MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton today announced it will cut its environmental footprint in half and double its social impact investment by 2030. With this commitment, Hilton will become the first major hotel company to institute science-based targets to reduce carbon emissions and send zero soap to landfill. The company will also double the amount it spends with local and minority-owned suppliers and double its investment in programs to help women and youth around the world. These goals are part of Hilton’s Travel with Purpose corporate responsibility strategy to further the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. New consumer research reaffirms Hilton’s corporate responsibility strategy....

TROY, OHIO— ITW Food Equipment Group will be giving restauranteurs, chefs and food industry professionals the chance to get a first-hand look at the latest advanced and energy-efficient products when they visit the company’s booths at the 2018 National Restaurant Association Show. More than 100 high performance commercial kitchen products from ITW Food Equipment Group brands like Hobart, Baxter, Traulsen, Vulcan, Wolf, Berkel and Stero will be on the floor of Chicago’s McCormick Center at booths #4031, #4237, #4240 and #2209, where visitors can learn about award-winning, energy-efficient steaming technology, one-of-a-kind ovens, dishwashers, refrigeration equipment, cooking appliances, food prep equipment...

LONDON—Marking the end of Responsible Business Week, Green Hotelier magazine has announced this year’s winners of the Green Hotelier Awards. The annual Awards by Green Hotelier magazine changed format this year to align with the International Tourism Partnership’s Goals for 2030. ITP’s Goals invite the hotel industry to align their corporate social responsibility efforts with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also called the Global Goals. Applications were invited from hotels of any size anywhere in the world, and were judged on their initiatives to reduce energy and water consumption, their waste output, their roles as responsible businesses to...

VISTA, CALIF.—A study released earlier this year by the University of California at Davis (UC Davis), finds that the reduction in water consumption in the state of California has also resulted in what was reported to be a “substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.” California experienced a four-year drought, which ended in 2016. In 2015, the state implemented regulations, requiring a 25 percent across-the-board cut in water consumption. The UC Davis team reports that more than 525 million gallons of water were saved during that one-year period just because of the restrictions. This was on top of voluntary cutbacks on water consumption,...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Eco Convergence Group, Inc. (ECG) unveiled the first HyCube modular hydroponic vegetable production system last Thursday at the Orlando World Center Marriott. The HyCube’s data-driven, precisely controlled, patent-pending hydroponic system is constructed in an illuminated modern structure right next to the hotel’s main kitchen. Orlando World Center Marriott is the first hotel to utilize the HyCube growing system, growing produce for its nine dining outlets and 450,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space. The hotel’s Executive Chef Eric Martinez and his culinary team will have a constant bounty of fresh, healthy produce, such as lettuce, baby spinach, arugula,...

AZUSA, CALIF.—Many states and municipalities across the country have restrictions on when, and for how long, yards and shrubs can be watered. Many are looking for ways to maximize the efficiency of the water they use, and to reduce their monthly water bill. In recognition of World Water Day, Rain Bird, a leading supplier of irrigation products for residential, commercial, golf, and agricultural applications, offers these steps to help you use water intelligently: 1) Know Your Yard Understand Your Soil. The soil type in your yard will greatly affect your watering schedule and influence the type of sprinkler you choose. A...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—MGM Resorts International Senior Vice President & Chief Sustainability Officer Cindy Ortega testified before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at a hearing on the 2018 Western water supply outlook. Ortega’s testimony provided a business perspective on Western water issues and highlighted MGM Resorts’ sustainability efforts and role as a global leader in building and sustaining communities. All told, the company’s environmentally responsible practices have saved approximately 1.2 billion gallons of water. Video of the hearing can be found here. Included below are several key excerpts, followed by the full remarks and additional background information on MGM Resorts’...

Today, World Water Day, the International Tourism Partnership (ITP) has released a 24-page report entitled, “Water Stewardship for Hotel Companies.” Be sure to read it. The report explains the connection between areas of tourism growth and water stress, and recommends six steps essential to any corporate water stewardship strategy. ITP’s goal is to “support increased water-use efficiency, sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and reduce the number of people affected by water scarcity by embedding water stewardship programs across hotel portfolios.” How bad is the global water problem? According to the report, the impact of growing human...

LONDON—On World Water Day a report from the International Tourism Partnership (ITP) reveals the six simple steps the hotel sector must take to protect this vital resource and become responsible stewards of water for future generations. Authorities have had to consider switching off the water supply in Cape Town, South Africa. It could happen as early as July. Forty percent of the world’s population suffers water shortages for at least one month each year. Countries forecast with the highest water stress in the coming years are also amongst those with the greatest tourism growth, putting hotel companies at the forefront of...

NEW YORK—Evoqua Water Technologies named Cintas Corp. the inaugural recipient of the Evoqua Water Sustainability Award, recognizing excellence in water stewardship. Cintas saves up to 599 million gallons of water per year through its companywide system. Of note, Cintas Industrial Laundry can deliver significant improvements in water use compared to home laundry by providing approximately 20 percent water savings—in addition to significant energy and soap savings. Cintas has also demonstrated leadership in sustainability by taking steps to lower water use and minimize environmental impact at several facilities through enhanced wastewater treatment, as well as enhanced water reuse efforts. For example, at...