MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton today announced it will cut its environmental footprint in half and double its social impact investment by 2030. With this commitment, Hilton will become the first major hotel company to institute science-based targets to reduce carbon emissions and send zero soap to landfill. The company will also double the amount it spends with local and minority-owned suppliers and double its investment in programs to help women and youth around the world. These goals are part of Hilton’s Travel with Purpose corporate responsibility strategy to further the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. New consumer research reaffirms Hilton’s corporate responsibility strategy....

DENVER—With FloWater Refill stations now on every floor, the Inn by the Sea at La Jolla has eliminated plastic water bottles from guestrooms, recently becoming the 100th hotel property to deploy FloWater Refill Stations. Other early adopters include the Beverly Hills Hilton, the world renowned Miraval Spa Resort in Tucson, the Greystone Hotel Properties in San Francisco, and the Terranea resort in southern California. As travelers take to the road for an expected busy summer travel season, more and more are packing their reusable water bottles. In fact, reusable water bottle sales are expected to hit nearly $10 billion by...

MARKHAM, ONT.—Environmental responsibility is a requirement for many travelers when they select a hotel. Maestro PMS understands this and encourages it. With 40 years of established practices bringing the latest property software technology to the independent hospitality space, Maestro has led the paperless movement for the last 10 years providing technology solutions that support sustainable hospitality practices. Maestro’s most recent property software innovations reduce paper use and simplify the guest journey. Maestro’s Mobile Check-Out capability streamlines property operations and eliminates the need for paper folios or visiting the front desk. “Today, sustainability has become the defining element of both trendy...

Volt Lighting has published a resource titled, “The How and Why of Recycling Mercury-Containing Bulbs” which details the importance of recycling mercury-containing lamps, the effect mercury has on public health and the environment, and a listing of state-by-state EPA regulations to help streamline waste management for mercury-containing lamps (as well as batteries and pesticides). Here are some highlights of the information presented on the website: Millions of mercury-containing lamps are sold in the United States each year, including linear fluorescent tubes, metal halide discharge bulbs, bug zappers, tanning bulbs and neon signs. Between 2001 and 2013, at least 40 tons...

LONDON—Marking the end of Responsible Business Week, Green Hotelier magazine has announced this year’s winners of the Green Hotelier Awards. The annual Awards by Green Hotelier magazine changed format this year to align with the International Tourism Partnership’s Goals for 2030. ITP’s Goals invite the hotel industry to align their corporate social responsibility efforts with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also called the Global Goals. Applications were invited from hotels of any size anywhere in the world, and were judged on their initiatives to reduce energy and water consumption, their waste output, their roles as responsible businesses to...

ANNAPOLIS, MD.—Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) teamed up with Annapolis Green to promote enhanced environmental stewardship during the U.S. Travel Association’s May 6 to 12 National Travel and Tourism Week celebration. VAAAC President and CEO Connie Del Signore says this year’s theme, “Travel Then and Now,” provided the perfect opportunity to showcase ongoing environmental initiatives that are underway in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. “Savvy, environmentally-conscious travelers patronize destinations that share their same concern for Mother Earth,” Del Signore said. “They look for destinations with strong environmental track records and plan their trips accordingly. Tourism Week provides the...

Late last month, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, Singapore, announced a pledge against single-use plastic. The premium hotel operator and developer will implement a plan for all its properties to phase out the use of disposable plastics by Earth Day 2019. This will include plastic straws, plastic water bottles and disposable plastic cutlery. Sudima Hotels & Resorts, with properties throughout New Zealand, is advancing its sustainability journey by setting the goal of becoming single-use plastic free by 2020. Sudima aims to establish industry benchmarks on single-use plastics by working with its suppliers to source alternative packaging options and reduce waste...

ODESSA, FLA.—Hasek Communications, the Odessa, Fla.-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Protect-A-Bed as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Protect-A-Bed is focused on providing a clean, comfortable, healthy and pest-free sleep environment for sleepers all around the world. Hoteliers that choose Protect-A-Bed products create not only a healthy environment and positive guest experience, but they reduce strains on the environment. From eliminating the need for harsh chemical cleaners on mattresses to extending the life of the bed, and diminishing landfill waste, properties that use Protect-A-Bed take a step towards further sustainability. One hundred percent free from pesticides,...

SHENZEN CITY, CHINA—A lot of waste oil is produced every day in homes, slaughterhouses, food plants and hotels. The Environmental Protection Agency in the United States reports that restaurants create about three billion gallons of waste oil each year. Used oil has particles which could be hazardous to human health and is not suitable for consumption; it is therefore recommended that you occasionally change your frying oil. Somehow this waste oil may find its way to our tables after being illegally processed by unscrupulous traders. You would want a device that effectively solves the problem with minimal harm to...

LAS VEGAS—Leaders from the top resort companies in Las Vegas recently convened for the 2018 Global Meetings Industry Day to share current investments and future advancements that will help Las Vegas remain the number one trade show destination in the country. At the event, Wynn Las Vegas’ Director of Energy Procurement, Erik Hansen, outlined the company’s approach to sustainable energy and eco-friendly meetings and conventions practices after announcing Wynn’s new 280,000 square foot meetings space expansion. “Our meetings and conventions clients are increasingly concerned about their impact on the environment, prioritizing clean energy use, responsibly supplying and using data, and...