Self-Proclaimed Climate ‘Leader’ To Host Annual Climate Denier Conference

For the second year in a row, a self-declared “leader” in the fight against global .

On its corporate website, Hilton notes that the company is “committed to leading the hospitality industry toward a net-zero economy and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions in line with climate science” and “proud to have been the first major hotel company to set science-based carbon targets aligned with climate science and the Paris Climate Agreement.”

“Through climate action and destination stewardship, we intend to pave the way to a net-zero future for our company and the global travel and tourism industry,” it reads.

Asked about Heartland’s upcoming conference, a Hilton spokesperson told HuffPost that “Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista is considered a place of public accommodation and does not adopt or endorse the views of any individuals or groups we serve.”

“Our goal is to provide a high quality product and service per the contractual agreements in place with our clients,” the spokesperson added.

Hilton did not respond to HuffPost’s specific questions about Heartland’s history of denying and downplaying climate science.

One of Heartland’s many opposition campaigns targets environmental, social and governance (ESG), a framework used to measure the sustainability of a company or investment. The think tank is pushing anti-ESG legislation at the state level and encourages lawmakers who are “looking to fight back against ESG scores” to reach out.

Hilton Hotels has branded its own ESG strategy “Travel With Purpose.” And in a message accompanying the hotel giant’s ESG report last year, Hilton President and CEO Chris Nassetta wrote that the company is “defining the next golden age of travel, anchored in sustainability and inclusivity.”

“There has never been a more important time to double down on our commitments and raise the bar on our environmental and social goals,” he wrote. “In the coming year, as climate science and best practices continue to evolve, we will set more ambitious environmental targets that will help preserve the destinations where we live, work and travel, and pave the way to a net-zero future.”

It’s a net-zero future that its upcoming guest, Heartland, is actively fighting against.

The agreement between Heartland and Hilton is reminiscent of last year, when casino giant Caesars Entertainment hosted the three-day climate denial conference at its iconic Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Like Hilton, Caesars’ website features an entire page on environmental stewardship and climate, touting the company’s“climate leadership” and “commitment to science-based goals.”

In 2019, when Heartland held its conference at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., it refused to give HuffPost and other major news outlets access to cover the event.

“HuffPost won’t be getting any credentials for this conference,” Heartland’s Jim Lakely wrote to HuffPost at the time. “You can watch the live-stream if you want to cover it.”