MADRID, SPAIN—A major new report by World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Trip.com Group, together with Deloitte, reveals a heightened appetite for sustainable tourism amongst consumers, with 69 percent of travelers actively seeking sustainable travel options. In this follow-up report, WTTC joined forces again with leading global travel service provider, Trip.com Group and its major consumer brands Trip.com, Ctrip and Skyscanner, with additional data sourced from Deloitte, to analyze the trends that shaped the Travel & Tourism sector last year and will continue to do so over 2023. The report, “A world in motion: shifting consumer travel trends in 2022 and beyond”, shows...

In recent years, Green Lodging News has published articles about companies that offer machines that transform moisture in the air to drinking water. It is a great idea of course and when matched with a glass bottling system can do a great job at eliminating plastic bottle waste. This past week, Accor announced that it is partnering with SOURCE Global, PBC to bring reusable glass bottled drinking water—water from the air—to key hotels in Singapore. Unique to this water is that it is made by SOURCE Hydropanels—a ground-breaking solar-powered technology that harvests the pure, endlessly renewable water vapor in the...

NORTH TAHOE, NEV.—Late last year, Fodor’s published its 2023 “No List”—the places travelers should avoid in the new year. Included on the list was Lake Tahoe, a place where Fodor’s says “nature needs a break” primarily because of the effect that sediment and emissions from heavy traffic have on the lake’s clarity. According to The Mercury News, “The Fodors article quoted Andy Chapman, President and CEO of Travel North Tahoe Nevada (TNTNV) as saying tourism and hospitality leaders are trying to find ‘creative solutions to take cars off the road’ without telling people to stay away.” With 15 million visitors...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Broadly speaking, the success of a destination is judged by the number of visitors it welcomes in each time frame. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, destinations are, in general, more determined than ever to attract large numbers of tourists, which is why our Most Visited Destinations report focuses on the year’s most-visited destinations. However, more is not always better, and it is important to remember the issues of overtourism many destinations were facing before the global health crisis emerged. In fact, as more and more global regions approach full travel recovery, the topic of overtourism once again...

SILVER SPRING, MD.—Choice Hotels International, Inc., one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world, has joined the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, a global network for responsible hospitality which unites world-leading hotel companies to build a more sustainable future. With nearly 7,500 hotels, representing more than 630,000 rooms in 46 countries and territories, Choice Hotels recognizes the positive impact it can advance in the global communities in which its associates and franchisees live and work. This new membership will see the company come together with other member hotel companies to share best practices, understand the latest sustainability innovations, and create a...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—The global supply chain disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have revealed the weaknesses created by our society and economic model’s dependence on global trade. This has led to a unique opportunity for businesses and individuals to review and adapt their business models to build a more workable and sustainable future. With an increasing number of customers demanding sustainability in hospitality and hotels, innovation of the logistics of supply and value chains demonstrates a committed approach across all processes. Some experts argue that local and human supply chains are the most sustainable and resilient ones. Businesses should encourage their stakeholders—associates,...

CHISINAU, MOLDOVA—Moldova has taken an important step in its commitment to sustainability in the tourism industry through its recent partnership with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Promoting implementation of GSTC’s sustainability criteria will ensure that Moldova’s tourism sector is aligned with the industry’s highest global standards for sustainable tourism. This commitment was confirmed by signing a Partnership Agreement between the Moldovan Ministry of Culture, the government authority coordinating the tourism sector, and GSTC. This Partnership Agreement establishes a cooperation framework for developing a sustainable tourism industry in Moldova. The Republic of Moldova, a small country in eastern Europe located between Romania and Ukraine, has significant potential to develop as...

PUNTA MITA, MEXICO—A luxury tented resort as unique as nature itself, Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita, Mexico is now welcoming guests to a world where the deep, green jungle is the backdrop for a personalized retreat. With just 15 luxury tents surrounded by 48 forested acres (19 hectares) on the edge of a private peninsula, Naviva is an adult-only sanctuary that harnesses nature to create an environment that fosters community, personal growth and appreciation for local heritage. Naviva awakens the intrinsic bond that humans have with nature through biophilic design—an architectural approach that immerses people in their natural surroundings. The transformative journey...

NEW YORK—Songtsam, an award-winning luxury boutique hotel collection and Destination Marketing Company, located in the Tibet and Yunnan Provinces of China announced the construction of Songtsam’s first zero-carbon hotel, the Songtsam Linka Retreat Lake Basong Tso located in Tibet. Expected to open in July 2023, the 120-room retreat will be Songtsam’s 16th and largest property. Founded in 2000 by Baima Duoji, Songtsam has always had a strong commitment to the preservation of the essence of Tibetan culture, as well as environmental conservation and sustainability by supporting the economic development of the local communities. In making the announcement, Duoji noted, “Songtsam Linka...

SAN FRANCISCO—National nonpartisan business group E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs) and sustainability-driven hotel brand 1 Hotels announced the 2023 1 Hotels Fellowship at E2. This is the fifth year of the annual fellowship, which awards six young business leaders $20,000 each to execute projects that advance sustainability, clean energy, and environmental policies across America. This year’s projects include creating a clean energy justice toolkit; enhancing opportunity pathways for the clean energy workforce; creating a clean business playbook for the hotel and lodging industry; educational outreach to electrify ski resorts; building a virtual resource to help workers find clean economy jobs and producing resources to democratize access to...