MCLEAN, VA.—Last year was undoubtedly one of the worst years in the history of the lodging industry but that bad year saw the continuation of one of the industry’s most notable success stories—Hilton’s Home2 Suites extended stay brand. Designed with “sustainability being a key pillar,” according to Global Brand Head Leonard Gooz, this year marks the tenth anniversary of the brand. As of December 31, 2020, there were 463 open and 409 in the pipeline. According to Hilton, the 500th Home2 Suites is expected to open by the end of this quarter. STR says Home2 Suites saw the most supply...

CHICAGO—Encore RV Resorts’ WaterWise campaign, where guests at 70 Encore RV Resorts across the Sunbelt pledged to use less water in their daily lives, culminated on World Water Day last month. The second annual campaign focused on “Valuing Water” and launched in January with guests automatically entered into the WaterWise Sweepstakes by taking the pledge. Five winners at each of the participating Encore resorts won a Lifestraw Go Stainless Steel water bottle with filter. Voyager RV Resort, located in southern Arizona, is a two-time winner of the Arizona ARVC Mega Park of the Year Award and a leading property in...

CINCINNATI—Tide announced its 2030 Ambition, a set of broad-reaching sustainability and purpose-driven commitments, spanning Tide’s full United States and Canadian supply chain and community initiatives. Tide is reinventing clean on its journey to decarbonize laundry at every step—from design, manufacturing and distribution to consumer use and end of life. To make this goal a reality, the brand will focus on key areas. In 2020, Tide reduced absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its direct manufacturing by more than 75 percent annually versus a decade ago and has set a new goal to cut GHG emissions in half at its direct...

OAHU, HAWAII—Outrigger Hospitality Group announced a grand new voyage—the $80 million transformation of the brand’s flagship property, Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, located directly on the golden sands of world-famous Waikīkī Beach. The investment transforms the resort into a contemporary beachfront retreat, rooted in Hawaiian culture. With a focus on wellness and unmatched hospitality, sophisticated property enhancements include upscale residential-style rooms and suites, chic poolside experiences and a fully reimagined Kani Ka Pila Grille and stage—the home of Hawaiian music. “As a premier beach resort brand, we charted a strategic course to enhance Outrigger’s current portfolio and deliver exceptional, authentic experiences...

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA—In response to growing consumer demand for sustainable products and travel experiences, The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC)—the developer behind the most regenerative tourism project in the world—and SOURCE—the earth’s first renewable, sustainable water brand, have come together to set a new global standard in bottled water. TRSDC is the first company to collaborate with SOURCE Global, PBC as it launches its sustainable bottled water brand, making The Red Sea Project the first destination on earth to offer bottled water made purely from sunlight and air. SOURCE water is produced using patented solar technology that draws pure water vapor...

NEW ORLEANS—The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) has made sustainability a top priority and is taking steps to reduce environmental impacts. While the coronavirus pandemic impacted hosting events in 2020, NOENMCC took advantage of the downtime and made critical facility upgrades that will reduce their environmental footprint, and in turn, help make the facility a leader in sustainable events. “As one of the top convention center facilities in the nation, it is crucial that we meet and exceed national standards when it comes to sustainability and environmental impact,” said Michael J. Sawaya, Convention Center President. “Nowadays, sustainability...

SAUSALITO, CALIF.—CREO, a green tech company on a mission to make buildings healthier and more resilient, unveiled the BioBulb technology platform, a smart, green living system that offers a sustainable solution for growing nature indoors and in environments with scarce resources. The system uses artificial intelligence (AI) to learn the optimal growth for a plant within its surroundings and autonomously infuses it with the precise amount of water and nutrients it needs. BioBulb is a virtually zero-waste system and uses up to 80 percent less water than existing high-tech hydroponic solutions with the potential to save thousands of gallons...

SARASOTA, FLA.—Pürlin, LLC has hired Eric Eisenberg to serve as Vice President of Hospitality. In collaboration with their University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) partners, the entire team will be working with Eisenberg to introduce Pürlin’s unique closed-loop bedlinen system to the Las Vegas hotel market. “With his extensive background in hotel operations and his professional ties to the business community, we have every confidence in Eric’s abilities to lead Pürlin’s Las Vegas commercialization initiative and to build our South West Regional Sales Operation,” says Pürlin Founder and President, Richard Ferrell. In response to the devastating impact that COVID-19 continues to...

LAS VEGAS—Sands’ Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report summarizes its commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen through key performance metrics in the report’s namesake areas. Measuring and reporting ESG performance has helped drive results, supporting the management of the company’s utility consumption, ensuring the disciplined execution of efficiency projects and compelling it to explore innovations to its resort operations. Along with the key metrics covered in the ESG Report, Sands is currently in the process of broadening its company disclosures to incorporate an even wider range of metrics. The areas of emphasis in environmental performance, all reflected in the report, include...

CINCINNATI, OHIO—If you were to look at all of the companies servicing the hospitality industry, there are few that have reached the level of sustainability as Cincinnati-based Melink Corp. The list of its accomplishments is long and so too are its future goals—from the headquarters it operates from to the products and services it offers. The company has been around a while. “I started the company in 1987,” says Steve Melink, Chairman & CEO. “We started as an HVAC company doing commissioning for restaurant chains.” It was not long before Melink saw that many restaurant ventilation systems were running constantly,...