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Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Beyond Green Spotlights Hospitality's Role in a More Sustainable Future This Earth Month
A global portfolio of sustainability-driven hotels, resorts, and lodges, Beyond Green and its members champion the transformative power of travel as a force for good NEW YORK, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As travelers increasingly seek responsible choices and businesses navigate the complexities of sustainable growth, collaboration has never been more critical. At the Beyond Green inaugural Global Leadership Summit, member hotel leaders from around the world united with a shared mission: to leverage the power of community, loyalty, and strategic partnerships to shape a more sustainable future. Hosted last month at Cavallo Point, one of Beyond Green's founding member hotels, the Summit was designed both as a forum for discussion and as a catalyst for action. Through thought-provoking panels, cross-sector collaboration, and hands-on strategy sessions, attendees explored innovative ways to amplify impact, drive guest engagement, and harness the collective strength of the Beyond Green network to connect travelers with sustainability-driven stays and foster meaningful industry-wide change. 'The Summit wasn't just about defining a roadmap – it was about amplifying real-world impact,' said Lindsey Ueberroth, CEO of Beyond Green. 'Throughout the event, a diverse group of Beyond Green hoteliers shared more about their on-the-ground sustainability initiatives, showcasing travel experiences that empower both travelers and local communities. These leaders demonstrated that sustainability isn't just a responsibility – it's an opportunity.' From Colombia to California, Costa Rica to Mongolia and beyond, Beyond Green properties are driving meaningful change at the hotel level while inspiring travelers to be part of the movement through tangible actions. Examples include: Hotel Las Islas (Cartagena, Colombia): Situated on Barú Island in the Colombian Caribbean, Hotel Las Islas is at the forefront of environmental conservation. Partnering with the Malpelo Foundation, the property has restored over 95,530 mangrove plants and regenerated more than 250 square meters of coral reef habitat. A water desalination system benefits both guests and the local community, while 80% of the hotel's staff come from Barú, supporting local employment and economic growth. Post Ranch Inn (Big Sur, California, USA): Perched high above the Pacific Ocean, Post Ranch Inn is a model for sustainable luxury. Designed by architect Mickey Muennig, the property uses natural materials such as wood, stone, and passive solar heat, seamlessly blending with its environment. Ninety of its 100 acres are protected, including a 36-acre conservation easement supporting rare and endangered species. Guests and the hotel contribute to the Post Ranch Inn Big Sur Community Fund, benefiting local organizations in Monterey County. A 990-panel solar array reduces carbon emissions by 600,000 pounds annually, while farm-driven dining and conservation efforts further underscore its commitment to sustainability. SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge (Bahia Drake, Costa Rica): Located within Corcovado National Park, one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge offers a secluded rainforest retreat with a strong conservation mission. Partnering with NGOs like Innoceana, the lodge engages guests in hands-on marine conservation activities, including scuba diving expeditions focused on data collection and species identification. Its 'Zero Waste' restaurant eliminates single-use plastics, ensuring sustainability remains at the core of its hospitality model. The Parkside Hotel & Spa (Victoria, Canada): The Parkside Hotel & Spa champions sustainable tourism on Vancouver Island, with initiatives such as on-site beekeeping, green roofs, and waste reduction programs. A partnership with Veritree enables the planting of one kelp for every guest stay—ten if guests decline housekeeping—helping to protect marine biodiversity. The hotel is also committed to environmental education, fostering awareness of conservation and local culture among guests and staff alike. Most recently, The Parkside Hotel & Spa has partnered with Sierra Club BC to further support environmental stewardship through community engagement and education, working together to inspire meaningful action for climate and nature in British Columbia. The Ranch at Laguna Beach (Laguna Beach, California, USA): The Ranch at Laguna Beach merges luxury with cutting-edge sustainability practices. Its Bottles to Bunkers program repurposes used glass into fine sand for the golf course, while its half-acre sustainable farm supplies fresh ingredients for its culinary program. Through partnerships with organizations like The Ocean Institute and Laguna Canyon Foundation, the resort supports habitat restoration and marine education initiatives. Advanced water reclamation systems conserve 21 million gallons of water annually, reinforcing the property's commitment to resource conservation. Three Camel Lodge (South Gobi, Mongolia): Deep in Mongolia's Gobi Desert, Three Camel Lodge is a leader in community-based conservation. The lodge's Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project helps protect livestock and mitigate human-wildlife conflict with species such as wolves and snow leopards. The property funds scientific expeditions that have led to significant fossil discoveries, including a new dinosaur species. Three Camel Lodge also invests in cultural preservation by supporting traditional music and dance education, offering scholarships for performing arts students, and employing an all-Mongolian staff with a focus on empowering women in leadership roles. Together, these efforts embody the broader mission of Beyond Green – to support its members, inspire collective action, and connect conscious travelers with experiences that prioritize people, place, and planet. As part of this mission, Beyond Green offers travelers an easy way to support sustainability through every stay. This commitment is further reinforced through I Prefer Hotel Rewards, the world's largest points-based loyalty program for independent hotels, with more than 5 million travelers enrolled globally. As part of Preferred Travel Group, Beyond Green's parent company, these member hotels participate in the program, which is complimentary to join. Members earn and redeem points, enjoy exclusive benefits, and book