Environmental

Company to eliminate more than 1 billion plastic straws annually

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced Hyatt hotels around the world plan to eliminate single-use plastic straws and drink picks. After Sept. 1, 2018, straws and picks will be available on request only, and eco-friendly alternatives will be provided where available.

From the EU's May 2018 proposed ban on plastics to reduce ocean litter, to Australia's recent prohibiting of plastic bags, the environmental impact of plastic waste has been gaining awareness worldwide. The travel industry has also been taking notice.

The Executive Vice President and CEO of Meliá made the announcement during his speech at the Group’s General Shareholders’ Meeting, a decision justified by the fact that ‘great customer experiences have to be compatible with respect for the planet, and plastic pollution is a global challenge which affects all destinations.’

Two companies have recently introduced portable sound masking systems to the lodging industry – Nightingale Smart Solutions Inc. and K.R. Moeller Associates Ltd. The aim of each company is to help hotel guests fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. While doing that, hotels can benefit from fewer noise complaints, reduce reimbursement charges and beef up wellness programs.

Scandic will begin phasing out plastic straws, cocktail sticks and the plastic lids for the take away coffee mugs at all of its hotels. Scandic is also evaluating different eco-friendly replacement products and will offer eco-friendly straws at its bars and restaurants for guests who need them, for example, people with special needs.

McDonald's is to face a vote by shareholders about its use of plastic straws at its annual meeting on Thursday.

New Consumer Research Confirms Environmental and Social Efforts Are Central To Hotel Guest Booking Decisions

At full production, the solar array in the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone in Nevada will provide up to 90 percent of total daytime power needs across MGM Resorts’ 13 Las Vegas Strip locations

For a 140-room property, moving to a three-bottle shower dispenser system is expected to result in the elimination of more than 23,000 tiny toiletry bottles annually – the equivalent of 250 pounds of plastic per year.