According to The Nature Conservancy, approximately 41 million trees are cut down every day—far faster than we are currently replanting them. The consequences of deforestation and other types of land degradation are severe, exacerbating climate change, biodiversity loss, and declines in ecosystem services that hundreds of millions of people depend on. In response, governments around the world have committed to restore 160 million hectares—an area larger than South Africa. But it will take more than government action to execute on these commitments; the private sector has an important role to play, too. That is why I tip my hat today...

Name: Daniella Foster Title: Senior Director, Global Corporate Responsibility Company: Hilton Years in Current Position: Two years, seven months Primary Responsibilities: “I lead global strategy, business integration, youth economic opportunity, social and environmental investments, signature partnerships and ESG reporting across Hilton’s value chain.” Organization’s most significant sustainability-related accomplishment: “Last year we relaunched Travel With Purpose with 2030 goals. Part of those 2030 goals included a lot of industry firsts.” Organization’s most significant sustainability-related challenge moving forward: “The No. 1 challenge is to engage the guest in this journey and help them understand what sustainable travel looks like—the guest engagement piece and how we gamify that.” MCLEAN,...

SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M.—In honor of National Pollinators Week, Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa, a luxury resort located on the Santa Ana Pueblo, is encouraging guests to visit and experience the property’s honey in culinary dishes, specialty drinks and spa treatments. “We began keeping beehives at Tamaya with the simple goal of helping honeybees, which as most people know are under immense stress and populations are declining dramatically,” said Claudia Wattenberg, General Manager at Hyatt Regency Tamaya. “It’s a wonderful bonus that the bees provide us with a small amount of honey we can offer to our guests in...

PUNTA CANA, D.R.—Iberostar Group has opened a new land-based coral lab in the heart of the Caribbean. The lab, officially unveiled June 8 for World Oceans Day, was created to help protect essential ocean life from rising global temperatures in the future—and defend against a new fast-moving coral pandemic today. Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) has cut a ghostly wake of bleached-out coral bones from Central Florida, where it first appeared in 2014, to Mexico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, and now the Dominican Republic, where it suddenly arrived in March. Dr. Megan Morikawa, Iberostar’s Director of Sustainability, who...

PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc., a global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies, has released its 2018 corporate sustainability report, Accelerating Meaningful Change, which highlights its work with leading companies throughout the world to reduce environmental impact and drive cost savings. The 2018 publication is Ecolab’s 12th annual corporate sustainability report. “Whether it’s saving water or reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions, there’s a growing realization that these priorities go hand-in-hand with business growth and profitability,” said Ecolab Chairman and CEO Douglas M. Baker, Jr. “By the nature of our work, we help companies achieve their operational and sustainability goals.” Highlights from...

BOULDER, COLO.—Between Botswana ending its five-year ban on elephant hunting and giraffes being considered for the endangered species list, there’s good reason to be concerned about wildlife conservation in the face of climate change, poaching and overpopulation. Yet there are conservation success stories to tout, too—and eco-conscious wildlife tourism certainly plays a part. Natural Habitat Adventures, a global leader in responsible nature travel and the conservation travel partner of World Wildlife Fund, takes travelers to destinations where some threatened and endangered wildlife species are doing better in recent years. According to the United Nations, travelers are a driving force for positive...

MARIPOSA, CALIF.—AutoCamp announced that AutoCamp Yosemite officially opened its full facilities, including its clubhouse and pool, last month. AutoCamp Yosemite, located a three-hour drive from San Francisco and adjacent to the town of Mariposa, Calif., is the third and largest of the outdoor hospitality properties under the AutoCamp brand. The property features 102 customized Airstream suites, luxury tents, and cabins, as well as a two-story clubhouse, communal fire pits, heated pool, and natural pond. “AutoCamp’s mission is to connect people with the outdoors and each other, and AutoCamp Yosemite represents a landmark moment for our team, the local community, and...

KOHLER, WIS.—Kohler Co., a global leader in the design and manufacture of kitchen and bath products, has released its third public Social Impact report. As in years past, the report examines Kohler’s efforts to reduce its environmental footprint and positively impact local and global communities. The company’s report centers on three key programmatic areas: Stewardship, Innovation for Good (IfG) and Sustainability. This year, a new format offers the report in two different versions, one focusing on key metrics and the other highlighting achievements through visual storytelling focusing on people, events, actions and partnerships. Kohler’s social impact work continues to be...

BOULDER, COLO.—Beginning July 6, 2019, America’s first national park is the setting for another historic innovation: the World’s First Zero Waste Adventure, created by Natural Habitat Adventures (Nat Hab). Kicking off in Bozeman, Mont. and moving through the northern region of Yellowstone National Park this first-ever waste-conscious endeavor will attempt to divert (refuse, recycle, compost, upcycle, or reuse) 99 percent or more of all waste produced as part of Nat Hab-sponsored trip operations.* Fourteen travelers will participate, guided by two naturalist Expedition Leaders. Natural Habitat Adventures, the conservation travel partner of World Wildlife Fund, designed the project in part to raise awareness of the role that plastic waste...

SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIF.—In January 2019, Green Spa Network (GSN) launched its first sustainability research survey to collect information from its members regarding their environmental efforts in their businesses. The response has been positive and since then, monthly surveys have been collected and have given GSN great insight into where its members are and how to best direct them on their sustainability journey. Conducted surveys have been geared towards gaining knowledge to increase members’ ability to successfully transform their businesses into socially and environmentally responsible organizations. A few of the findings show GSN that: 84 percent of members say consumers are...