GCSTIMES Unveils Carbon-Neutral Hospitality Solutions at NoVacancy 2025
Day 1 of the NoVacancy Hotel + Accommodation Industry Expo has kicked off at the International Convention Centre, Sydney, and sustainability is already stealing the spotlight.
News
A Quick Look at PEF and Hospitality Sustainability
For leaders in the hospitality industry: Are you ready for the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)? It's more than just another acronym, it's set to change how we measure and communicate sustainability.
RIU presents its Proudly Committed sustainability strategy in Mexico
RIU Hotels presented its Proudly Committed sustainability strategy in Cancún, Mexico. The event, held at the Riu Caribe, was led by Naomi Riu, Executive Director of the group and head of Corporate Social Responsibility, alongside more than 100 guests, including municipal and state authorities from Quintana Roo, such as the State Secretary of Tourism, Bernardo Cueto, as well as the various organisations supported by RIU, key industry figures, and members of the media.
Action Against Hunger and IHG Hotels & Resorts mark first year of partnership helping millions tackle malnutrition
Action Against Hunger and IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, are celebrating the first anniversary of a global partnership already helping to deliver life-saving results in the fight against global malnutrition.
Beyond The Checklist: Embedding Sustainability Into Hotel Strategy for Lasting Impact
Let’s start with the obvious: there is a lot going on in the world today.
The One Type of Hotel I Wish More Hoteliers Knew About
I don’t want to bury the lead after a click-bait-y title like that. I’m talking about a bee hotel (pictured in the featured image so that you have an idea of what they look like).
By Larry Mogelonsky and Adam Mogelonsky
RIU dedicates more than 3 million euros to social investment in 2024
RIU Hotels & Resorts dedicated a total of €3,171,135 to social investment in 2024 as part of the first roll out of its Proudly Committed strategy. The company’s 104 actions with 88 strategic partners directly impacted 55,624 people and indirectly impacted 82,644 people. Childhood represented 71% of the investment, followed by Biodiversity (22%) and Local community (7%).
Airbnb and Neighborhood Housing Services of NYC launch $1M partnership to advance housing stability for New Yorkers
Airbnb and Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City (NHSNYC) have launched a multi-year partnership to support housing stability and expand economic opportunity for New Yorkers. The announcement comes at a time when the housing affordability crisis is among the most urgent challenges facing the city.
Holiday Inn Express San Diego South Cuts Costs and Boosts Efficiency with Anacove Smart Hotel Technology
The Holiday Inn Express San Diego South – Chula Vista is a contemporary 3-star hotel with 88 spacious guest rooms across four floors. The property offers easy access to downtown San Diego, the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego Zoo, beaches, and the Convention Center – making it a popular choice for both business and leisure travelers. Amenities include a year-round outdoor pool and hot tub, fitness center, business facilities, and free parking. Competing in one of the nation’s most demanding hospitality markets, the hotel is constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency and service.
Sustainability and Investing: An Incompatible Combination?
On June 12, 2025, EHL and Asteria Investment Managers held its third-annual Sustainable Investing Forum on the school’s flagship campus in Lausanne. The focus of this year’s event was on shareholder engagement as a critical driver of sustainable strategies. Once again, the forum brought together academics and industry players from diverse backgrounds.
By Philippe Masset and Natacha Guerdat
The $1 Trillion Question: Can the Middle East Afford a 7-Month Tourism Year?
The Middle East is building the world’s boldest tourism dreams—but will rising heat rewrite the rules of ROI, resilience, and reputation? From 50 °C “death zone” summers to exploding cooling costs and stranded giga-assets, the risks are no longer theoretical.
By Dr. Aradhana Khowala, CEO & Regenerative Tourism Expert | Global Thought Leader | Chair and Non-Executive Director | Innovator in Luxury Hospitality and Wellness | Public Speaker, Aptamind Partners
Holiday to help out this September as IHG Hotels & Resorts brings back ‘Stay for Good’ in support of OzHarvest and KiwiHarvest
As new data reveals food insecurity is at an unprecedented high, travellers in Australia and New Zealand can give back to those in need and help reduce food waste by staying at participating IHG Hotels & Resorts this month. For the fourth year running, IHG’s annual ‘Stay for Good’ campaign supports Australia’s leading food rescue charity, OzHarvest, and its New Zealand-based sister organisation, KiwiHarvest, throughout September.
