1 Hotels & Treehouse Hotels 2025 openings were announced. 1 Hotel Melbourne is opening in March 2025. Situated on the Yarra River, 1 Hotels & Homes Melbourne, the brand’s first location in Australia, will feature 277 guestrooms and 114 hotel-branded residences. The luxury property will also feature several dining options and a stunning lobby bar with breathtaking waterfront views. Other amenities include Bamford Wellness Spa, an indoor pool, a large function center and access to a 3,500-square-meter public park. The property’s biophilic design, which will include recycled and reclaimed timber from the site’s heritage wharf & shed as well as other...

BORA BORA, FRENCH POLYNESIA—Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa is now open, emerging as the newest and most captivating retreat in the luxurious Bora Bora. Having recently completed an extensive property-wide renovation and rebrand, The Westin Bora Bora is nestled at the base of the majestic Mount Otemanu, boasting the largest collection of overwater bungalows in Bora Bora, alongside expansive beachside villas. “We are excited to unveil this property as the first resort to open in Bora Bora since 2017, bringing the dream of Bora Bora alive like never before,” said César Marques, General Manager of The Westin Bora Bora Resort...

Travel, tourism and hospitality (TTH) industry firms are accountable and must take the changes taking place seriously, from Greta Thunberg’s movement to new priorities in the World Economic Forum´s agenda or the ever-growing list of world moguls taking on a leading role in the fight against climate change. For that reason, we have identified 10 sustainable tourism trends that will influence business strategies right now and the best practices that can be implemented. Each trend is an opportunity for TTH firms to provide services that align with consumer values, the Sustainability Development Goals agreed by the Member States of the United Nations as part of the...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Accor, a global leader in hospitality, has entered into an industry-pioneering three-year partnership with World Monuments Fund (WMF) to protect cultural heritage and strengthen local communities. Through this partnership, Accor will work with WMF to share their expertise, resources, and global presence on projects that enhance destinations, connect with communities, and support long-term resilience. The travel and tourism industry plays a critical role in the global economy, accounting for up to 10 percent of global GDP—and as much as 70 percent in certain countries—while supporting 10 percent of global employment. At the same time, the consequences of climate change and the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A review by the SUN DAY Campaign of data newly released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) confirms that solar has continued its decade-long streak as the nation’s fastest growing source of electricity. In its latest monthly “Electric Power Monthly” report (with data through April 30, 2024), EIA says the combination of utility-scale and small-scale (e.g., rooftop) solar increased by 25.4 percent in the first four months of 2024 compared to the first third of 2023. Small-scale solar alone grew by 19.3 percent while utility-scale solar thermal and photovoltaic expanded by 28.4 percent—substantially faster than any other energy...

NEW YORK—Preferred Travel Group, parent company of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Beyond Green, Historic Hotels of America, Historic Hotels Worldwide, PTG Consulting, and Beyond Green Travel, is reaffirming its commitment to sustainable tourism and climate action with the development of a comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CAP). Created in partnership with the Travel Foundation, a prominent international sustainable tourism organization, this initiative builds on the organization’s signing of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. It underscores Preferred Travel Group’s proactive role in leading by example to drive necessary change within the travel industry. Acknowledging the urgent need for climate leadership, scalable...

NORTH BETHESDA, MD.—Choice Hotels International, Inc., one of the world’s largest hotel companies, has installed three beehives at its corporate headquarters at the Pike & Rose development in North Bethesda in collaboration with Bee Downtown to promote sustainability and local biodiversity. Pollinating a 3-mile radius from their hives, the estimated 150,000 honeybees housed at Choice have the potential to positively impact 18,000 acres of surrounding land. A colony can produce over 100 pounds of honey in just a matter of months. Choice associates had the opportunity to vote on the design concepts for the beehives and selected a “Bee Hotel” design...

BOYERTOWN, PA.—In its continuing efforts to enhance clarity, transparency and impact in the critical fight against climate change, ClimeCo, the leading global decarbonization and environmental solutions company, has created a new online tool to match organizations with fully vetted, high-quality nature-based solution (NBS) projects in line with their specific goals, budget and priorities. Aimed at companies, foundations and investors, ClimeCo NatureLink will reduce confusion in an over-saturated marketplace, allowing concerned organizations to pursue their sustainability goals with confidence. The online questionnaire takes about 15 minutes to complete. Based on answers surrounding offtake and structure, geographic and project type preferences, use of...

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.—Carlisle Companies Inc. published its 2023 Corporate Sustainability Report, highlighting progress toward its sustainability goals through its three-pillar sustainability strategy and culture of continuous improvement fostered through the Carlisle Operating System. “Carlisle’s steadfast commitment to our sustainability goals is consistent with our core values of continuous improvement and operational excellence,” said Chris Koch, Chair, President and CEO. “The publication of our 2023 Sustainability Report highlights our continued progress on our sustainability mission—to produce products that make buildings more efficient, reduce emissions from our value stream, and manage end of life materials to reduce landfill waste.” The Carlisle 2023 Corporate Sustainability...

COLOGNE, GERMANY—HRS, the leading global corporate lodging and payment technology platform, announced that its award-winning Green Stay Initiative has now secured two prominent certifications. In late June, GUTCert, an accredited auditing organization in the European Union, conferred certification under the requirements of the International Standards Organization (ISO) 14067. The auditing process also verified that Green Stay complies with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standards. Both standards apply globally, giving multi-national corporate travel programs unrivaled assurance when they use HRS’ Green Stay Initiative to report, reduce and remove carbon emissions tied to corporate lodging. HRS is the only travel-focused...