Airbnb's $1M Washington State commitment funds national park nonprofits, Leave No Trace partnerships, and sustainable forestry projects, plus a volunteer incentive offering $100 in Airbnb credit.
1. More than a great idea, an imperative but still some years away to mainstream adoption as no widespread/recognised framework exists for triple materiality, yet.2. If it can be proven to increase future asset value, possibly meet/exceed local planning requirements and to offer a more relatable and reassuring sustainability alignment message to guests' own narratives.3.
Under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), companies are expected to disclose how their climate targets align with the global goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C. While the CSRD does not require organisations to obtain approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), it does require transparency about whether their emissions-reduction targets are science-based and consistent with climate science.
Double materiality is an important step forward, but on its own it does not yet tell us whether hospitality is moving fast enough - or in the right direction - relative to planetary and social thresholds. That is why the idea of triple materiality is so compelling.In principle, it is exactly the challenge our sector now needs.
Las Vegas Sands' $450,000 donation to The WASH Foundation brings total contributions to $6.5M since 2014, funding hygiene kits, water conservation grants in Macao and Singapore, and capacity-building programs.
AC Hotel Asheville Downtown shares how it moved sustainability from good intentions to measurable daily operations through data tracking, workflow integration, and leadership accountability.
Annual reports are a key source of ESG information in hospitality, combining financial and non-financial data on sustainability performance. Increasing alignment with CSRD and frameworks like ESRS, GRI, IFRS improves comparability, though challenges remain around data reliability and aligning corporate- and hotel-level KPIs.At Hotelschool The Hague, the Business Resilience and ESG chair uses such data for applied research on resilience and sustainable transformation, combining document analysis and industry collaboration.
The Most Valuable Resources Are Still Human OnesFour years ago, the challenge was finding good information. Today it is filtering it.When it comes to accuracy, I keep returning to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and UN Tourism.
I think the age of AI makes reliable sustainability resources more important, not less. AI can be extremely useful for summarising complex information, analysing hotel data, comparing options, and translating sustainability language into practical operational decisions.
Cornell CHR report from Climate Week NYC 2024 finds the hospitality sector lacks the data systems and financing structures needed to convert sustainability ambition into measurable financial benefit.
MGM Resorts' $500,000 employee rebate program with Southern Nevada Water Authority achieves 7 million gallons in annual household water savings.
SCP Hotels launches nature-focused experience programs at four properties, featuring sunrise paddleboarding in Oregon and volcanic exploration in Hawaii.
Retail unsold food rates dropped 1.1% while foodservice waste efficiency improved 5.7%, with pilot programs achieving over 50% waste reduction.
The resort's closed loop system with Boomerang Water reduces carbon emissions by 95% per bottle and eliminates shipping through on-site bottling.
Regeneration in hospitality requires more than efficiency improvements; it demands a shift from extractive models toward reciprocal relationships with place. Through the VIRTU Resort & Residences model, developed in partnership with the World Indigenous Business Network (WIBN), hotels are conceived as living systems participants rather than resource consumers.
At Sunlife, regeneration is not framed as an extension of sustainability but as a shift in how value is created. As stated in our 2025 Sustainability Report, hospitality has the power to regenerate, not just to delight… it is the strategy that shapes every decision, every investment, and every guest experience.
A case study I recently prepared can serve as a possible blueprint for hotels seeking to integrate circularity, community partnership, and ecological restoration into their core business model. Garden Hotels & Resorts transformed its operations in Mallorca through a circular partnership with local farmers.
The 115 MW Escape Solar and Storage Project doubles MGM's renewable capacity, combining with existing solar arrays to achieve 100% daytime renewable power across Vegas Strip properties.
Hilton Anaheim's multimillion-dollar renovation integrated LED lighting, smart controls, and bulk amenities, achieving emissions reductions equivalent to removing 1,700 cars from the road.
Hard Rock expands anti-trafficking programs with 143,510 trained team members, reaching 3.2 million students through education and adding 10 new properties to their intervention network.
AHLA becomes the 30th signatory to the voluntary pact aimed at reducing the 10% of food waste that comes from lodging, equivalent to $17 billion annually.
WTTC data shows U.S. tourism GDP grew 1.8% annually while emissions fell 1.7%, demonstrating successful economic-environmental decoupling.
Hospitality industry leaders need to act now to support its workers during the government shutdown. This is especially important due to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits program disruption. This needs to be the top issue every leadership team in the hospitality industry team is focusing on today. Thousands of hospitality and food service workers are facing immediate food insecurity and missed meals. The hospitality industry depends on these workers to deliver America’s service experience, yet we have left them in a dangerous position during this crisis. Congress must ensure SNAP continuity to protect both the workers and the industries that rely on them but until that happens, industry must take charge.
Understanding Opting-In and Opting-Out Strategies Knowing the difference between opting-in and opting-out is essential when aiming to influence behaviour and drive change effectively. The "default option" principle can be applied to almost any business or operational process, allowing organisations to guide decisions without lengthy explanations or losing control over outcomes.
In 2026 hospitality should prioritise shifting from surface-level sustainability actions to systemic change through investment in leadership training. While technical improvements remain important, the primary focus must be on transforming internal mindsets.
AXIS Architecture + Design, the noted and award-winning West Coast hospitality design, hotel renovation, multi-family residential design, and affordable housing architectural design firm, is proud to celebrate the completion of their latest luxury hotel renovation project: the 1 Hotel Seattle. Serving as both Design Architect and Architect of Record on the project in coordination with interior designers Studio Collective, the 1 Hotel Seattle represents AXIS’ latest addition to the firm’s already-extensive luxury hotel design and hotel renovation portfolios, and marks AXIS’ growing reputation for hospitality architectural design in the Pacific Northwest.
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.