Regenerative Hospitality Canva: A Transformative Playbook
The hospitality industry stands at a crossroads between a series of choices that will shape its future. Traditionally, sustainability efforts have centred on minimising environmental impact. However, an innovative approach is required for hotels to become agents of positive change. This extends from the improvement and restoration of destinations to the protection of their natural and social ecosystems. Regenerative Hospitality represents a fundamental shift in mindsets. Instead of simply reducing harm, forward-thinking hospitality businesses are now creating net-positive impacts, leaving places better than they found them. This isn't just environmental stewardship; it's a complete reimagining of business purpose within the interconnected living systems.
Is the EU About to Make Green Claims a Luxury for Hotels?
Imagine this: you run a 30-room independent hotel in Spain. You’ve invested in solar panels, eliminated single-use plastics, and source food from local suppliers. Guests praise your efforts. Yet when travellers search on Booking.com, your property doesn’t show up under “sustainable stays.” Why? Because you don’t have a third-party sustainability certification. Under new EU rules, you’re not even allowed to call yourself “eco-friendly” without one.
By Xavier Font, Professor of Sustainability Marketing, University of Surrey
From Sustainability to Regeneration: A Forgotten Paradise Reborn
When I first arrived in Kep, Cambodia, in 2003, it felt like a town lost in time. Once known as the “Côte d’Azur of Cambodia,” Kep had been a glamorous seaside escape filled with beautiful villas and vibrant life. But after years of war and hardship, the beaches were deserted, the roads crumbling, and the elegant homes reduced to ruins. What remained was only a faded memory of a golden era.
GCSTIMES Achieves ISO14068 Certification, A Carbon Neutral Partner for the Hospitality Industry
We are proud to announce that GCSTIMES has successfully obtained the ISO 14068 Organizational Carbon Neutrality Certification, verified by SGS, officially recognizing us as a Carbon Neutral Company 2024.
Ibiti: A Living Proof That Regenerative Hospitality Works
In the heart of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, that question has already been answered. Ibiti Projeto stands as living proof that regenerative hospitality is not a far-off dream but a reality. Over 40 years, it has transformed once-degraded land into a thriving biodiversity refuge, while creating opportunities for local people to become entrepreneurs and stewards of their own future.My recent immersion there was a reminder that regeneration is not an abstract ideal - it’s a tangible force that can transform landscapes, economies and mindsets all at once.
By Nicola Gryczka Kirsch, EHL Entrepreneur in Residence and Founder of The Regen Studio, EHL
Rotana Expands Sustainability Commitment Across Operations and Guest Experience with Ecolab and Stella Hospitality
We are pleased to announce a new multi-faceted sustainability partnership with Ecolab, a global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions, and Stella Hospitality, a provider of sustainable guest amenity packaging.
Business Insights: Are green getaways motivating holiday parks to be more sustainable?
Visiting a holiday park, ranging from lodge parks to caravan parks or glamping yurts, is a favoured holiday choice for the UK domestic market. Estimating the market size for UK holiday parks is complex due to overlapping categories. However, Mintel estimates the holiday centres and parks segment revenue to be valued at £3.5bn in 2024 – a 20% growth from pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, there were 4,754 holiday parks and campsites operating in the UK, accounting for 320,901 pitches, with the highest number in South West England. The sector further supports c. 230,000 full time jobs across the UK.
By Lily Clark and Toby Radcliffe
We need to end Overtourism
Two weeks on the road in Italy, from Milan to Naples, will teach you many things. For one, gelato is great at any time. But more importantly, it forces you to confront a term that’s been floating around travel discourse for years: overtourism.
By Martin Soler, Partner, Soler & Associates