ATLANTA—IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announced a partnership with Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition to turn guest spending into support of reforestation projects around the world. During the month of October, IHG will donate $2, the approximate cost of growing one tree, to Conservation International for their tree restoration work, for any transaction of $50 or more on a Mastercard card at select IHG-branded properties in the US*. Guided by Conservation International and World Resources Institute, the Priceless Planet Coalition is a program that unites corporate sustainability efforts and engages businesses and consumers to...

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND—As the rise of greenwashing practices threaten to undermine the authenticity of hotels’ sustainability efforts, Rupp Public Relations, a communications agency based in Munich, and MAp Boutique Consultancy, a Zurich-based and B Corp-certified boutique hotel consultancy, have joined forces to present the industry with a set of practical communication solutions. With the release of The Sustainable Hotel Handbook: Communication and the launch of the 2nd season of The S-Word Podcast: The Sustainable Hotel, hotels are now armed with the tools they need to authentically communicate their sustainability strategies, mitigate greenwashing, and inspire genuine change. Why Effectively Communicating Sustainability Efforts...

NATIONAL REPORT—To lead people and organizations successfully in the coming years, leaders need to have a clear understanding of these trends and how to implement them while considering the specific needs of their organizations and the context of their market. In this article, we’ll discuss the top five trends influencing global hospitality businesses, and their leadership, today. And we’ll offer some suggestions for how to get started in these areas, whether with your own ideas and initiatives, or some upskilling and education to get a boost. Digital Leadership & Technology Integration As technology continues to play a significant role in the hospitality...

PARIS—For the seventh year, Relais & Châteaux and Slow Food present their annual Food for Change campaign to protect local biodiversity and promote sustainable food consumption. Since 2014, Relais & Châteaux has been striving to make a better world through cuisine and hospitality in a manifesto presented to UNESCO. One of the association’s 20 commitments is “to preserve the diversity of cuisines and hospitality in this world so that future generations can know and share in their richness.” Each year since 2016, Relais & Châteaux chefs have been participating in the Slow Food movement to promote good, clean, and fair food for...

GÖTEBERG, SWEDEN—PulPac, a pioneering leader in sustainable packaging solutions with its Dry Molded Fiber technology, announced the appointment of Nathalie Bödtker-Lund as its new Head of Impact and Sustainability. With a proven track record and extensive experience, Bödtker-Lund brings expertise and passion to the PulPac team. In her new role, Bödtker-Lund will lead PulPac’s strategic initiatives to enhance the company’s commitment to sustainability further and drive positive impact across the industry. She will work closely with cross-functional teams to develop and implement innovative sustainability practices that align with PulPac’s mission to replace single-use plastics. “We are truly excited to welcome Nathalie...

Colorado has passed nation-leading standards that will reduce climate-damaging emissions from large buildings, helping transform them into safe, healthy, energy efficient, and livable homes and workplaces. This Rocky Mountain model should be adopted by other states to help save their residents on costly energy bills and advance equity while acting on climate. Known as a Building Performance Standard, Colorado’s new policy will decrease greenhouse gas emissions from large commercial and residential buildings 20 percent by 2030 and is an essential measure to ensure Colorado meets its climate targets. Buildings are the third largest polluting sector in Colorado, accounting for 20 percent of greenhouse gas...

MIAMI—ABCO Cleaning Products, a leading provider of sustainable cleaning tools, announced that its Natura Yarn Mops have been nominated for the 2023 ISSA Show Innovation Award. ABCO’s Natura Yarn Wet and Dry Mops are produced using sustainable and innovative manufacturing processes. This product line has helped reduce nine million pounds of clothing scrap waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. “We’re grateful to have been nominated for this year’s ISSA Show Innovation Award,” shared Carlos Albir, Jr., Vice President of Operations at ABCO. “Finding innovative and sustainable cleaning solutions that help protect the planet is at the heart of our mission. This...

ROCKVILLE, MD.—Avendra, the leading hospitality procurement services provider in North America, announced it has joined with other industry leaders as a founding member of the Hospitality Alliance for Responsible Procurement (HARP), a collaborative effort whose purpose is to improve sustainability throughout the entire hospitality supply chain. The Alliance includes major hospitality industry peers, Accor, Hilton, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, and Radisson Hotel Group and fellow group purchasing organization Entegra. EcoVadis, an independent sustainability ratings agency, will coordinate the efforts of HARP. Suppliers who participate will become part of a shared supplier pool open to all Alliance members. “Avendra understands...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Marriott International, EcoVadis and several leading global hospitality organizations—Accor, Hilton, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotel Group, and two global hospitality group purchasing organizations, Avendra and Entegra—last week announced the launch of the Hospitality Alliance for Responsible Procurement (HARP). Driven by members’ commitment to improve sustainability performance, the Alliance will work to accelerate sustainable practices by fostering close collaboration with trading partners to build transparency and scale positive impact across their value chains. “As companies seek to engage their value chain partners in their sustainability efforts, they realize the complex scope, as well as common challenges, in their own sector,”...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has introduced a draft of its LEED v5 Operations and Maintenance (O+M) rating system for existing buildings. LEED v5 is the newest version of LEED. It marks a transformative milestone in the built environment’s alignment with a low-carbon future and addresses critical imperatives such as equity, health, ecosystems, and resilience. The LEED rating system is the world’s preeminent green building certification system, with more than 100,000 projects certified globally. While the launch of LEED v5 begins with existing buildings, LEED v5 for Building Design and Construction (BD+C) will roll out in 2024. In conjunction with the...