LONDON—InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced the launch of the IHG Foundation, alongside details of its first beneficiaries. The IHG Foundation will run as an independent charity, and focus its activities on four key areas—helping communities to develop skills in hospitality, providing support for those impacted by disasters, facilitating local community investment and protecting the environment. IHG has an established history of responsible business practices. The IHG Foundation will build on the hugely positive impact the company has driven through its award-winning corporate responsibility initiatives over a number of years. These include the pioneering IHG Academy program, a global collaboration between...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—AccorHotels North America, Central America and the Caribbean (NCAC) announced that it is reinforcing its commitment against the sexual exploitation of children by joining the efforts of ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) in the United States by signing the Tourism Code of Conduct (The Code.) The United States is the 38th country in the AccorHotels network to sign The Code, an industry-driven initiative reinforced by UNICEF and The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).“Since 2001, AccorHotels has led the fight against sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism alongside ECPAT International...

STAMFORD, CONN.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced plans to source 100 percent of its eggs from cage-free chickens across its supply chain by 2020. “Animal welfare is important to our customers and our company, and many of our hotels around the world already use cage-free eggs,” said Andrea Pinabell, Starwood’s Vice President of Sustainability. “By transitioning to 100 percent cage-free eggs by 2020, we further our commitment to doing the right thing. Our commitment also involves our suppliers and we call on them to make this important change as well. We’re excited about our commitment and look forward to helping...

CALGARY, ALBERTA—Bullfrog Power, a leading green energy provider, and Hotel Blackfoot, a contemporary hotel minutes from downtown Calgary, announced a new environmental partnership. Bullfrog will ensure green electricity is injected onto the grid to match the amount of conventional power Hotel Blackfoot’s executive floors and meeting rooms use annually (730 MWh). The Bull Frog powering of executive floors is a first for hotels in Alberta. This commitment aligns with findings from a recent study measuring the likelihood that Canadians (84 percent) will make more environmentally-responsible choices in 2016; 75 percent in Alberta.“The hotel industry has long been a leader...

TROY, N.Y.—Environmental nonprofit Audubon International has launched the second annual BioBlitz, a free program for golf courses across the world, which will run from Earth Day, April 22, to International Migratory Bird Day, May 14.BioBlitz is a species-counting competition designed to create awareness among golfers and the general public about the environmental value of the habitats supported by golf courses. The program is open to any golf course worldwide, including those unaffiliated with Audubon International.“A BioBlitz is a great way for golf courses to bring naturalists and families out to see the natural beauty golf courses provide in their...

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—The Peninsula Manila General Manager Sonja Vodusek recently announced that the “Hope for the Philippines” The Peninsula—Gawad Kalinga (GK) Village in Maribi, Tanauan, Leyte, Philippines welcomed its first 50 residents just before Christmastime on December 8, 2015, with the last 25 houses scheduled for completion by January 27, 2016. The village will house 75 families from the coastal town of San Roque who were displaced when Super Typhoon Haiyan, named “Yolanda” by Filipino authorities—one of the most powerful storms on record to make landfall—barreled into the coastal provinces of Leyte and Samar in the Eastern Visayas region of...

LAS VEGAS—The Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Convention Center expansion is now complete with this month’s opening of the 70,000-square-foot Oceanside Ballroom. The $70 million expansion includes 350,000 square feet of new exhibit space, a 20,000-square-foot foyer and underground parking, which all opened in August. The Mandalay Bay Convention Center now boasts more than 2 million total square feet and over 900,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space with the ability to grow current shows and attract new corporate, association and incentive groups.Further solidifying what already is the largest convention center solar array in the world, the expanded Mandalay...

Name: Lorraine Francis AIA, LEED BD+CTitle: Director, NEWH Sustainable Hospitality CommitteeYears as Director: 1.5 Committee’s Primary Responsibilities: “The main focus is on the Green Voice series. We try to do three presentations at Boutique Design New York, Boutique Design West, and HD Expo. We also have two student scholarships that get awarded at HD Expo.” Additional Title: Regional Director of Hospitality Interiors, Gensler NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF.—As Director of NEWH’s Sustainable Hospitality Committee, Lorraine Francis leads monthly committee meetings in preparation for educational discussions at key industry events. She works with various subcommittees within the Sustainable Hospitality Committee and has...

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS—The Caribbean region is experiencing the impact of the effects of climate change. Sea level rise, frequent and intense natural hazards, extended dry seasons resulting in water scarcity, loss of livelihoods and the disappearance of islands are among the present-day dangers faced. The tourism sector and the environment are inextricably linked and environmentally responsible tourism is paramount to the sector’s sustainability and overall success. Tourism must be stewarded and balanced so that the benefits for the environment, the communities it serves, its employees and the economy outweigh the costs.The Conference of Parties 21 *(COP21) came to a close at...

PHOENIX—Waste Management will host hundreds of corporate leaders from global companies, representatives from municipalities across the country, experts, innovators and influencers, on February 4, 2016 at the sixth annual Executive Sustainability Forum in Scottsdale, Ariz. The day-long event will feature renowned speakers and panel discussions offering perspectives on the sustainability of recycling and the circular economy.“The topic of the sustainability of recycling is one that has garnered a great deal of attention over the past few years,” said Waste Management President and CEO, David Steiner. “It’s a topic deserving of conversation and collaboration to find solutions so that, working...