with confidence — knowing their travel dollars are directly supporting properties that are doing the real work to drive positive change. Through I Prefer, guests become part of a growing global community using travel as a force for good. To find out more about Beyond Green or book a stay, travelers are invited to visit the brand website: ABOUT BEYOND GREEN Guided by a passion to embrace travel as a force for good, Beyond Green is a global portfolio of some of planet Earth's most sustainable accommodations, representing more than 50 hotels, resorts, and lodges across 22 countries. Dedicated to creating a more purposeful way to explore the world, Beyond Green connects conscientious travelers with properties committed to the three pillars of sustainable tourism: environmentally friendly practices that go beyond the basics; the protection of natural and cultural heritage; and the enhancement of social and economic well-being in local communities. To ensure these standards are met, each member property undergoes a rigorous vetting process based on over 50 sustainability indicators that align with global sustainable tourism standards and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Owned and operated by Preferred Travel Group, the family-owned company that also manages Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Historic Hotels of America, and Historic Hotels Worldwide, Beyond Green offers a new way to experience genuine hospitality, benefiting both people and the planet. For more information, visit . ABOUT PREFERRED TRAVEL GROUP Owned and operated by the Ueberroth Family, Preferred Travel Group is the parent company of brands and programs such as Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Beyond Green, Historic Hotels of America, Historic Hotels Worldwide, and PTG Consulting, representing more than 1,100 hotels, resorts, and residences across 90 countries, in addition to a global portfolio of destination marketing organizations and tourist boards. With more than 350 seasoned associates situated across 35 countries, the company connects independent hotels, hospitality companies, and destinations to key markets worldwide through strategic branding, sales, integrated marketing, revenue management, distribution services, and other consultancy services. Fueled by its brand promise, Believe in Travel, the company and its hotel and travel brands champion an unwavering belief in the transformative power of travel and its ability to enrich lives, inspire a greater respect for the planet, and expand hearts and minds to other cultures and ways of living. For more information visit CONTACT: MEDIA CONTACTS: Hannah Nelson Senior Director, Global Communications & Media Relations +1 303 885 7186 hnelson@ Sarah Maxwell Senior Manager, Public Relations – EMEA +44 20 7440 0321 SMaxwell@ Kate Calciano Coordinator, Public Relations – Americas + 1 646-465-9786 Kcalciano@ in to access your portfolio
USA Today
10-03-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
A fire chief says he battled Christian discrimination. Supreme Court declines to take his case
A fire chief says he battled Christian discrimination. Supreme Court declines to take his case The Supreme Court declined to take the case, skirting a potential showdown over religion in the workplace during a year when the Court is testing the limits of religion in schools and tax exemptions. Show Caption Hide Caption SCOTUS ruling on 'reverse discrimination' civil rights case The Supreme Court justices questioned whether an extra hurdle for people of "majority backgrounds" is required to prove discrimination. WASHINGTON – Ronald Hittle was laid off as fire chief of Stockton, Calif., after facing allegations of misconduct, including an anonymous letter describing him as a 'corrupt, racist, lying, religious fanatic.' One of the issues that led to his termination: he had attended, with other managers, a church-sponsored summit for Christian leaders during work hours. Hittle tried to sue, arguing he was fired because of his Christian religion, but lower courts said he didn't have a strong enough case to go to trial. Hittle, though, contends the test the Supreme Court established more than 50 years ago for evaluating workplace discrimination allegations needs to be reexamined. The Supreme Court on Monday declined to take his case, skirting a potential showdown over religion in in the workplace during a year that the Court is testing the limits of religion in schools, and religion-related tax exemptions. Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch said they would have heard the appeal. Thomas wrote that Hittle had plenty evidence of discriminatory intent, and his case would have allowed the court to offer clear guidance on how to determine when workplace discrimination cases can move forward. More: Supreme Court appears likely to side with straight woman in `reverse discrimination' case Leadership training at a Christian summit Hittle was fired in 2011 after city investigator concluded Hittle lacked effectiveness and judgment, failed to report time off, engaged in favoritism and had attended with other managers a religious event while on the job, among other findings. The event was a church-sponsored summit for Christian leaders, which Hittle said he went to because the city directed him to get leadership training. Hittle argues his attendance at the Global Leadership Summit was the main reason he was fired and alleged the deputy city manager had accused him of being part of a 'Christian Coalition.' The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Hittle hadn't persuaded them that the city's stated reasons for firing him were a cover story. The court also said there wasn't enough evidence that his supervisors made discriminatory remarks. Hittle said the appeals court incorrectly required him to prove the city's stated justifications were bogus. 'When an employer acts for a discriminatory reason, it cannot automatically avoid liability just because lawful reasons also motivated it,' his attorneys told the court. More: 'Wolf in sheep's clothing'? How a USPS worker's fight over Sunday shifts could change your workplace. The city says Hittle is mischaracterizing the appeals court's decision and there's no reason to reconsider the court's landmark 1973 decision, McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, a 'settled touchstone of employment-discrimination law.' 'The City's reasons for terminating (Hittle) were well-documented and entirely appropriate for the Ninth Circuit to rely upon,' the city's lawyers told the court.
