IT’S HERE! This issue marks GT’s first-ever themed issue: The Green Issue. We timed the issue to coincide with Earth Day on April 22, in its 47th iteration this year. Today, Earth Day is a global celebration, coordinated by Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries. This issue also looks at green matters from a global perspective, with nearly every one of the articles on the following pages touching on environmentally friendly concerns in some way.

As a traveler, how much do you focus on green issues and your carbon footprint? Whether the answer is a lot or a little, our inside look at green travel (page 40) and the most eco-conscious travel companies (page 44) will help you make more informed decisions when it comes to future trips. There’s far more to think about in this regard than whether or not to reuse your towels.

We visit a variety of destinations on our eco-friendly world tour this month: Ottawa, Saudi Arabia, Nashville, Quito, Cape Town, Cascais, Antwerp, France, the Thai islands and Las Vegas.

We peruse another global phenomenon next month with a deeper look at the emerging trend of remote business travel. We also break down the new Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel company since its purchase of Starwood Hotels and Resorts. I’m writing this from Berlin, where I attended ITB for the unveiling of Qatar Airways’ new, revolutionary QSuite. It’s the first business-class suite product for the airline, and the design is patented, as it is sure to be a gamechanger for the industry. Next up, I’m off to Spain; I hope you, too, are currently enjoying the journey.