Accor, a global leader in hospitality, has entered into an industry-pioneering three-year partnership with World Monuments Fund (WMF) to protect cultural heritage and strengthen local communities. Through this partnership, Accor will work with WMF to share their expertise, resources, and global presence on projects that enhance destinations, connect with communities, and support long-term resilience.
‘Net-zero hotels’ are something no one had heard of ten years ago, but now an increasing number are redirecting their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and achieve this gold standard in hospitality sustainability. While this is an encouraging step - you might call it a breath of fresh air - the wider environmental challenges facing the hotel sector remain stark.
To support residents who have been displaced from their homes by Hurricane Helene, Airbnb.org is working with the Florida United Methodist Conference (FLUMC) and 211 contact centers in Florida and North Carolina to offer free, temporary housing. Stays are completely free for guests and are funded by Airbnb.org and the generosity of Airbnb hosts—many of whom offer their home for free or at a discount through Airbnb.org.
According to the latest UN Tourism data, international tourist arrivals have returned to 96% of pre-pandemic levels, with full recovery likely by the end of the year. With further growth anticipated, there is a pressing need to look beyond economic impacts of the sector and measure metrics relating to environmental dependencies, community impact, employee wellbeing, and much more. However, the sector currently lacks a unified Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting framework, making it difficult for tourism companies and stakeholders to measure, compare, and meaningfully communicate their sustainability efforts and impacts.
The global leaders of sustainable tourism convened in Belize for a ceremony to recognise the individuals and organisations that are accelerating change in net positive tourism. The inaugural World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, held on 27 September to coincide with World Tourism Day, proved a fitting showcase for Belize and its pioneering sustainability initiatives.
Preferred Travel Group, parent company of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Beyond Green, Historic Hotels of America, Historic Hotels Worldwide, PTG Consulting, and Beyond Green Travel, is reaffirming its commitment to sustainable tourism and climate action with the development of a comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CAP). Created in partnership with the Travel Foundation, a prominent international sustainable tourism organization, this initiative builds on the organization’s signing of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. It underscores Preferred Travel Group's proactive role in leading by example to drive necessary change within the travel industry.
During the New York City Climate Week 2024, HNtv INSIDERS had the unique opportunity to engage with experts with Megan Epler-Wood (Cornell University, USA), Jeanne Varney (Cornell University USA) and Willy Legrand (IU International University of Applied Sciences, Germany) and discuss key insights from the Sustainability in Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality Roundtables—an event jointly hosted by Cornell University, its Center for Hospitality Research, and the Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise. This discussion spanned a variety of pressing topics, from innovative green financing and the escalating costs of insurance in the face of climate risks, to sustainable agricultural practices and the capacity to manage the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions via our Destination Marketing/Management and National Tourism organizations in tourism destinations worldwide. Join us for a concise 20-minute summary that captures the essence of these discussions and a chance to grasp how the tourism and hospitality sectors are navigating the multifaceted challenges of climate mitigation and adaptation.
IHG Hotels & Resorts and the GBTA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), brought together some of travel’s biggest sustainability leaders yesterday during 2024 Climate Week NYC to spark dialogue about the decarbonization of business travel. In collaboration with co-hosts IDEO, Accenture, American Express Global Business Travel, Delta Air Lines and Hertz, the event challenged attendees to explore tensions and collaborative approaches inherent in balancing the necessity of business travel with the imperative to reduce carbon emissions.
CitySuites, a leading provider of luxury serviced apartments, is pleased to announce the release of its fourth Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report. The report offers a comprehensive overview of the company’s activities, achievements, and performance in ESG matters over the past year.
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) ("MGM Resorts" or the "Company") is making a bold leap toward its ambitious sustainability goals, signing a power purchase agreement with Escape Solar LLC that will more than double its access to clean solar electricity—an extraordinary stride toward a greener future. The agreement will help propel the Company closer to its goal of procuring 100% renewable electricity in North America by 2030. Already a global leader in sustainability with the world's largest direct connect solar array in the hospitality industry, MGM Resorts currently uses solar power for 90% of the total daytime needs at 11 of its iconic Las Vegas Strip properties.
Given the pressing issue of climate change the world faces today, sustainable financing is gaining attention globally and in Asia Pacific as a valuable tool for the private sector to adopt more responsible practices. There are multiple factors contributing to its significance.
The 19th meeting of the Committee (CTS) brought together the elected members of the Committee from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and the Americas. A total of 140 leading policymakers and experts reflected in-depth on pathways for balancing growth and prosperity with inclusiveness and sustainability. Over the course of two days, special Thematic Sessions focused on the key sustainability challenges posed as the sector continues to grow, with an expected 35 billion domestic, same-day and international visitors expected to travel annually by 2030.
Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. (NYSE: INN) (the "Company") today announced the publication of its annual Corporate Responsibility Report, which presents the Company's ongoing commitment to creating long-term shareholder value by investing responsibly, safeguarding the environment, and supporting its employees, communities, and other stakeholders.
Developed in collaboration with the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), the three-year Bachelor of Science in International Sustainable Tourism is designed to train graduates capable of leading the sector toward a more sustainable future.
The Energy & Environment Alliance (EEA) today announced the launch of a ground-breaking global consultation led by its newly established Taskforce on Hotels & Lodging Sustainability Standards. This initiative will work to develop industry-wide agreements on sustainability standards, benchmarks and financial performance metrics, specifically tailored for the hotels and lodging sector. This work will be particularly important for determining the valuation of hospitality assets.
From decarbonisation to data management and sustainability to staff training, ESG is at the top of the hospitality sector’s agenda. With People, Planet and Profit a key conference track at the upcoming FHS World, taking place from 30 September to 2 October at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, leading hospitality leaders discuss what the industry is already doing – and what more can be achieved – to strike a balance between best practice and maintaining top-flight services, amenities and industry standards.
Accor’s Queensland hotel network recorded sustained growth in the year to the end of July 2024, emphasising Queensland’s premier position in the Australian tourism and hotel market.
At Accor, sustainability is rooted at the center of our design strategy. In practice, that means that the Design & Technical Services teams channel their talent and creativity into ensuring that the strategy and the concepts they create have a positive impact on the environment and society. Our teams have developed specific construction guidelines for sustainability for each of our brands, while a rigorous selection criteria for design, and construction products and suppliers has been set to guarantee that all our partners ౼ from conception to production ౼ share our commitment to sustainability. With circularity and carbon reduction in mind, we have also begun using an eco-design measurement tool to analyze the environmental performance of our design concepts.
The new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marks a step forward in the partnership between the two organisations, highlighting their mutual dedication to advancing sustainable practices and raising awareness about the positive impact of Sports Tourism on destinations. By combining expertise and influence, it aims to leverage the power of world-class sporting events to drive tourism, economic growth, and sustainability.
FHS World today unveiled its stellar line up of speakers, an action-packed agenda and a wealth of new features at its biggest event to date, which will see more than 1,500 hospitality and tourism leaders descend on Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah, 30 September to 2 October.