PHOENIX—Recognizing the importance for the hospitality industry to take the lead on addressing its most significant global challenges and on establishing sustainability programs that meet evolving guest expectations, BWH Hotel Group is doubling down on its commitment to environmental and social responsibility across its expansive global portfolio. Alongside its engagement with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, BWH Hotel Group has created a new global sustainability strategic initiative, called “Because We Care,” which will focus on three important pillars: Earth, People and Community (EPC). BWH Hotel Group is celebrating the significant efforts its hotels across nearly 100 countries have already undertaken...

NAPA VALLEY, CALIF.—Six Senses is taking its wellness and sustainability formula to a sanctuary in Napa County, an agricultural haven producing some of the world’s most sought-after wine. Named after the natural thermal Aetna Springs discovered in the 1870s, the original resort thrived until the 1970s as a natural spa destination, with Aetna Mineral Water also sold throughout the American West. “Six Senses Napa Valley will marry the region’s beauty with the unique natural resources of the original Aetna Springs,” said Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs. “Working with Weller Development Partners, Pegasus Capital Advisors, and committed sustainability partners, we have...

MINNEAPOLIS—Tennant Company, a world leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing solutions to reinvent how the world cleans, announced its full i-mop portfolio of mechanized walk-behind scrubbers that empower organizations to finally drop the dirty, traditional mop and step up to a better, more efficient and more sustainable clean. The complete i-mop line gives facility cleaning the productivity and performance boost of mechanized cleaning with mop-like maneuverability for small, cluttered spaces, enabling them to achieve a consistently deeper clean with less time, less water, and a lot less effort. “The days of dirty, difficult mop-and-bucket cleaning are coming to an end,” said...

VIENNA, VA.—Attune, an industry leader with the most comprehensive and flexible sensor platform delivering needed real-time data for digital transformation, announced that it has received the SOC 2 Type 1 compliance standard certification. The SOC 2 compliance certification distinguishes organizations as leaders in cybersecurity industry standards and data protection. Developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), the SOC 2 compliance report is a voluntary compliance for companies that adhere to the highest standard of security confidentiality. Through extensive auditing procedures, SOC 2 aims to monitor companies’ internal security controls and data privacy continuously. Additionally, SOC 2 provides assurance of...

ROCKVILLE, MD.—From innovative technology to conserve energy and water to even more ambitious diversity goals for hotel ownership, the 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report released by Choice Hotels International, Inc. highlights significant new steps that should cut utility costs, save time for franchisees, and increase the company’s ESG commitments. “Choice Hotels International shares a uniting belief that tomorrow will be even better than today, and we are committed to building that better tomorrow,” Choice Hotels International CEO Patrick Pacious says in the report. “As one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world, we are building on more than 80...

HOLLYWOOD, FLA.—Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming announced the release of its 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility Report: Fifty Years Forward. Social purpose has propelled Hard Rock since its inception in 1971, guided by its founding mottos: Love All-Serve All, All Is One, Save The Planet, and Take Time To Be Kind. “Our brand mottos have shaped who we are as a brand for the past 50 years while setting the foundation of our future,” said Paul Pellizzari, Vice President of Global Social Responsibility at Hard Rock International. “Today, Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming operate 250+ cafes, hotels and casinos spanning...

Anyone who has traveled a lot over the years has accumulated their own share of toilet stories. Flushing on an airplane while at 35,000 feet is always an adventure. That loud sucking sound is due to the powered vacuum that sucks the contents out of the toilet—very efficient from a water use standpoint. I once stayed in a hotel room that had a pressure-assist toilet. When I flushed the thing, I just about jumped out of my shoes because of the loud noise—a flashback to my most recent airplane experience. Pressure-assist toilets “push” waste out. Like every traveler, most...

NATIONAL REPORT—When searching for water conservation opportunities in a hotel, the guestroom bathroom is a prime target. While most showerheads and faucets today offer savings opportunities, where huge progress has been made in recent years is in the engineering and design of toilets. While the current federal standard in the U.S. is 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf), the EPA’s own WaterSense site lists 73 models that use just .8 gpf. Of those 73 models, 16 are made by Niagara Conservation Corp. Green Lodging News recently spoke with Michael Campbell, Director of Business Development at Niagara, to talk toilet trends...

LONDON—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the Saudi-based Sustainable Tourism Global Center have unveiled groundbreaking new data detailing the total water usage of the global Travel & Tourism sector. In one of the largest research projects of its kind, WTTC can for the first time ever, accurately report and track the impact the sector has on the environment. The findings were launched at the United Nations in New York at the UN 2023 Water Conference. Direct Water Use Speaking at the UN Headquarters, Chris Imbsen, Director of Sustainability at WTTC, revealed that Travel & Tourism’s entire water footprint is just 0.6...

PAUL, MINN.—New data from a global survey conducted and commissioned by Ecolab, a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services, has revealed high consumer expectations for the role of companies in water access and conservation. The Water, Sustainability and Climate Change survey consulted thousands of consumers across eight different countries. The survey revealed: 74 percent of consumers believe businesses should make conserving water a high or essential priority; Just 25 percent of consumers believe companies are taking the right amount of action to conserve water; and More than 60 percent of consumers said that they or a...