CHICAGO -- Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced Hyatt hotels around the world plan to eliminate single-use plastic straws and drink picks. After Sept. 1, 2018, straws and picks will be available on request only, and eco-friendly alternatives will be provided where available.

"At Hyatt, we care for people so they can be their best, and this care extends to our communities and to preserving resources for future generations. Eliminating plastic straws and drink picks builds on the environmental sustainability programs we have in place and further drives our global efforts to reduce environmental impact," said Frank Lavey, senior vice president, global operations for Hyatt. "This is a meaningful step, and our commitment doesn't stop with straws and drink picks. We will continue exploring viable alternatives everywhere we can."

This move away from single-use plastics builds on efforts already underway across Hyatt's global portfolio, including to minimize and divert food waste, source responsibly, and reduce water and energy consumption. Since launching its 2020 Environmental Sustainability Vision in 2014, Hyatt has made significant strides toward its goals, integrating sustainability guidelines into purchasing criteria and engaging suppliers around sustainable practices. Among the progress detailed in Hyatt's latest Corporate Responsibility Scorecard:

  • Nearly 100 percent of Hyatt's Avendra suppliers and distributors now have sustainability policies in place.
  • Hyatt surpassed its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per square meter by 25 percent in all regions when compared to 2006.
  • Fitness centers at Hyatt hotels across North America now offer earbuds that are recyclable rather than single-use. In 2017, more than 80 participating Hyatt hotels contributed to nearly 65,000 pairs of recycled earbuds.

Additionally, 2018 marks 10 years of Hyatt's collaboration with Clean the World, a non-profit that collects used soap and shampoo products from hotels, recycles them, and then donates them to communities in need. Over the past nine years, Hyatt hotels have donated 475,000 pounds of bar soaps and toiletries. During the hurricanes in 2017 alone, Clean the World donated 185,000 hygiene kits and 250,000 bars of soap.

To learn more about Hyatt's sustainability efforts, please visit www.hyattthrive.com.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose – to care for people so they can be their best. As of September 30, 2023, the Company's portfolio included more than 1,300 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 76 countries across six continents. The Company's offering includes brands in the Timeless Collection, including Park Hyatt®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Vacation Club®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Studios, and UrCove; the Boundless Collection, including Miraval®, Alila®, Andaz®, Thompson Hotels®, Dream® Hotels, Hyatt Centric®, and Caption by Hyatt®; the Independent Collection, including The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Destination by Hyatt®, and JdV by Hyatt®; and the Inclusive Collection, including Impression by Secrets, Hyatt Ziva®, Hyatt Zilara®, Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas®, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts, Alua Hotels & Resorts®, and Sunscape® Resorts & Spas. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt® loyalty program, ALG Vacations®, Mr & Mrs Smith™, Unlimited Vacation Club®, Amstar DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions® technology services. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

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Vanessa George
Hyatt
+1 312 780 5451
Hyatt