AMSTELVEEN, THE NETHERLANDS—For quite a few years now, many hotels have incentivized guests to skip housekeeping in exchange for a financial reward of some type. Covid-19 certainly increased the number of hotels that don’t offer daily housekeeping—primarily due to staffing challenges—but many hotels around the world still offer it. For hotels that do that, Floris Licht, Chief Planting Officer for Hotels for Trees has a program that not only helps hotel owners but the environment as well. The Hotels for Trees concept is simple: One new tree is planted each time a guest chooses to skip daily room cleaning. The...

BETHESDA, MD.—RLJ Lodging Trust announced the release of its inaugural Corporate Sustainability Report, building upon the company’s longstanding commitment to upholding sustainability, social responsibility, and governance. With the publication of this report, the company is further demonstrating its commitment to providing robust Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) disclosures. Additionally, this report discloses historical environmental performance data to track progress towards the company’s pledge to lower its carbon footprint. “Corporate Responsibility is integral to our overall business strategy and commitment to driving long-term value for all stakeholders. We believe that by maintaining an inclusive corporate culture and investing in underserved communities,...

SAINT-GENIS-LES-OLLIERES, FRANCE—The philosophy behind Huttopia, a company that operates camping sites all over the world remains the same as when it was founded 23 years ago: there is no substitute to being in nature with friends and family in a comfortable way. Out of their love of camping, Céline and Philippe Bossanne, a French husband and wife team, created Huttopia as an environmental project. In its early years, the company grew in Europe and recently made its debut in North America with sites in Quebec, New Hampshire, Maine, the Adirondacks and most recently Southern California. There are now 60 sites...

SWORDS, IRELAND—FORTUNE magazine has named Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator, to its World’s Most Admired Companies list for the eleventh consecutive year. The annual list, developed by FORTUNE and Korn Ferry, is widely considered to be the ultimate report card on corporate reputation. The companies on the list are the best-regarded in their industry and rated on nine criteria, ranging from investment value and quality of management and products to social responsibility and ability to attract talent. “It’s an honor to be recognized by FORTUNE, and I’m extremely proud of our global team for challenging what’s possible to create a more sustainable...

WINDSOR, ENGLAND—IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has opened its new global headquarters in Windsor, U.K. Having started life as an FTSE-listed company in Windsor in 2003, IHG returns to the historic town for its next chapter after being based for the past 15 years in Denham, Buckinghamshire. The building represents not only the company’s global headquarters, but also the head of its Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa region, helping serve an international business that has more than 6,000 hotels across more than 100 countries around the world. The Windsor One office on Arthur Road...

STATELINE, NEV.—There is no way around it; Edgewood Tahoe Resort, a boutique property nestled on the shores of Lake Tahoe, is one of a kind when it comes to providing an eco-luxury experience for its guests. Sustainability is top of mind during every decision regarding design, construction, operations, and the guest and community experience. The resort’s commitment is best explained on its website: “Every decision we make and action we take must align with our calling to be stewards of the land, guardians of the Lake, and sincere, difference-making corporate citizens of the communities in which we operate.” Edgewood Tahoe...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC has partnered with New Columbia Solar to bring renewable energy to their National Historic Landmark building at 700 F St. NW in Penn Quarter with the addition of a 265-kW rooftop solar system. This partnership highlights Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants’ commitment to clean energy and sets a precedent for the modernization of historic buildings across the District with solar power. Constructed as the nation’s first General Post Office in 1842, the building was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants utilized its expertise in the area of adaptive reuse to create the...

CHEVY CHASE, MD.—PM Hotel Group recently announced the appointment of Ryan Butler as Corporate Director | Sustainability + Energy. In his role, Butler will enhance the Group’s decade-long commitment to environmental sustainability and PM’s core value of Respect—for one another, guests, communities, and the planet. Butler will lead PM Hotel Group’s strategic sustainability initiatives and be the direct point of contact for internal and external stakeholder collaboration. PM Hotel Group’s sustainability team takes a forward-looking approach, vigorously implementing energy, water, and waste reduction programs as well as seeking opportunities to integrate renewable energy and green power into its portfolio of...

NATIONAL REPORT—The knee jerk reaction of many hoteliers to the topic of sustainability is likely to include statements like “I’d love to, but I can’t afford it …”, “We don’t have the bandwidth…” or “Of all industries, why should hospitality pay to save the planet…?” We suggest a change in perspective. Could sustainability not be seen as a win-win? Could it be that there is untapped potential in sustainability that progressive hospitality firms may be able to uncover? What if engagement in sustainability would not only help the planet and society-at-large but also the competitive position of a hotel? The strategic...

This week I will be attending The NAFEM Show (North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers) in Orlando. The show runs from February 1 to 3 at the Orange County Convention Center. I am looking forward to it and will report on the event in next week’s column. There are currently 541 exhibitors. I will be on the lookout for new innovations and technologies—specifically ones that help hoteliers save energy and water and reduce waste. Within foodservice there has been a lot of chatter recently about the health risks of gas stoves. According to The New York Times, mounting evidence...