INTERNATIONAL REPORT—The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, whose mission is to accelerate the path to net positive hospitality through strategic industry leadership, collaborative action, harmonization of metrics and regenerative solutions, issued several announcements in the last two months. First, in December it announced that Green Key Global has joined the Alliance. With standardized programs and resources tailored for the hotel and meetings industries, Green Key Global supports over 1,600 hotel properties and brands, as well as 350 venues, in their commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainable initiatives. Through their Green Key Eco-Rating Program, hotels and lodging facilities are recognized for their...

PENSACOLA BEACH, FLA.—Innisfree Hotels announces the completion of an ambitious solar power project at its Surf & Sand Hotel in Pensacola Beach. SunFarm Energy, Northwest Florida’s local solar experts, recently installed a 330-panel rooftop solar array atop the 100-room property, making it the first solar-powered commercial site in Pensacola Beach and resulting in a huge reduction in the hotel’s carbon footprint. The solar power provided by the rooftop setup will offset nearly half of the Surf & Sand’s annual energy usage and provide substantial savings on utility bills. By reducing the hotel’s carbon footprint by 50 percent, the solar project is reducing emissions...

RUEIL-MALMAISON, FRANCE—Schneider Electric, a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced its 2023 sustainability impact performance as part of its full-year financial results. The Schneider Sustainability Impact score for the year exceeded expectations, reaching 6.13 out of 10, and surpassing the year-end target of 6 out of 10. Schneider Electric was also recognized as a top performer by independent environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings throughout the year. Schneider Electric’s strong performance spans what was the hottest year on record—serving to highlight the importance of collective action to decarbonize business operations and value chains to avoid the...

BETHESDA, MD.—Pebblebrook Hotel Trust announced that it published its fifth annual Environmental Sustainability and Social Responsibility Report covering the company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance in 2022 and its commitment to environmentally sustainable business practices and social responsibility to its employees and other stakeholders. Pebblebrook’s 2023 ESG Report is aligned with international reporting standards such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and includes pivotal disclosures in accordance with the Real Estate Sustainability Accounting Standard of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). It also demonstrates Pebblebrook’s proactive approach in evaluating and planning for sustainability risks following the guidelines of the...

LOS ANGELES—Bentley Mills, Inc. continues to raise the bar on sustainable design and manufacturing transparency, announcing that all carpet products manufactured by Bentley carry Declare labels and have achieved third-party verified LBC Red List Free status through the Living Building Challenge (LBC), one of the world’s highest performance standards for healthy buildings. LBC Red List Free products disclose 100 percent of ingredients to 100 ppm and do not contain any Red List chemicals of concern. “We choose to manufacture in California where some of the most rigorous environmental legislation in the country is adopted, setting Bentley apart from others in our industry. All...

NEOM, SAUDI ARABIA—Luxury ecotourism in Saudi Arabia has taken a major step forward with the announcement of Zardun, an exclusive sanctuary resort developed by NEOM, the sustainable region taking shape in the northwest of the Kingdom. Announced by the NEOM Board of Directors, Zardun has been designed to seamlessly blend contemporary luxury with nature. The unique destination is the latest in a series of coastal assets that form part of the ongoing development taking place across the NEOM region. Overlooking the crystalline waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, Zardun is a nature-based resort that will host four ultra-luxury signature buildings, all of which will...

XCARET, RIVIERA MAYA—Xcaret announced that Hotel Xcaret Arte, an exclusive award-winning all-inclusive luxury hotel located along the shores of the Mexican Caribbean, has been recognized as a winner in the 2023 Sustainable Luxury Awards. The hotel, which pays homage to Mexican art, invites guests to live art from its creation and immerse themselves in sensorial experiences in sophisticated spaces while promoting a sustainable lifestyle through the innovative All-Fun Inclusive concept. The full list of awards can be found on Sustainable Luxury Awards | Winners. “We are grateful and honored for receiving this prestigious award that recognizes, celebrates, and promotes the most sustainable luxury places...

BROOMFIELD, COLO.—Vail Resorts, Inc. announced the release of its 2022/23 Environmental & Social Responsibility Report. In 2017, Vail Resorts announced Commitment to Zero, a bold goal to achieve a zero net operating footprint by 2030, including zero net emissions, zero waste to landfill, and zero net operating impact to forests and habitat. The company shared it is ahead of schedule to reach its emissions goals, and on track for the broader goal of reaching a zero net operating footprint by 2030. With a commitment to make its mountain resorts more sustainable and inclusive, the company has made progress across all four pillars of...

AMSTERDAM—As nature faces unprecedented pressures, with human activity the leading cause for one million animal and plant species being pushed to the brink of extinction, GRI has published a major update to its Biodiversity Standard. Setting a new global benchmark in accountability for biodiversity impacts, GRI 101: Biodiversity 2024 supports organizations around the world to comprehensively disclose their most significant impacts on biodiversity, throughout their operations and value chain. Enabling companies to meet growing demands from multiple stakeholders for information on biodiversity impacts, the GRI Biodiversity Standard delivers: Full transparency throughout the supply chain—often where the most significant impacts on biodiversity can go...

DOMINICA—The Commonwealth of Dominica, the resilient and eco-conscious island nation, has earned a spot in the prestigious list of Top 10 Sustainable Destinations in 2024 by BBC Travel. This recognition emphasizes Dominica’s steadfast commitment to sustainability, resilience, and environmental preservation. In the face of adversity, particularly Tropical Storm Erika and Hurricane Maria, Dominica demonstrated remarkable resilience, earning praise from BBC Travel for its determined efforts in rebuilding and embracing sustainability. Prime Minister of Dominica, Honorable Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit, is well on his way in transforming Dominica into the “world’s first climate resilient nation” and propelling the nation towards becoming a...