OAK BROOK, ILL.—The Monarch butterfly population has been in decline, but the Illinois state insect is getting some unlikely help with their migration in the western suburbs of Chicago. At the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center, which features a Horticultural Gallery on its 150 acres of Audubon-certified grounds, waystations are attracting Monarchs on their annual trek south. Due to the spirited efforts of hotel staff and horticulturalist Karen Paquin, who has created an official on-site Monarch habitat, the beloved pollinator is dropping by in significant numbers. “It’s encouraging to see so many Monarchs enjoy our beautiful...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Twenty-five years after its founding, The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) is still going strong with more than 14,700 members. Earlier this year its annual Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) in Ecuador drew more than 500 attendees from 46 countries. An ESTC is already being planned for April 25 to 28 in Botswana and for the first time ever there will be an ESTC America—at the University of South Florida in Tampa from January 25 to 27. The Tampa event will be limited to 220 participants.As strong as TIES has been over the years, 2015 is turning into...

PARIS—In celebration of its 10 year commitment to the ISO 14001 certification, the internationally recognized standard for environmental management systems, AccorHotels has led two studies that assess the benefits of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on guest satisfaction and hotel performance. The surveys were conducted by Accenture and Ernst & Young (EY) in 2015 and revealed three key findings on the positive impact of CSR: increased guest satisfaction; improved hotel profitability; and increased loyalty of key BtoB customers.“We have been committed to sustainable development for over 20 years and always believed that, as well as being essential to preserve our...

WEST CALDWELL, N.J.—MaxLite recently teamed with Habitat for Humanity to build homes in partnership with more than 200 low-income families during Habitat for Humanity’s annual Home Builders Blitz. “MaxLite is proud to support Habitat for Humanity’s home-building efforts and to make quality, energy-efficient lighting accessible for families in need of affordable housing,” said MaxLite CEO Yon Sung.During the annual building event, Habitat for Humanity recruits and partners with local professional builders, who in turn provide labor, funding and materials while coordinating the project through its completion. This partnership allows Habitat affiliates to serve more families without the usual tasks...

SPRINGFIELD, MO.—John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts (JQH) and Convoy of Hope announced their new national philanthropic partnership at an event at JQH’s University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Springfield, Mo. Called JQH’s Legacy of Giving, the joint cause initiative will focus on feeding the world’s hungry children and tackling systemic poverty in the United States and globally, which are at the heart of Convoy of Hope’s mission since it was established more than 20 years ago. JQH CEO Jacquie Dowdy and Convoy of Hope Co-Founder Dave Donaldson made the announcement at the launch event.JQH’s Legacy of Giving...

DENVER—Showcasing more than a decade of leadership while taking on the challenge of climate change, global hospitality company Xanterra Parks & Resorts has released its 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, defining and measuring its innovative sustainability improvements. The report also announces ambitious stretch targets for the next decade.The report presents details of improvements measured against goals announced in 2004. The company tracks its environmental performance across all aspects of its operations using an ISO 14001 audited program launched in 2002.Xanterra entities include lodges, restaurants, tours and activities in national and state parks, as well as resorts, a cruise line,...

CHICAGO—United Airlines and Wyndham Worldwide are working together to reduce carbon emissions associated with corporate air travel. The hospitality company, which is one of the largest in the world, has agreed to become an official launch partner for United’s Eco-Skies CarbonChoice corporate carbon offset program. The Eco-Skies CarbonChoice program enables the airline’s corporate customers to track and offset the emissions stemming from their business travel and freight shipments on United at the enterprise level.“As the only U.S. airline to offer a corporate carbon offset program, United’s CarbonChoice program represents another way for us to broaden and partner with our...

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF.—Grand Pacific Resorts, a timeshare management company with three resorts in the Lake Tahoe area, presented the League to Save Lake Tahoe with a $1,200 check on June 15, 2015, to support the organization’s advocacy work. The presentation came at the conclusion of a two-day scavenger hunt involving four travel bloggers, who competed to raise funds for the environmental group and the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe.“Preserving this beautiful area is important to us, our owners, and our guests,” explained Renee Wagner, RRP, Director of Marketing at Grand Pacific Resorts. “They come to our resorts in Tahoe...

NEW YORK—Skal International, the world’s largest multi-discipline travel and tourism organization, has endorsed Sustainable Travel International’s 10 MILLION BETTER campaign, which aims to monitor and scale up social and environmental benefits from travel and tourism, and to protect the resources on which the industry depends.The initiative convenes leading tourism corporations, organizations, and destinations around the goal of tracking and demonstrating improvements in the lives of at least 10 million people and their families by 2025, including growth in income and opportunity, and better protection of destinations’ natural, cultural and heritage sites. To enable travel and tourism destinations and businesses...

ANAHEIM, CALIF.—Sixty years ago this month, Walt Disney dedicated his dream project: Disneyland—a land beyond the boundaries of the motion pictures with which he’d made his reputation, a park where families and guests of all ages could be immersed in worlds of fantasy and adventure.As part of its Diamond Celebration, the Disneyland Resort honored 60 years of that dream by announcing “Million Dollar Dazzle” at a ceremony at Sleeping Beauty Castle. Each month during the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration, the Million Dollar Dazzle Crew will surprise one or more local nonprofits that exemplify Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ Better...