The pandemic forced hotels to modify how they operate, pushing safety to the forefront of the hospitality community’s consciousness, and derailing a burgeoning industry trend to make facilities more sustainable. Yet, hoteliers would be wise to make sustainability a priority in 2022. Decreasing a hotel’s impact on the environment, no matter its size or location, attracts guests in the short term and saves money in the long term. When customers choose to spend money on a hotel room, many want to select a place to stay that is kind to the earth. And while you’d be excused for assuming sustainability...

DENHAM, U.K.—The ubiquitous bar counter can be found worldwide and while each one differs by design, locale, menu, and culture, its purpose is universal—the easy flow of drink and conversation. And it was brought to a shocking halt in 2020. Pandemic images of unfilled taps, empty glasses, and barstools collecting dust will forever be etched in the minds of those who work in hospitality, but so will the feeling of elation when they finally reopened for business. “For bars and restaurants around the world, the return of diners and drinkers in 2021 was a huge sigh of relief,” says Alex...

GULF BREEZE, FLA.—Innisfree Hotels’ corporate social responsibility program is called The Hive. Inspired by a line from the company’s namesake poem, “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” The Hive is a busy place for the Innisfree family to connect with each other—and do good in the world. Since last August Hive activity has picked up thanks to the hiring of Brittney Barnett, Director of Sustainability. “Before I came on, Innisfree declared itself a triple bottom line company, but it was fragmented,” Barnett says. The Gulf Breeze, Fla.-based company, which owns most of the 22 hotels that it manages, participated in some...

SAG HARBOR, N.Y.—Relief Brands LLC has announced the launch of its plant-based Well Life Amenities Program for the hotel and spa industry. Well Life is partnering with hotels, inns, spas, AirBnBers and Vrbo-ers to bring scent-driven, plant-based products to guests to enhance their in-room experience and convey their commitment to protecting the environment. Well Life’s high-quality line of products including soaps, mists, lotions, and shower bombettes are 100 percent natural, non-GMO, phthalate, and paraben free. With the growing interest in wellness and sustainable living, travelers are looking for earth-friendly products such as those they use at home. There are 91,000 hotels...

NEWNAN, GA.—G95 Inc. announced the most recent addition to its G95 Gear Collection: The Oceanshield mask, available for both adults and children, combines the signature G95 style with lightweight biodegradable, plant-based materials designed for everyday use and comfort and has excellent breathability. Six years ago, long before the current pandemic, G95 started developing the world’s first sustainable and biodegradable single-use filtration product. This past year, after witnessing the environmental impact of COVID-19 pandemic-related single-use petrochemical-based masks entering the marine environment, constituting an additional 4,680 to 6,240 metric tons of plastic pollution, the company decided to create a biodegradable, plant-based alternative. G95 also developed a unique...

TUTTLINGEN, GERMANY—VITO AG, the German market leader for filtration systems, announced the launch of a new product to fulfill the rising need for high-quality and easy to use filtration systems for deep fryers: The VITO VL oil filter system. The frying oil filter is simply placed inside your deep fryer and filters your frying oil at service temperature. It provides oil savings of up to 50 percent, an increased oil quality and reduced workload around the fryers while being one of the safest options. Being the most powerful in-tank filtration system VITO ever built, the VL filters over 26 gallons of...

PARIS—As a leading international amenities provider, Groupe GM continuously strives to become the most environmentally aware it can be. In 2018, the Group launched the Care About Earth program which covers all the company’s environmental and social actions and is an integral part of Groupe GM’s corporate strategy worldwide. It was developed following a decision by the Group, its subsidiaries, and agents to be a leader and proactive decision-maker in the ecological transition of its products. The program highlights Groupe GM’s ongoing commitment to the environment and demonstrates its high ethical standards. Through the Care About Earth program, Groupe GM...

BROOKLYN, N.Y.—Getaway, the hospitality company that offers mindful escapes to tiny cabins in nature, hired Carlos Becil as its first-ever Chief Experience Officer last July, following a monumental year of growth and $41.7M Series C funding. As the former CMO of Coach and Equinox, and VP of Brand Management for Starwood, Carlos is bringing a dynamic perspective to Getaway, helping take it from a “tiny cabin” rental company to a global hospitality business. Green Lodging News recently interviewed Becil about Getaway and its growth. The following are our questions and Becil’s answers: What do you consider to be your primary responsibilities? You have...

I have written about canned gel chafing fuel in the past on Green Lodging News. Is your hotel still using it, sending partially used containers to the landfill? Putting your guests and staff at risk? One industry expert told me this past week that upwards of 90 percent of the hospitality industry still uses canned gel chafing fuel to keep food hot and ready for serving groups of people. What prompted me to write about food heating again this past week was the discovery that at least two companies have developed better ways—more flexible ways—to keep food hot and, for...

NATIONAL REPORT—Canned gel chafing fuel remains the primary heating choice for upwards of 90 percent of the hospitality industry for chafing dishes and other similar food and beverage containers according to industry experts. That is bad news for the environment and hotel owners, however, when one considers canned fuel’s inefficiency, its cost, its many hazards while in use, and its carbon and other negative impacts throughout the supply chain. In fact, says David Moreland, Chief Bottle Washer for Smart Buffet Ware, when you burn canned fuel, 78 percent of the fuel is heating the atmosphere—not what is intended to...