CSR and Sustainability

📈 Safemark advanced from the 37th percentile in 2025 to the 68th percentile in 2026 on the EcoVadis sustainability rating, now in the top 35% of over 130,000 companies evaluated. EcoVadis assesses companies on Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. Safemark improved through enhanced sustainability reporting and supplier oversight. Recognition is given to Pamela Vargas and Allan Zhu for their contributions. The company focuses on energy efficiency, waste reduction, and ethical sourcing within the hospitality industry.

🌍 At the EHL HumanX Summit in Lausanne, Dr. Aradhana Khowala, CEO of Aptamind Partners, criticized the tourism industry's approach to sustainability, advocating for a shift towards regeneration. She emphasized quantifiable actions, such as sourcing 40% of food within 50 kilometers, rather than superficial initiatives like recycling towels. Drawing from her experience with projects like NEOM and Red Sea Global, Khowala highlighted the importance of restraint in development and the value of diverse perspectives in decision-making.

🌱 August 2024, AC Hotel Asheville Downtown integrated sustainability into operations. By formalizing a food donation workflow with Copia, the hotel donated 884 pounds of food, equivalent to 737 meals. This initiative also preserved over 202,000 gallons of water. Culinary leadership now receives detailed reports on donations, reinforcing sustainability as a core operational effort rather than an afterthought. This approach demonstrates a move from intention to integration in hotel management practices.

📈 Leadership in sustainability now focuses on operational integration rather than external promotion. The shift aims to enhance business resilience by embedding eco-friendly practices seamlessly without burdening the customer. This approach values subtle, substantial proof over overt declarations to build genuine credibility.

🌎 HBX Group received the Queer Destinations Committed distinction during Pride Month 2025, highlighting efforts for LGBTQ+ inclusion. The initiative involves a training program with over 90% employee participation, enhancing service standards. HBX's strategic partnership with Queer Destinations began in September 2025, launching a unique online travel platform. This milestone solidifies HBX's leadership in inclusive tourism, aiming to adapt to evolving market needs and improve the global travel ecosystem.

🏖 In 2026, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) proposed a new framework at the Caribbean Travel Forum in Antigua. This approach assesses tourism's contribution beyond visitor spending by considering the Domestic Capture Rate, human capital investment, and environmental impact. CHTA emphasizes these measures to create better careers for locals and protect natural assets. Over the past two years, CHTA held three Tourism Linkages Trade Shows, enhancing regional business integration.

🌊 Novotel's international partnership with WWF France, launched in 2024, focuses on ocean preservation. By 2026, 92% of Novotel's 600+ hotels comply with Accor’s plastic policy, and 73% are eco-certified. Half the hotels offer menus with 25% plant-based dishes, and 41% have banned over 350 vulnerable seafood species. More than 1,600 chefs completed sustainable seafood training. This progress aligns with their Positive Impact Plan supporting Sustainable Development Goal 14 – Life Below Water.

Encouraging action and education into the future, the new ‘Professional Displays Sustainability Update’ from PPDS – published this month – shares the latest developments in the year that marked a…