BERLIN, GERMANY—With focus on its ambitious goal of becoming the first net zero CO2-emission hostel chain in Europe by 2025, a&o Hostels, the world’s largest hostel chain, has released the a&o Sustainability Report 2023, the second annual account documenting its efforts and progress on sustainability issues while serving as an inspiration—even a road map—for other hospitality operators to follow suit. The report offers comprehensive analysis of key sustainability issues and the company’s approach to them over the past year. “At a&o, we are convinced that traveling should be possible for everyone. Travel educates, broadens horizons and creates intercultural understanding,” explains founder and CEO Oliver...

MINNEAPOLIS—Tennant Company, a world leader in designing, manufacturing, and marketing solutions to reinvent how the world cleans, has released its annual Sustainability Report. The report, detailing achievements for the 2023 fiscal year, also marks the first year of reporting on the company’s Thriving People. Healthy Planet. sustainability framework. “Our Thriving People. Healthy Planet. framework is rooted in our daily activity to integrate sustainability into every aspect of our business,” said President and CEO Dave Huml. “We’re proud of the work we’ve accomplished and of the bold goals we’ve set—ambitions that will create shared value for our company, people, communities, and the planet.” Launched in 2023, Tennant’s...

DARIEN, CONN.—Nuveen Green Capital, a leader in sustainable commercial real estate financing solutions, announced that it has closed on both the Thompson Hollywood and the tommie Hollywood in Los Angeles, for a combined total of $90.4 million in C-PACE financing to recapitalize both properties. C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) is a flexible financing mechanism that provides commercial property owners and developers access to low-cost, long-term, fixed-rate financing for properties under construction, recently completed, or undergoing rehab. These improvements are centered around providing energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy, and resiliency measures to these commercial real estate projects. C-PACE, available...

When Marriott speaks, the entire industry listens, and so it will with the company’s 2024 Serve 360 Report highlighting the company’s global Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts and progress toward its 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Goals. The Report reflects data for the calendar year ended December 31, 2023. The Report can be accessed here. Marriott now consists of more than 30 brands, and more than 8,700 properties in 139 countries and territories. In its report, Marriott separates its 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact goals into four areas: Nurture Our World, Sustain Responsible Operations, Empower Through Opportunity, and Welcome All and...

NOTTINGHAM, U.K.—Environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting headaches could be a thing of the past, after Ideagen, a leader in regulatory and compliance software, announced a new strategic partnership to create Ideagen Carbon Accounting set to be a disruptor in the complex world of greenhouse gas emissions measurement. Using ​​generative artificial intelligence (AI), the solution dramatically streamlines the complex requirements of carbon accounting, helping businesses to deliver on emissions reporting to the highest regulatory standards. Ideagen already has more than 16,000 customers globally, many of whom already use their environmental, health and safety and financial reporting solutions. Clients have shared that...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. released its 2024 Serve 360 Report highlighting the company’s global Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) efforts and progress toward its 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Goals. The Report reflects data for the calendar year ended December 31, 2023. The Report can be accessed here. This year, the Report features an “Around The World Highlights” addendum, which showcases ESG initiatives spanning each of the company’s regions—Asia Pacific excluding China; Caribbean & Latin America; Europe, Middle East & Africa; Greater China; and United States & Canada—and performance tables and appendices with key supporting information and data. “At Marriott International, we take great pride...

Name: Ryan Butler Title: Corporate Director, Sustainability + Energy Years in Current Position: One year and 9 months. Primary Responsibilities: “Looking at our brand and local compliance standards. Understanding what brand needs are, as well as investor needs. Handling utility procurement. Explaining the renewable energy credits market. Educating around sustainability.” Company’s most significant accomplishment in sustainability: “One to highlight is releasing six sustainability reports. It shows continued transparency. When comparing our first report with our 2024 report, it is like night and day.” Company’s most significant challenge moving forward in sustainability: “Education for ownership groups and translating sustainability initiatives for the groups. Making sure...

HONOLULU—Governor Josh Green, M.D. signed into law a bill incorporating regenerative tourism frameworks into the Hawaiʻi State Planning Act in a ceremony at his office on June 28, attended by legislative leaders, community proponents, and Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) leadership. “Sustainable tourism is essential for the future of our state,” said Governor Green. “This bill ensures that our visitor industry grows in a way that respects and preserves our cultural heritage while promoting economic diversification.” Senate Bill 2659, introduced by Senators Jarrett Keohokalole and Les Ihara, Jr. and championed by the Native Hawaiian Caucus in both chambers of the Legislature, incorporates...

LAS VEGAS—Caesars Entertainment, Inc., the largest casino-entertainment company in the U.S., released its 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility report. The report highlights the company’s progress in environmental impact, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, Team Member development, community investment and more. “At Caesars Entertainment, we’re committed to continuing to develop, diversify and achieve our CSR goals,” said Heather Rapp, SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility for Caesars Entertainment. “We’ve been in a period of progress as we met and exceeded our interim emission reduction goals three years ahead of schedule, and because of that work, we were able to implement new, more ambitious goals...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) will work with the Biden Administration during Greenbuild to announce plans to create a new national definition of a zero-emissions building. This is the future of buildings, and the definition will be an important tool for establishing a common understanding of what it really means to be a zero operating emissions building. As financial institutions, investors, and insurers grapple with climate risks, USGBC sees the baseline established by this definition as key to evolving market expectations. USGBC is currently developing the next phase of the LEED rating system—LEED v5—and is committed to aligning the new rating systems by including specific LEED certifications designed to certify projects to the national definition. LEED, which launched the green building revolution 30...