CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR, CALIF.—A major new study by KPMG, which provides financial and environmental insights for major organizations around the globe, examined the sustainability reporting of 5,800 organizations worldwide.* Among their recent findings were the following: Sustainability Reporting is Now Standard Practice: Nearly all the world’s top 250 companies, and the majority of the top 100 companies in each country or region, now regularly publish sustainability reports. A Dramatic Increase: In 1999, only 35 percent of the world’s largest companies reported on their sustainability effort. Defines a Sustainability Report: A sustainability report discloses a company’s nonfinancial performance, including progress on...

CANCÚN, MEXICO—The sea turtle nesting season in the Mexican Caribbean is every year between May and November and one of the beaches that receives the most turtles is the Sunset Royal hotel. That is why Sunset World Group has actively participated in the Sea Turtle Protection Program since 2009 as part of its firm commitment to the conservation of the biodiversity of our ecosystems. Thus, Sunset Royal’s Security staff is trained annually to not only receive the females when they arrive, spawn and leave, but also to collect the eggs, put them safely in corrals, take care of the young when...

LONDON—HotelREZ, one of the world’s leading and fastest growing hotel representation companies, has teamed up with Greengage, sustainability solutions provider, to introduce ECOsmart certification—international certification to demonstrate venues’ commitment to sustainable practices and achievement of recognized standards—to its member properties. The partnership enables hotels, accommodation and hospitality providers to prove their sustainability credentials and cater to the growing demand for sustainable accommodation, positioning HotelREZ at the forefront of the hospitality industry’s environmental revolution. Under the new partnership, ECOsmart certification will now be available for all HotelREZ properties, providing them with a certification platform to showcase their commitment to sustainability and consultancy support for...

NATIONAL REPORT—Hotel carbon emissions are significantly greater than previously thought, according to new research by hospitality operator Bob W. The innovative measurement tool, “Lodging Emissions & Guest-night Impact Tracker” (LEGIT), indicates that emissions are at least five times higher than estimates derived from existing frameworks, such as the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI). This tool, developed by Bob W in collaboration with consultancy Furthr, provides comprehensive environmental impact metrics for each room type in every Bob W property. The company now publishes these metrics on its booking website, guest app, and sustainability reports, fostering transparency and enabling guests to make informed,...

DELANCO, N.J.—Commercial furnishing expert, Stylex, in collaboration with industry-leading design and research firm, Gensler, unveils Ambi, a modular furniture collection designed to address the evolving needs of technology and accessibility in the modern workplace. Drawing inspiration from “ambient noise” and “ambiance,” Ambi offers a solution that enhances user comfort while minimizing distractions, promoting both individual focus and team collaboration. “Ambi showcases Stylex’s commitment to creating adaptable furniture that responds to the dynamic needs of contemporary workspaces,” said Randi Pastrovic, Chief Creative Officer for Flokk US. “This collection effortlessly combines flexibility, technology integration, and sustainability, delivering a solution that supports productivity...

In case you missed it in the fall, Trip.com Group, a leading global travel service provider, revealed that while sustainability awareness is rising among travelers, there remains a gap between awareness and action. This is one of the key insights from the Sustainable Travel Consumer Report 2024 that the Group released. The report draws from 9,867 survey samples from 109 countries and territories, including the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), North America (NORAM) and Latin America (LATAM). It also looks at Gen Z’s travel preferences and regional variations in motivations and perceptions. Gap Between Awareness & Action An...

ATLANTA—The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) and the Energy & Environment Alliance (EEA) announced a partnership to help establish unified sustainability standards, benchmarks, and performance metrics specifically tailored to the hotels and lodging sector. AAHOA’s 20,000 members own 60 percent of the hotels in the United States; the EEA’s membership represents around 45,000 hospitality assets globally. As investor demand grows for transparent, reliable, and comparable sustainability disclosures, the partners will contribute to the work of the Special Taskforce on Sustainability Standards for the Hotels and Lodging Sector. The Taskforce aims to align the hospitality industry with globally recognized standards, including those set by...

FRAMINGHAM, MASS.—Ameresco, Inc., a leading cleantech integrator specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, announced the progression of two groundbreaking solar projects on former landfill sites in North Ayrshire, Scotland. The Nethermains and Shewalton solar farms, developed in partnership with Detra Solar, represent a significant milestone in North Ayrshire Council’s Sustainable North Ayrshire Strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. The two sites, with a combined DC capacity of 12.91 MW, will house 20,650 solar panels, generating approximately 13,177 MWh of clean energy annually—enough to power over 2,000 homes. These projects transform previously unusable land into a source of...

Hotel sustainability certifications are no longer a specialized distinction but an essential means of meeting market demand. With 73 percent of global tourists preferring to stay in hotels that apply sustainable practices, green certificates increasingly play a key role in influencing consumer choices. Research shows that hotels with sustainability certifications typically receive higher guest satisfaction ratings, as these certifications enhance the perceived quality of the hotel. For this reason, the number of hotels earning certifications like Bioscore, Green Key, EarthCheck and LEED is rapidly expanding, with a 20 percent increase between 2022 and 2023 alone. In this context, hotel operators...

NASHVILLE, TENN.—Caption by Hyatt Downtown Nashville – The Gulch is now open in the bustling Gulch neighborhood of downtown Nashville, nestled between downtown Nashville and the West End and steps from famed Broadway Street, offering easy access to the city’s best retail shops, restaurants, bars and live entertainment. Developed through a partnership between New Orleans-based real estate firm HRI Hospitality and Nashville-based C. B. Ragland Company, the hotel features 210 rooms with 2,200 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, a spacious fitness center and flexible common spaces for working, socializing and hosting small events. It also boasts Café...