CHICAGO—To share progress made across World of Care, the company’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) platform, Hyatt Hotels Corp. published its 2021 World of Care Highlights and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Report to demonstrate how Hyatt is advancing care for the planet, people and responsible business. “Caring for people so they can be their best has been at the core of Hyatt’s story for 65 years. Through World of Care, we embrace our responsibility and opportunity to work together to shape a more sustainable world and future,” said Margaret Egan, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Hyatt. “By intently focusing on driving progress against...

HELSINGBORG, SWEDEN—At the far end of the pier in the climate-smart district of Oceanhamnen, Scandic announces the opening of its second hotel in Helsingborg, Scandic Oceanhamnen. The hotel, which has 184 rooms on 13 floors as well as a relaxation area and rooftop terrace, is located on the waterfront overlooking the Öresund sound. Scandic Oceanhamnen has been designed according to the Sweden Green Building Council Gold standard and has been certified by the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, the official ecolabel of the Nordic countries. Scandic Oceanhamnen is nestled in a rapidly growing residential and commercial area just minutes from the city...

NATIONAL REPORT—A rain garden is a great way to make use of natural rainwater to create an eco-friendly, visually spectacular border or flowerbed. Rain gardens are typically created in areas where the landscape naturally dips or receives a large quantity of runoff from hard surfaces like roofs or tarmac. Rain gardens also have the benefit of being low-maintenance spaces that reduce erosion and attract birds. This combination of innate sustainability and improved biodiversity makes rain gardens perfect for the hotel and hospitality architecture, as gardens that make use of natural resources are usually cheap to maintain and help hotels achieve...

SOUTH RIM, GRAND CANYON—Travelers headed to Grand Canyon now have a new option for in-park accommodations. After its $35 million reconstruction by Xanterra Travel Collection, Maswik South Lodge is the first new lodging inside the park in over 50 years and is just footsteps away from the Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim. Constructed in 1971, the original 90 rooms have been replaced with 120 new lodging units across four new lodging structures in the same general location. The 4.5-acre property features two types of accommodations: 90 standard rooms and 30 kitchenettes. The rooms now include private balconies, and the...

LAS VEGAS—Wynn Resorts recently issued its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, defining the company’s important milestones in 2021. The report provides insight into key initiatives including the company’s continued commitment to decrease emissions; an enhanced Diversity and Inclusion program; a comprehensive Human Trafficking Prevention program; and transformative investments in the communities in which the company operates. “Wynn Resorts brings the same level of effort and dedication to our ESG efforts as we do to all our business operations. We focus those efforts around three key areas: Our People, Our Communities, and Our Planet,” said Craig Billings, CEO of Wynn...

TITUSVILLE, FLA.—Visitors to Florida’s Space Coast can now enjoy stays at a new hotel that features a rooftop bar and restaurant, resort-style pool and other amenities in a convenient location closest to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, including its launch pads and adjacent visitor complex. The five-floor Courtyard Titusville Kennedy Space Center, developed and operated by global hospitality and entertainment company Delaware North, opened in April. Amenities for Leisure & Business Travelers The hotel is quickly becoming popular for both aerospace workers and families and other leisure tourists. It features 152 rooms, including 14 extended and one-bedroom guest suites and eight ground floor walkout rooms,...

NEW YORK—Ireland founded Easydry has achieved a global first as the first disposable towel company to receive B-Corp certification. Certification required testing Easydry on their social and environmental performance and the company’s ability to show full transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. Easydry’s global expansion and their U.S. operations in New York are supported by Enterprise Ireland, the Irish trade and innovation agency. CEO and founder Anne Butterly says: “I am so proud that Easydry has become a certified B Corp. I launched Easydry almost 20 years ago with sustainability...

KHANH HOA PROVINCE, VIETNAM—Vu Ngoc Linh, a hospitality professional with over a decade of experience in food and beverage departments, has left the career ladder of the typical restaurant professional to pursue a whole new kind of fulfillment. Earlier this spring, the 580-room Alma Resort on Vietnam’s south-central coast appointed Linh as its first Sustainability Officer. It will be Linh’s job to track the property’s energy consumption, resource conservation, recycling, pollution reduction, waste disposal, transportation, education efforts, and building design. The role also involves creating sustainability programs, budgets, and schedules, evaluating the success of sustainability initiatives, and managing three staff committees...

NEW YORK—Healixa, Inc., a technology company focusing on building and acquiring innovative and disruptive technologies in the health-tech, clean water, and green-tech industries, announced the completion of the national application filing phase, in accordance with the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), for patent coverage in 132 countries for the company’s Global AquaDuct Atmospheric Water Harvesting (AWH) product. “As our team prepares for the upcoming commercial launch of our Global AquaDuct water harvesting device, we are ensuring we have robust patent protections in place, and with the final phase of the PCT process now complete, we are one step closer to securing...

IRVINE, CALIF.—Sensor faucets may be smart, but they are not smart enough. So says Irvine, Calif.-based entrepreneur Joanna Boey. She is the VP Sales/Marketing for SmartFaucets, a company that focuses on improving the guest experience while reducing water consumption and related costs at the same time. You may have experienced malfunctioning sensor faucets—waving your hands with no response below the faucet. “Half the time the touchless faucet fails—the battery fails,” Boey says. The electronic eye can also get dirty, further increasing the chance of malfunction. The valve may also malfunction two or three times a year. Ultimately, the sensor faucet...