Most of you are familiar with Clean the World, the organization that repurposes partially or unused soap and bottled amenities. If your hotel is not yet participating in Clean the World’s programs, I strongly encourage it to do so. One of the benefits of supporting Clean the World is receiving its monthly newsletter. Here are some highlights from the organization’s November newsletter: Clean the World has a fresh new look with its new website. Says Clean the World, “Whether you’re a partner, a supporter, or just stopping by to say hi, our new website’s ease of navigation puts the user...

PARIS—HRS, the leading global corporate lodging platform, announced the addition of Accor properties, a world leading hospitality group, in HRS’ new Green Stay Initiative. This decision provides analytical and time-saving benefits to corporate hotel procurement executives as they increasingly require sustainability data as they consider which properties to include on their list of preferred hotels for 2022 and beyond. “The world’s leading multi-national companies are promoting their aspirations to achieve net-zero operations by 2030 or sooner. These company-wide goals impact managed travel programs, who are tasked to travel more sustainably as they recover from the pandemic,” said HRS CEO Tobias Ragge. “Dozens of...

BROOMFIELD, COLO.—With this year’s winter season officially underway, skiers and snowboarders have another reason to celebrate: Vail Resorts’ 34 North American mountains have reached 85 percent renewable electricity—one big step closer to a zero net operating footprint by 2030. Through its operations, as well as by promoting collective participation, Vail Resorts is prioritizing efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Now released, Vail Resorts’ 2020/21 EpicPromise Progress Report tracks the company’s commitment to preserving the environment, addressing the most urgent needs of mountain communities, and supporting employees. Major achievements over the past year include: Vail Resorts is on track to reach...

FORT WORTH, TEXAS—This month The Sinclair, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection of hotels, will celebrate its one-year anniversary. Located in Fort Worth, the 164-room boutique property was once the Sinclair Oil building—quite the contrast from its status today as one of the most cutting-edge green hotels in the world. In renovating the 17-floor building, Forrest Perkins and Merriman Architects retained the property’s ZigZag Moderne facada and Art Deco interiors but Sinclair Holdings, the hotel’s developer, opted for power over Ethernet (PoE) technology, utilizing Cisco Digital Building Switches, to power the hotel’s lights, window shades, smart mirrors, and minibars. Ethernet...

CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS—The Nevis Tourism Authority is spearheading a new Sustainability Project in an effort to make Nevis an eco-friendlier destination and reinforce its commitment to the environment through partnerships and local efforts. The project encompasses the development of Sustainable Nevis, a group dedicated to engaging the island to be proactive in how citizens and residents manage their waste and choose to reduce, reuse, and recycle, with the goal of eliminating single-use plastics. The Sustainable Nevis group, comprised of the Nevis Tourism Authority, various environmental groups and agencies on-island as well as key stakeholders, have launched a campaign that encourages locals to recycle plastics...

SAN FRANCISCO—FiveADRIFT has announced the launch of their sustainably crafted towels. The company is on a mission to remove ocean plastic and end consumption of single-use plastic—one towel at a time. FiveADRIFT’s luxurious, fast-drying, and lightweight beach towels are made from all-natural hemp and cotton fibers with 100 percent of profits going to the removal of plastic from the ocean; about 75 plastic bottles are removed from the ocean for each purchase. The beach towels are now available for purchase via their website and newsletter subscribers get access to an exclusive discount. More Than a Towel: The FiveADRIFT Mission FiveADRIFT believes that every decision and...

DENVER—There is a new-tech look for guests at many hotels and resorts across the country as occupancy rates approach pre-pandemic levels in many markets. Contactless, remote check-ins and check-outs and keyless room entry are part of a new guest experience as properties turn to “touchless” technologies. Now, they can add new-tech, touchless drinking water to the list of core technology improvements, as properties turn to the latest in guest amenities and employee safety to meet new, pandemic-driven guest expectations. Since the CDC called for the removal of high-touch, communal touch points, such as communal water fountains, because of COVID, FloWater...

SEATTLE—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it has reached a settlement with EcoLab, Inc., in Tacoma, Wash. over violations of federal hazardous waste and pesticides laws that resulted in a fire involving hazardous waste at the company’s facility on the Tacoma Tideflats and the hospitalization of a nearby worker. Under the settlement, EcoLab addressed the violations and agreed to pay a total penalty of $214,407. On or about March 19, 2019, EcoLab employees removed approximately 177.5 pounds of partially spent Weevil-Cide from a shipping vessel in Longview, Wash. This partially spent Weevil-Cide was placed in two dry deactivation containers...

BOCA RATON, FLA.—Waste Management (WM), the largest environmental services provider in North America, has nearly 5,000 team members in Florida, and is looking to hire 300 more. The company is recruiting a variety of positions including CDL Drivers, Diesel Mechanics and Recycling Sorters and is offering signing bonuses, increased wages, and enhanced benefits in most job categories. “We have continued to provide an essential service to our customers and communities in Florida throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and we’ve invested in our team members as part of our sustainability focus,” said Florida Area Director of Communications Dawn McCormick. “This includes our...

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA.—The marriage of Vero Water and Quench is good news for hoteliers and good news for the environment. Quench, a Culligan company, announced the acquisition of Vero Water earlier this month. Vero Water and Quench both offer filtered water systems that eliminate single-use plastic bottle waste, significantly reducing carbon emissions and minimizing overall environmental impact. Quench is a leader in providing point-of-use water dispensers, ice machines, sparkling water machines, and coffee machines that offer users many consumption choices, including quenchWATER+ alkaline water, RO water, chewable ice, sparkling water, flavored water, and coffee. Vero Water offers on-site purification...