Inefficient shower heads at hotels are now climate change issue, SEC rules

Skift Take

Fascinating corporate battle that will increasingly get played out at the shareholder level, and the hospitality industry has to become more responsible or shareholders and SEC will force them to.

Shareholders of Choice Hotels, one of the country’s biggest hotel chains, have struck down a resolution that would force the company to consider replacing energy-guzzling shower heads with more efficient ones—yet its backers are claiming victory.

Although only nine percent of Choice’s shareholders voted in favor of the resolution, the proposal is one of a handful of global warming resolutions that companies tried to dismiss in this year’s proxy season—but that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said must be put to a vote. The trend reflects continued concerns by the SEC about the business risks of climate change.

Stephensackschoice022513 14a8 from Skift Inc

Tags: choice hotels, environment

Up Next

Coronavirus

Choice Hotels First Major Hotel Brand to Outperform Pre-Pandemic Levels

Profitability is one thing, but out-performing 2019 is the genuine sign of a rebound. Choice Hotels is lucky to not have to worry as much about corporate travel and conventions as some of its competitors.

Cameron Sperance, Skift | 2 months ago

Cruises

Venice Cruise Ship Ban Is Finally Happening in August

We've heard this before, but maybe we'll see a ban go into place in August. And if that's followed by other acts that put locals before tourists, perhaps we'll once again have a town that's something more than a traveler's trinket at city scale.

Giuseppe Fonte, Angelo Amante and Gavin Jones, Reuters | 2 months ago

Hotels

Vrbo Adds Hotels to Fill In Vacation Rental Gaps

Vrbo was leaving money on the proverbial table by sticking with whole homes. That seems to be changing, but it remains to be seen how far Vrbo will meander into hotels and other inventory types.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 3 months ago