Many hotels and travel companies embrace sustainability—but do they really know how to implement it? Carlos Martin-Rios, professor at EHL Hospitality Business School, warns that good intentions aren't enough.
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural edition in Zimbabwe, UN Tourism, the Basque Culinary Center and the United Republic of Tanzania will host the Second Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa in Arusha on 23–25 April 2025. The event is the leading UN Tourism initiative to position gastronomy tourism as a key driver of sustainable and inclusive development across the continent.
This article is part of my ongoing project, Sustainability Transitions in the Swiss Foodservice Industry: Reimagining Foodservice for a World Never Imagined. In our increasingly complex global food system, narrow sustainability approaches tend to emphasize conventional value functions that focus on limiting waste or destruction and maximizing the share of value captured by a single organization.
IHG Academy, a world class hospitality education and training programme, is proud to announce its partnership with the Queen Rania Foundation (QRF) and Edraak, a pioneering massive open online course (MOOC) platform, to launch a new Arabic-language course titled "Careers in Hospitality." This initiative aims to provide aspiring hospitality professionals in Jordan with a comprehensive understanding of the diverse and dynamic world of hospitality careers.
RIU Hotels & Resorts has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability in the Maldives by renewing its collaboration on the Blue Reef Reforest project for a further three years (until 2027) and launching a new alliance with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP). The aim of these initiatives is to preserve marine biodiversity in the Maldives by helping restore coral reefs and protecting the iconic endangered whale shark.
SPARK, in partnership with EYouth and with support from Google.org, has launched the Maharat for Tourism E-Learning Hub in Egypt - a pioneering platform designed to equip 25,000 individuals across the MENA region with essential skills for the tourism industry (Maharat.SPARK.Ngo/).
Further to the recent announcement, Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Goa for the country’s largest hospitality skilling centre in Goa to boost employment opportunities for youth in the state. This signing ceremony was held in the presence of Honourable Chief Minister of Goa -Shri Pramod Sawant and Mr. Prasad Lolayekar, IAS, Secretary, Education and Skills Development and Mr. S S Gaonkar, Director of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship, Goa.
Despite growing evidence supporting the business benefits of sustainability in risk mitigation and opportunity creation, investors in the APAC region tend to undervalue its importance during hotel transactions. This raises questions about the primary factors influencing capital allocation towards sustainable real estate, the potential impact on property valuation, and the strategy that various stakeholders—including general partners, limited partners, lenders, and hotel operators—can adopt to build more resilient and sustainable hospitality investments.
RIU Hotels & Resorts has taken a further step forward in its Proudly Committed sustainability strategy with the announcement of its first collaboration with two local NGOs in Mauritius, the Coral Garden Conservation (CGC) and Adolescent Non-Formal Education Network (ANFEN). Both alliances aspire to have a positive impact on the local environment and community by promoting ecological restoration and social inclusion.
Reuben Brothers and Three Rules Capital proudly announce that Audubon International– the environmentally focused non-profit organization offering members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect the areas where we all live, work, and play – has approved Esencia to pursue its highest accolade in environmental stewardship: the Signature Platinum Certification. Set on 2,000 acres of tropical natural beauty on Puerto Rico’s southwestern coast, Esencia is a new cosmopolitan coastal community that seamlessly integrates hotels, branded residences, and amenities across a sensitively designed master plan at Boquerón Bay in Cabo Rojo. In a rare endeavor, the Developers are pursuing certification for the entire development, positioning Esencia as the world’s largest Signature Platinum community by acreage.
Climate change is driving the world’s agenda. Business leaders everywhere are wrestling with how to respond to rising public and political pressure and align their systems and operations with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, established to keep global warming below 2°C and ideally 1.5°C. None more so than for hotels, that means implementing sustainable hospitality strategies to reduce their emissions by 90 percent by 2050.
Here is a summary on what to expect from the Hotel Yearbook 2025 Sustainability Tech Edition.
The hospitality industry has always been synonymous with luxury, comfort, and convenience. However, as the global community becomes increasingly aware of environmental challenges, the sector faces the pressing need to balance guest satisfaction with sustainability. Green practices in hospitality not only address environmental concerns but also appeal to the growing number of eco-conscious travelers who prioritize sustainable choices. Let’s delve into the significance of green initiatives in hospitality, the strategies being employed, and the long-term benefits for businesses, communities, and the planet.
Hospitality Net’s Simone Puorto caught up with Willy Legrand, Professor at IU International University of Applied Sciences, Germany, during our time at ITB Berlin, where sustainability was a hot topic. Willy is a well-known expert in the field and has played a big role in shaping the conversation around sustainable hospitality.
Hotel Yearbook 2025 Sustainability Tech Edition Debuts at ITB, Bridging Technology and Eco-Innovation in Hospitality
Airbnb is pleased to share the latest recipients of Airbnb Community Fund grants, which include more than 160 organizations making a difference in 30+ countries across six continents.
What motivates travellers to adopt sustainable behaviours? A new report co-produced by Accor, Booking.com and the University of Surrey delves into this question through an in-depth study. It includes 24 traveller interviews, the journey analysis of 22 additional travellers and rigorous lab-based behavioural research with 67 participants.
Every year, thousands of tonnes of food are discarded worldwide, with the hospitality industry playing a substantial role in this troubling statistic. Kitchens often overproduce to meet demand, buffets sit mostly untouched, and guest plates frequently leave behind uneaten portions. These practices drain resources through wasted ingredients, labour, and disposal costs while also conflicting with the rising expectations of environmentally aware travellers.
New study from Accor, Booking.com and University of Surrey assesses how to deliver effective and engaging sustainability communications to guests. The report – “engaging travellers to embrace more sustainable behaviours” – sets out some of the challenges hospitality providers face when communicating with guests on sustainability and identifies four key ways to positively influence guest behaviour.
The tourism and hospitality industry is particularly vulnerable to climate change, energy transitions, and environmental degradation—existential threats to Europe and the world. To tackle these challenges, the European Green Deal aims to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy, ensuring: