NEW YORK—As part of a pledge to help fight the effects of global climate change, Internova Travel Group, one of the world’s largest travel services companies, is on its path to becoming carbon neutral with its employee travel by the end of 2023. Last year, Internova launched a partnership with Sustainable Travel International, a global organization that has more than 15 years of experience developing successful sustainable travel practices and supporting some of the best carbon offset programs for the travel industry. Leveraging Sustainable Travel International’s advisory services, as well as key learnings from various initiatives across the travel industry,...

BUENOS AIRES—What do 20,000 trees look like? For one, spaced evenly, 20,000 trees would cover more than 32 football fields. Planting 20,000 native trees by August 2023 has become a passion for the team at Say Hueque Argentina Journeys, Argentina’s leading sustainable adventure tour operator. Owner Rafa Mayer has led the company towards an epically ambitious carbon negative, climate positive response to the climate emergency, through the pandemic up to now. Among other efforts, they have already planted more than 5,000 trees in damaged zones of Patagonia to help restore native forests and are rapidly heading towards their goal. Say...

VISTA, CALIF.—Each year, Waterless Co. Inc. recognizes organizations, vendors, or customers that have demonstrated exceptional leadership in helping others or are promoting water efficiency by honoring them with their Leadership of the Year Award. For 2022, Waterless Co. honors Project Living Hope, an organization based in Haiti. In a country that has been subjected to assassinations, internal violence, recent hurricanes, earthquakes, and virtually complete lack of potable water, Project Living Hope stands out as “a flicker of light at the end of a long, dark tunnel,” according to Klaus Reichardt, CEO, and Founder of Waterless Co. The organization, founded by Haitian-born Dr. Guesly Dessieux, has been...

SAN FRANCISCO—The two historic boutique hotels in the Presidio of San Francisco, Inn at the Presidio and Lodge at the Presidio, were recently honored with the 2022 Historic Hotels of America Sustainability Champion Award in a ceremony in Point Clear, Alabama. Granted by Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the award is presented to a hotel that best implements and practices innovative green initiatives and programs, demonstrating historic preservation is the ultimate green. Inn at the Presidio also earned this award in 2017. “We’re honored to accept this award from our peers, as a recognition...

CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR, CALIF.—According to Steve Ashkin, the professional cleaning industry’s leading advocate for sustainability, 2023 is going to be a pivotal year for the professional cleaning industry when it comes to sustainability. “While many larger companies have sustainability strategies in place, it remains a ‘slow burn priority’ for smaller companies in the industry,” says Ashkin. “That’s going to change in 2023.” Among the reasons Ashkin cites for this are the following: Awareness of the correlation between violent storms and climate change; Volatile energy costs/inflation; Supply chain disruptions; The need to enhance efficiencies to lower operating costs; Consumer demand; and New...

PARIS—Given the effects of climate change and the current energy crisis, finding concrete, pragmatic, inventive solutions is a priority for people and the planet. As awareness of what is at stake grows, customers expect companies to have increasingly high environmental standards and, in hospitality, are looking for sustainability-committed hotels—an expectation that aligns with and shapes Accor’s global strategy. Early in 2021, Accor was the first international hotel group to make a long-term commitment to decarbonize all its operations and achieve net zero by 2050—including a 46 percent emission reduction by 2030, validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative. Given that 63 percent...

As reported on Green Lodging News, Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. just published its inaugural Corporate Responsibility Report, which details the company’s environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) performance, strategy and initiatives and features its commitment to environmental sustainability, corporate employees, hotel associates and guests, communities, and other stakeholders. For those of you not familiar with Apple Hospitality, the REIT currently has an impressive 220 hotels in 37 states with almost 29,000 guestrooms. I took a quick look at the 64-page report and the following stood out for me: Like many companies, the REIT looks at corporate responsibility as encompassing environmental, social and governance...

MIAMI—Cayo Levantado Resort, a brand-new resort under the Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts portfolio, announced they are now open for reservations, which will start welcoming guests on June 1, 2023. Located on the island of Cayo Levantado, just a few miles away from Samaná Bay, this completely rebranded, and extensively renovated property will invite guests to discover the uncharted syncopations of the Dominican Republic through its “A Rhythm All Its Own” concept. Cayo Levantado Resort is dedicated to offering an expertly curated, distinctly Dominican, and decidedly authentic experience. Since the very start, there’s been an alliance with Forbes Travel Guide, the...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab, Inc., a global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services, announced it has been recognized for climate and water leadership by CDP and named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. Ecolab received leadership-level rankings from CDP, earning an A- ranking for both climate and water security. This marks the fourth consecutive year of being recognized by CDP for water security and second consecutive year for climate. It’s Ecolab’s third consecutive year on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and eighth consecutive year on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index. “Taking action on sustainability, climate...

Going beyond the concept of “sustainable tourism” which focuses on neutralizing tourism’s negative impact on the planet, “regenerative tourism” is based on adding a positive impact to the local community and environment. Its successful implementation requires a shift in mindset about what going on holiday really means in today’s changing society. What is Sustainable Tourism? As concerns for our environment grows, many tourism professionals are taking steps to mitigate the negative impacts of the travel industry. From closing southeast Asian beaches to taxing tourist entries into cities like Venice, these efforts are often included in conversations around the mitigation of tourism’s...