CSR and Sustainability

🏕 HotelREZ, a hotel representation company, partnered with Greengage to offer ECOsmart certification to its properties, showcasing their commitment to sustainability. The certification, available since 2020, assists properties in demonstrating their environmental efforts with four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. It provides transparent criteria, such as carbon footprint per stay. The partnership aims to make sustainable hospitality more accessible across the UK and Europe, with the certification process streamlined through HotelREZ's platforms. ECOsmart will also feature on platforms like GDS and REZMedia, enhancing visibility for environmentally conscious travelers. HotelREZ itself is undergoing an ECOsmart audit, emphasizing its dedication to sustainability.

🍳 Café Momentum, a nonprofit restaurant, started a $10 million campaign for a new Dallas flagship location, expected to open in 2026. The organization, founded in 2015, offers internships to justice-involved youth, increasing capacity from 80-100 to 120 interns annually. Expansions include Atlanta in March 2025, Denver by early 2026, following Nashville's rebranding to Pathways Kitchen in August 2024. The new 12,000-square-foot space will offer mental health services, educational support, and workforce training.

🌳 HotelREZ, a hotel representation company, has partnered with Greengage to offer ECOsmart certification to its properties, enhancing their sustainability credentials. This initiative aims to meet the rising demand for sustainable travel and enable HotelREZ member properties to demonstrate their environmental commitments. ECOsmart, launched in 2020, rates properties on Bronze to Platinum scales, factoring carbon footprint and amenities like EV charging points. HotelREZ integrates this certification into various platforms, including REZtoMarket and GDS, aiding transparency for eco-conscious travelers. HotelREZ also undergoes its own ECOsmart audit, leading by example in the hospitality sector.

🏛 HotelREZ, a hotel representation company, and Greengage, a sustainability solutions provider, partnered to offer ECOsmart certification to HotelREZ properties. ECOsmart, established in 2020, helps venues show commitment to sustainable practices with Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels based on criteria like carbon footprint and sustainable amenities. Greengage's CEO Andrew Perolls sees the partnership as making sustainable hospitality accessible in the UK and Europe. HotelREZ's CCO Daniel Simmons emphasizes the increasing bookings driven by sustainable travel demand. The certification will be integrated into HotelREZ’s platforms and visibly show hotels' sustainability efforts, like reducing single-use plastics and water recycling, to travellers and booking agents. HotelREZ itself is undergoing an ECOsmart audit to set an example.

🏕 HotelREZ, a hotel representation company, partnered with Greengage to offer ECOsmart certification to member properties, enhancing sustainability credentials in the hospitality industry. This international certification, introduced since 2020, categorizes properties into Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels based on their environmental practices, including carbon footprint and sustainable amenities. The partnership marks HotelREZ’s commitment to sustainable travel, providing support for hotels to appeal to eco-conscious consumers and corporate bookers. The certification is integrated into HotelREZ’s REZtoMarket and Cvent tools, showcasing hotels' sustainability on various platforms like GDS, REZMedia, and Best Loved Hotels. HotelREZ is also undergoing its own ECOsmart audit.

🏛 HotelREZ, a hotel representation company, partners with Greengage to offer ECOsmart certification to its member properties, demonstrating their commitment to sustainability. This certification, available since 2020, has Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels, including transparent criteria such as carbon footprint per night. The initiative positions HotelREZ at the forefront of the hospitality industry's environmental revolution, catering to the demand for sustainable accommodation. The ECOsmart certification is integrated into HotelREZ’s REZtoMarket content platform and will be visible on GDS platforms, REZMedia, and Best Loved Hotels. HotelREZ is also undergoing its own ECOsmart audit, showcasing its dedication to sustainable practice leadership.

🍴 New York, January 22, 2025 – The James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists for the 35th annual James Beard Awards, presented by Capital One. The 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists list is available on their website. Renowned for recognizing exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries, the Foundation introduced three new award categories this year: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service. In the past two years, 66% of semifinalists reported a significant increase in business following their nomination. Award nominees will be revealed on April 2, 2025, with the winners celebrated at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on June 16, 2025.

🌱 "Discover 10+ practical ways to make hotels eco-friendly" aligns with eco-conscious travelers’ demands. Tips include saving energy and reducing waste. Authored by Manveen Kaur, the article from Hotelogix Blog was published on January 21, 2025. It suggests steps for sustainability in the hospitality industry.

🏝 European travel and tourism representatives met in Rhodes, Greece, to sign a declaration for sustainable travel and tourism. It establishes a roadmap for collaboration and sustainability goals, emphasizing decarbonisation and policy engagement. Ahead of the EU elections, the declaration advocates for sustainable tourism budget lines and policy support. It reinforces decarbonisation pledges from the Glasgow and Toulouse Declarations, promotes industry awareness, supports SMEs, and encourages education and training. Regular stakeholder meetings will assess progress. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and South Aegean Governor George Hatzimarkos endorsed the event. Organizations involved include A4E, ACI Europe, CLIA, ECTAA, EEIA, ERA, HOTREC, IAAPA, IRU, and Ruraltour.

🍕 Restaurant Pine announces SecondBite 2025 charity event on July 6th at Wylam Brewery, Palace of Arts, Newcastle to support Cancer Research UK. The event aims to surpass last year's £82,063 fundraising total with 20 UK Michelin-starred chefs creating street food dishes, with 500 portions of each available. Entry is free; dish tokens cost £10. Notable chefs include Gareth Ward of Ynyshir, Tom Shepherd of Restaurant Upstairs, and Ian Waller of Restaurant Pine. Proceeds support over 4,000 Cancer Research UK professionals.