PUERTO RICO—Following the success of the inaugural Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) last year, the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Assn. has scheduled CHIEF to return to El Conquistador Resort, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Puerto Rico, September 30 through October 2, 2016. This year’s program will expand its educational offerings by incorporating a Technology track in addition to sessions in Operations, Sustainability and Sales & Marketing.The educational tracks, led by experts in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry, provide CHTA’s membership with tactics that generate revenue and increase efficiency. Another program highlight is the professional development opportunities offered...

ATLANTA—For years the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead has been recognized as a leader in sustainability. In 2014 the hotel was named a Good Earthkeeping Award winner in the Large Property category by the American Hotel & Lodging Assn. In 2013 the property was featured in Green Lodging News for its rainwater harvesting system that has since been expanded to 50,000 gallons. Within the next month or so, according to Wes Shirley, Director of Engineering, the 439-room hotel will add a 20-panel solar thermal system to its roof. That system will provide all of the heat needed for guestroom...

UBUD, INDONESIA—Nestled in the heart of Ubud, where ancient stone carvings, scenic plantations, and rich cultural traditions await exploration, Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve invites young experience collectors to go on a learning adventure with its new immersive program, “Mini Explorers” at Mandapa Camp. Tailored for children or the entire family to enjoy, Mini Explorers offers a chance to learn new skills, make new friends, and take part in a wide range of creative activities, all under expert supervision.Tucked away amidst rice paddies, the expansive Mandapa Camp facility includes an organic garden, an enlightening Kid’s Hut, and an educational farm...

QUITO, ECUADOR—Seismic explorations planned by Chinese Oil Company Sinopec have led the Ecuadorian eco-tourism company, Tropic, to close the internationally recognized and award-winning Huaorani Ecolodge, a community tourism program operated in conjunction with the Huaorani people on the fringes of Yasuní National Park. Tropic Ecuador will halt until further notice welcoming guests to the Huaorani Ecolodge (at the headwaters of the Amazon in the remote jungles of Ecuador). The announcement was made by Jascivan Carvalho, Founder and Director of Tropic Ecuador, a National Geographic award-winning ecotourism company based in Quito. Since 1994, Tropic has led tours through the country’s most engaging...

BETHESDA, MD.—Tens of thousands of Marriott International associates worldwide have begun delivering Marriott’s brand of hospitality beyond hotel doors as part of the company’s 18th annual Spirit To Serve Our Communities Day volunteer initiative. Globally this year as part of Spirit To Serve, Marriott anticipated record breaking engagement, with nearly 35,000 associates in 50 countries expected to deliver about 90,000 volunteer hours—the equivalent of 30 years of work. The Spirit To Serve Our Communities Day took place on May 18.While volunteering with local community organizations is a year-round commitment, Spirit To Serve Day—Marriott’s largest single-day volunteer effort event at...

OAKVILLE, CANADA—Green Key Global, EcoStay Certified and Greenview, three leaders in hospitality sector environmental stewardship, announced a triple partnership that will encourage hoteliers across Canada and beyond to join forces in meaningful sustainability. The partnership will enable property owners and managers to fund important conservation projects, measure their progress, and be a part of a shared environmental legacy of nature and beauty.Green Key Global is a leading environmental certification body whose five level eco-rating program helps members leverage organizational Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities to support sustainable initiatives, and improve overall fiscal performance and community relations.EcoStay Certified is a...

PALMA, MAJORCA, SPAIN—Meliá Hotels International recently announced three new hotels in Africa, Indian Ocean and Central Asia. The property in Africa, the Meliá Serengeti Lodge in Tanzania, scheduled to open in June 2017, will be Meliá Hotels International’s first green hotel. Located on the natural terraces on the southern slopes of Nyamuma, with spectacular views over the peaceful valley of the Mbalageti River, the hotel will be 45 minutes from Seronera Airport in the Serengeti National Park, the oldest and most popular National Park in Tanzania, on the western border of Lake Victoria, considered a World Heritage Site. To...

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), announced that entries for the HICAP 2016 Sustainable Hotel Awards are now being accepted. The deadline for Awards submissions is August 1, 2016. The 27th annual HICAP will be held October 19 to 21, 2016, at the InterContinental Hong Kong.The HICAP Sustainable Hotel Awards were launched in 2007 with the aim of recognizing hotel operators and developers in the Asia Pacific region who demonstrate exemplary sustainable practices and environmentally and culturally responsible development. The goal through...

ATLANTA—InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces the opening of the newly-renovated, InterContinental New York Barclay, which made its grand debut to New York society in 1926 as one of the original “Railroad” hotels. For generations the hotel served as one of New York’s most preferred addresses and now, The Barclay is celebrating its return following a $180 million, 20-month top-to-bottom renovation with more than 420,000 square feet of redesigned interiors. The revitalized hotel brings to life The Barclay Experience—quintessential New York sensibility, sustainable practices and a celebration of the thriving, fast-paced local culture, while continuing to offer international expertise. These...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton Worldwide awarded more than $320,000 to the 117 recipients of the 2016 Travel with Purpose Action Grants. Grants are awarded to Hilton properties and corporate offices that submit the most creative ideas to drive value for their hotels and strengthen the local communities where they operate.“Now in our fourth year, Travel with Purpose Action Grants have been awarded to more than 300 properties providing over $880,000 to support projects around the world,” said Maxime Verstraete, Vice President of Sustainability, Hilton Worldwide. “The grants are a clear demonstration of our team members’ spirit of creativity and hospitality in...