NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS—The Bahamas has been awarded the prestigious Caribbean Destination Resilience Award by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) in collaboration with the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST). This award is a testament to The Bahamas’ unwavering commitment to sustainability and resilience in tourism, aligning with the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Caribbean Destination Resilience Award acknowledges destinations that exhibit a deliberate focus on resiliency, particularly through innovative strategies and collaborative efforts that engage both public and private sector stakeholders. The Bahamas’ exemplary initiatives in addressing climate change and fostering...

NEW YORK—The Good Plastic Company was prominently featured in Metropolis’ Sustainability Lab at NeoCon 2024, held June 10 to 12 at THE MART in Chicago. Climate designer and Studio O+A Co-Founder Verda Alexander selected the company’s revolutionary Polygood––100 percent recycled and recyclable plastic panels––as the primary material for the 27 display pedestals throughout the space. Utilizing nearly 1,000 pounds of recycled plastics, Polygood’s presence in the Lab is a true case study for circularity, demonstrating the importance of thoughtful planning and material selection to minimize environmental impact. The Lab took visitors on a transformative journey, diving into the latest...

This month is World Oceans Month, a time to recognize the current state of our oceans and, if possible, do something about it. One way to help our oceans is to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated at your property. Did you know that 60 to 80 percent of the pollution in our ocean comes from plastic and an estimated 100,000 marine mammals and up to 1 million sea birds die each year after ingesting or being tangled in plastic marine litter? I heard from several people this month regarding World Oceans Month. First, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) announced...

GULF BREEZE, FLA.—With National Oceans Month this month, Innisfree Hotels is welcoming guests to engage in sustainable activities at its more than two dozen properties in coastal Florida and across the Southeastern U.S. “At Innisfree, we partner with locally led organizations to ensure we have a positive impact in the communities where we live and work,” said Bethanne Edwards, Director of Sustainability at Innisfree Hotels. “Our local sustainability partnerships center around environmental conservation, education, advocacy and community-building efforts.” With so many beach- and waterfront properties in its portfolio, Innisfree Hotels’ environmental initiatives naturally include ones that specifically benefit oceans and waterways....

MONTEVERDE, COSTA RICA—Hotel Belmar in Costa Rica is redefining what it means to create a local experience for guests through its new menu and sustainability initiatives. The award-winning, carbon-neutral hotel’s dining including Restaurante Celajes, Cervecería Belmar, and its Juice Bar and Tea Room take a hyper local approach to sourcing ingredients, prioritizing sustainable practices. Under the creative guidance of Chef Alvaro Rodríguez, the hotel’s new menu iterations highlight organic produce and ingredients sourced from the hotel’s expanded organic garden, the carbon-neutral farm Finca Madre Tierra, and local foraging. The new menu was intentionally designed to lower the hotel’s carbon footprint, with a...

TAIPEI, TAIWAN—Silks Hotel Group (SHG), a multinational hotel chain based in Taiwan, partnered with the nonprofit animal protection organization, Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan, and the Taiwan Mennonite New Dawn Educare Center for people living with physical or intellectual disabilities, to advocate for sustainable practices in Taiwan’s livestock industry. Their collaboration was unveiled at a press conference recently, where SHG pledged to purchase free-range eggs as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts and in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SHG announced that by the end of 2026, all restaurants in Regent Taipei will fully transition to using free-range eggs,...

PARIS—Novotel, Accor’s founding brand, announced the launch of an international partnership with WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) that will see Novotel champion the protection and restoration of the ocean through science-based action and conservation projects. WWF is a global leader in building a sustainable future for people and the planet. Under the three-year agreement, from 2024 to 2027, WWF France will provide technical expertise to Novotel, helping its 580 hotels worldwide to have a positive impact on the ocean, challenging and guiding the brand and its properties throughout many aspects of its operations. The partnership will also see Novotel sponsoring several...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added Greenview to the Software/Utility Analytics for ESG Reports section of its Green Product & Service Directory. The Greenview Portal is a sustainability management system designed by industry experts for the hospitality sector. With its centralized cloud-based platform, managing sustainability has never been easier: Manage efficient collaboration among teams while streamlining data capture processes. Monitor progress with ready-to-go reports and high-level performance dashboards, including scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions capture. Attain globally recognized certifications through expert guidance and support in mastering sustainability best practices. Centralize documentation of your sustainability efforts for better reporting and...

WAILEA, HAWAII—Hawaii’s five-star, five-diamond Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea announces the launch of the Blue Aina guest experience, an addition to the Resort’s Malama Hawaii program. Launching in tandem with National Oceans Month, this new initiative aims to cultivate a sense of ocean conservation and environmental stewardship among guests, providing a unique and educational adventure that underscores the Resort’s unwavering dedication to regenerative travel, tourism, and sustainability. The term “Blue Aina,” translating to “Blue Land,” symbolizes the interconnectedness of land and sea, echoing the shared responsibility to protect and preserve the environment. This ethos embodies the essence of Four Seasons Resort Maui and is reflected in...

MILWAUKEE, WIS.—PACE Equity, the leader in PACE financing for renovation and development projects, has upgraded its groundbreaking financial product, CIRRUS Low Carbon. The product continues to offer a substantially lower rate when applicants pursue a lower-carbon design. To continue positioning CIRRUS Low Carbon as a strategic funding tool, the low-carbon requirements have been updated to consider modern building practices, federal incentives, and client inputs. An ongoing champion for sustainable construction, the newly modernized CIRRUS Low Carbon specification now includes options for low embodied carbon concrete as well as electric vehicle charging readiness as the program continues to demonstrate advantages...