CSR and Sustainability

📚 In 2026, the AHLA Foundation awarded over $817,000 in scholarships to 256 students for the 2026–2027 academic year. Nearly 95% of recipients are from historically underrepresented communities, attending 78 institutions nationwide. Scholarships are based on academic performance, extracurriculars, recommendations, and financial need, aiding students pursuing hospitality management degrees. Lydia Rengering, a recipient from the University of Alabama, highlighted the scholarship's role in easing financial burdens and fostering professional growth.

🏖 On September 24, 2026, the European Travel Commission announced winners of the 'Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism' Awards in Skiathos. With 72 entries, winners included Turaida Museum Reserve from Latvia and Mziskari in Georgia. Categories highlighted resilience, creative tourism, digitalization, and transnational thematic products. The awards promote sustainable tourism, with contributions from ETC, Europa Nostra, and other networks focusing on regenerative and smart cultural tourism across Europe.

📈 Eight young care leavers in Manchester completed Travelodge's intensive four-day ‘Care to Career’ pilot in March 2024 at the Manchester Central hotel. Participants received workshops and hands-on experience, culminating in a guaranteed interview with Travelodge. This initiative, part of Travelodge’s social mobility programme in partnership with Catch22, aims to support underrepresented groups, following its successful 2024 pilot in Liverpool. Travelodge, founded in 1985, operates 632 hotels in the UK, Ireland, and Spain, welcoming over 22 million guests annually.

📅 HFTP hosted its 2026 Annual Convention from September 22-24 at the Peppermill Resort, Spa & Casino in Reno, Nevada, uniting 300+ members. Events included keynotes by Alex Weber and Michele Kline and a session by Danny Goldberg. The conference featured an experiential team-building session donating 10 bicycles and $5,000 to The Children's Cabinet. Awards were presented to Tessa Leverett and Mohammad Al Amin, among others. The 75th anniversary event is scheduled for October 19-21, 2027, in Orlando.

📦 Amerilodge Group, based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, teamed up with Hilton Hotels on September 16, 2026, in Troy, Michigan, to create over 1,500 cleaning kits for Oakland County's Lighthouse. These kits, part of their "Spirit to Serve Our Community" initiative, include essential cleaning supplies. The effort supports homeless and housing-unstable individuals. Lighthouse, formed in 2019, addresses poverty and housing needs in the area, benefiting from Amerilodge's donation.

🏖️ Coastal resort Portmarnock Resort and Jameson Golf Links, 20 minutes from Dublin, achieved Green Key certification for sustainability after an 18-month audit. The four-star resort boasts 134 rooms, a spa, and a golf course. Sustainability initiatives include removing single-use plastics, upgrading the heating system, reducing food waste, and shifting to electric and hybrid vehicles. The resort collaborates with the Dublin Beekeeping Association, hosting six beehives and educating locals on bees' environmental importance.

🌊 Charles McDiarmid, of Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino, British Columbia, shares insights on running the hotel since 1996. The inn, known for storm watching, spans eight acres and joined Relais & Châteaux in 1997. The family-run inn benefits from sustainability efforts, featuring local cuisine at The Pointe Restaurant. Tofino receives 600,000–700,000 visitors annually. Relais & Châteaux supports 580 properties in over 60 countries with a focus on sustainability and hospitality traditions.

📺 Charles McDiarmid, the Managing Director at Wickaninnish Inn – Relais & Chateaux, discusses storm watching, sustainability, and the significance of being a Relais & Châteaux member. The interview, hosted by Adam Mogelonsky of Hotel Mogel, is part of Hospitality Net's Brand Insiders video series. The episode is approximately one hour long and is available on Hospitality Net and Hotel Mogel websites.