Our inclusion in the 2016 DJSI North America index reflects the commitment of our associates to responsible and sustainable business practices,” said Ecolab Chairman and CEO Douglas M. Baker, Jr. “We are honored to be recognized for this commitment,...

BRAZIL—Brazil made history last week when the State Secretary of Environment for Amazonas (SEMA), on behalf of the State Government of Amazonas, and the Amazonas Sustainable Foundation (FAS), delivered its first-ever certificate of carbon emissions reduction to the U.S.-headquartered hospitality company Marriott International. The presentation took place during the Climate Summit of the Americas in Guadalajara, Mexico. This is the first time in Brazil that a certificate has been issued by a partnership between state government, a private institution and a non-governmental organization. The document is not transferable. The certificate states the reduction of 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide (tCO2)...

LONDON—ITP (International Tourism Partnership) announced a major step forward in the hotel industry’s stewardship of water, with the launch of the Hotel Water Measurement Initiative (HWMI). Eighteen global hotel groups including Accor, Carlson Rezidor, Diamond Resorts, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, Hilton Worldwide, the Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels Group, Las Vegas Sands Corp., Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Marriott International, MGM Hotels & Resorts, NH Hotel Group, Soneva, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces, Whitbread, and Wyndham Worldwide Resorts have worked together to create the industry’s first jointly developed and consistent water...

It’s no secret that the hospitality industry is competitive. Online ratings and reviews continue to be a crucial resource for consumers and the rise of the sharing economy has added a whole new element to the game. Hotel owners, executives and managers know how important it is to gain and keep a competitive advantage. They often ask themselves, “How do I bring new guests through the lobby doors while keeping past guests coming back time and time again?” The answer to that question just might be something unexpected: sustainability. According to a recent survey conducted by Asia Pulp and Paper...

OAK BROOK, ILL.—The latest member of Chicago’s local food movement is B., a hyperlocal farm-to-table restaurant located at the newly renovated Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center just 30 minutes west of downtown. Centered around three core pillars; local, fresh and seasonal, B.’s “casually dramatic” identity is distinctive in every aspect of the original concept, from its modern design meets Audubon setting to its globally artistic menu designed by Executive Chef Sean Patrick Curry. Among the highlights, the 167-seat full-service restaurant, which is now officially open to the public, features a patisserie helmed by an award-winning pastry...

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK—In 1866 (not that long ago), 150 glaciers graced the spectacular alpine summits that today are within the boundaries of Glacier National Park. Today, only 25 glaciers remain large enough to be considered “functional,” say scientists who expect all the park’s glaciers to vanish by 2030. Many will disappear before that. It’s hard to imagine a better place than Glacier National Park to appreciate the impact of climate change on pristine nature. This is one park where the frequent travel admonition “now’s the time to go” is all too true—at least, if you want to see the string...

WAILEA, HAWAII—Today, Fairmont Kea Lani will hold a Power Up Celebration and blessing to mark the completion of a photovoltaic installation project. The 500 kilowatt, 1,528 panel solar installation generates 845,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, enough electricity to power 139 homes on Maui. The project is expected to reduce the resort’s current energy demand by more than 10 percent and reduce CO2e emissions by 462 metric tons of CO2e annually. This reduction in CO2e emissions is the equivalent of removing 97 passenger cars from local roads per year. “Fairmont Kea Lani’s commitment to social responsibility is deeply ingrained in...

LAS VEGAS—In 2015 Caesars Entertainment Corp. and related entities generated $4.4 million of contributed value for every $10 million in revenue, according to the company’s seventh annual Corporate Citizenship Report. The report, entitled “Connecting for #Citizenship,” covers 2015 and the first half of 2016, and showcases the positive impact on guests, employees, the environment and its communities as a result of Caesars’ many corporate responsibility initiatives.In the past four years Caesars has generated more than $39 billion enterprise-wide in economic value, including $9 billion, or 87 percent of the enterprise’s total value generated, in 2015. Furthermore, in 2015, Caesars...