CSR and Sustainability

📅 RIU Hotels & Resorts plans to reopen all seven hotels in Jamaica by December 15, 2025, following Hurricane Melissa's impact. Riu Montego Bay reopened on November 23, and Riu Palace Jamaica on November 24. $1,000,000 USD was mobilized, 80% for staff, including $570,000 for home reconstruction and $230,000 for aid. $200,000 was donated for 1,750 community support packages. Over 7,000 meals are distributed daily with World Central Kitchen, providing employment and aid.

🍴 URBA and artists Esteban de la Torre and Judit Eszter Kárpáti designed Onyx Æther, a Budapest restaurant, to emphasize sustainability. The restaurant features furniture made from melted aluminum and compressed wool. Shortlisted for the 2025 Dezeen Awards, it offers an 11-course menu reflecting historical and futuristic themes. The interior uses local, repurposed materials and integrates motion and lighting for a multi-sensory experience, honoring local culture and minimizing environmental impact.

💵 Arlo Hotels, through the Kind Traveler partnership, will contribute $0.50 per night per guest to local charities across New York, Chicago, Miami, and Washington, D.C. Locations include Arlo SoHo, Arlo NoMad, Arlo Midtown, Arlo Williamsburg, Arlo Chicago, Arlo Wynwood, and Arlo Washington DC. The program, supported by Kind Traveler's ESGB, provides real-time metrics on local impact. A 2025 report states 73% of travelers want spending to benefit local communities, with sustainability influencing 84% of travel choices.

🌿 The Athenaeum Hotel and Residences, London, completed an £80,000 reinvestment in its 329-square-meter living wall, first installed nearly 20 years ago. The wall contains plant life equal to 16.5 medium-sized trees, removing 757 kg of CO₂ and producing 559 kg of oxygen annually. It enhances biodiversity with new species like Viburnum tinus and Ligustrum vicaryi and uses recycled textiles. Over 1,000 Narcissus bulbs were added for spring.

🌏 National Tourism Organisations of Europe adopted the Reykjavík Declaration at the European Travel Commission’s 110th General Meeting in Iceland. The Declaration emphasizes people-centred tourism, with 80% of Europeans happy to welcome visitors. Six guiding principles include community focus and innovation. Eduardo Santander and Arnar Már Ólafsson highlighted tourism's role in community enhancement. Established in 1948, the European Travel Commission strengthens Europe's sustainable tourism development. The declaration aims to balance growth and promote community well-being.

💻 Slovenia introduces a Digital Nomad Visa on November 21. Research by The Social Hub shows 74% of surveyed digital nomads moved because of visa availability, while 78% see visas as welcoming. The survey included 2,000 nomads, revealing 54% earn €40,000-€80,000, with over a third above €80,000. Baby Boomers face the most loneliness, with 45% affected. The Social Hub operates 21 hotels in Europe, offering co-living spaces to combat isolation. Nearly half of nomads reflect on their local impact.

✏️ Since 2011, GCSTIMES, with operational centers in China, US, UAE, France, and Australia, and 14 subsidiaries globally, serves over 140 countries. Specializing in sustainable innovations, they offer eco-crafted pens designed for hotels, enhancing guest experiences with sustainable materials. Known for integrating sustainability with technology, GCSTIMES supports over 100,000 hospitality groups in low-carbon development. Their portfolio includes GCS, AUROkeys, Xenyra, and Glint Spot, providing sustainable smart cards and bespoke design services.

🎁 Professor Larry Dwyer received the UN Ulysses Prize at the University of Technology Sydney in November 2025. This prestigious award recognizes his work in tourism economics and sustainable development. The prize, UN Tourism's top academic honor, highlights Dwyer's focus on broader impacts of tourism beyond just economic factors. UN Tourism Director Beka Jakeli emphasized global challenges like climate change and political unrest. The organization, with 166 countries and over 500 Affiliates, promotes sustainable tourism globally.

🚀 Emirates and ENOC Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Dubai Airshow to explore Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) initiatives at Dubai Hub. The partnership aims to address supply chain and infrastructure needs, with a goal of supplying 1% of jet fuel from locally produced SAF by 2031. SAF can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80% and be blended with conventional fuel. This collaboration supports UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 ambition.