The topic of climate change and sustainability has reached a fever pitch. The WHO predicts a $2 to $4 billion cost to public health, and it’s viewed as a national responsibility. From battery-powered cars to eliminating single-use plastic and embracing a more climate-friendly lifestyle, a worldwide commitment to sustainability is taking shape. As green initiatives continue to take the world by storm, we quickly realize that no industry is exempt from its duty to reexamine and—where necessary—reimagine practices which may pose harm to our ever-fragile environment. Hospitality, as you might have guessed, is certainly no exception. Right now, hospitality brands...

BOSTON—Significant price spikes in the energy attribute certificate (EAC) and carbon offset markets have many companies wondering whether environmental commodities are the right way to reach their goals, asking: is carbon offsetting worth it? These tools that many companies have come to rely on to achieve carbon neutrality have become much more expensive than they may have originally budgeted for. Pair this with headwinds in the renewable energy PPA market, and the question of how to reach goals gets even more complicated. Now, companies are faced with an impossible dilemma that is putting both their financial risk tolerance and their moral...

SOLON, OHIO—A worldwide leader in innovative and sustainable flooring and sports surface solutions, Tarkett North America announces a new carbon strategy that will ultimately make real changes in how the company makes its floors, reducing impact rather than offsetting it. Earlier this year, Tarkett announced its Climate Roadmap for 2030, which includes a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent across its entire value chain by 2030—in full alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement objective to limit global warming to 1.5°C. To provide full visibility into these efforts, Tarkett has been evaluated and assessed by the independent organization Science Based...

NATIONAL REPORT—Starting your own restaurant business is an exciting decision that can lead to a prosperous future. It is far from easy, however, and the better prepared you are before throwing yourself into it, the more likely you will be to find ongoing success. There are so many different aspects to starting a restaurant that are easy to forget, so it is essential that you make sure you have as much knowledge and, if possible, experience before you get started. This is particularly relevant if you intend to focus on sustainability within your business, as the additional consideration can...

ATLANTA—The 2022 Building Performance Analysis Conference and SimBuild will bring attention to carbon reduction strategies through the application of simulation and modeling over the entire building life cycle. Co-sponsored by ASHRAE and IBPSA-USA, the conference will take place September 14 to 16 in Chicago and will also be offered virtually. The theme of the conference, “Better Buildings, Less Carbon: Supporting the Transition to a Clean and Just Climate,” focuses on research and methodology for minimizing operational carbon in buildings. “The recent changes in the world energy markets and evolving regulations continue to increase demand for improved performance of our building stock,” said Conference Vice Chair John Bynum. “The...

NEW YORK—Selina, the fast-growing lifestyle and experiential hospitality brand targeting millennial and Gen Z travelers, issued its inaugural Environmental, Social and Governance, or “ESG” report, with robust reporting of tangible progress made in 2021. With environmental and social consciousness in its DNA and “impact” among its five core values, Selina’s operating philosophy fuels ESG initiatives rooted in care for the planet, starting with its host communities. In 2021, the company focused on setting a baseline for achieving its long-term ESG goals, putting in place a comprehensive infrastructure to enhance its mission and measure its impact on people and the planet....

LAS VEGAS—Earlier this year, Sands released its 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, which included plans for its corporate responsibility program for the next five years and three new ambitions the company is targeting to achieve by 2025. Under the Planet pillar, Sands aims to achieve its science-based target of a 17.5 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2025. Sands’ goal to achieve this reduction in carbon emissions aligns with the company’s low-carbon transition strategy and reflects one of the five key environmental issues Sands has prioritized to reduce its impact. Sands’ multi-faceted low-carbon strategy focuses on addressing energy efficiency, renewable...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Vinyl Sustainability Council (VSC), a self-funded business council advancing sustainability in the vinyl industry, is raising the awareness of the council’s +Vantage Vinyl-verified companies by launching a collaboration with ecomedes. An online database for construction professionals seeking sustainable building materials, ecomedes seeks to optimize product procurement for architects, engineers, and contractors who must achieve certain sustainability benchmarks in their construction projects. Thanks to the new collaboration, companies that have achieved +Vantage Vinyl verification via the VSC are now listed on ecomedes. “The +Vantage Vinyl verification program provides specifiers with the assurance that qualified companies have met the environmental, social and...

Each time your company purchases an ad with Green Lodging News, Green Lodging News will allocate $10 toward the Arbor Day Foundation. For every $50 collected and donated, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant 10 trees in a forest. During a previous partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, Green Lodging News donated toward the planting of 1,000 trees. In its 50 years, the Arbor Day Foundation has planted and distributed nearly 500 million trees in more than 50 countries around the world. According to Stand for Trees, trees are nature’s greatest carbon sink. They absorb it from the atmosphere, convert...

COSTA RICA—Managed by Aqua-Aston Hospitality, Botánika Osa Peninsula, Curio Collection by Hilton, a premier eco-resort is now open. Located beside two of Costa Rica’s most prized natural jewels—Corcovado National Park and the Pacific Ocean’s Golfo Dulce—Botánika Osa Peninsula is set across 21 acres of lush flora and fauna. The resort provides travelers an unspoiled rainforest escape with well-appointed residence accommodations, upscale dining outlets, a 100-seat event space, along with rainforest-inspired experiences at the resort’s Clubhouse, neighboring Crocodile Bay Marina and the new Botánika Science and Nature Center. Activity guides curate unforgettable recreation experiences and excursions throughout the Osa Peninsula. Guests...