Mariana Domingues honored with Wolfgang Neumann Sustainability Leader of Tomorrow Award | News
Mariana Domingues, sustainability specialist at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, has been recognized with the prestigious Wolfgang Neumann Sustainability Leader of Tomorrow Award 2025 at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards (WSTHA).
The award was unveiled in front of hundreds of global sustainable tourism leaders gathered in Dubai for the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025. The VIP ceremony was held at Terra, Expo City Dubai and recognized the individuals and organizations accelerating change in net positive tourism.
Domingues has brought about a holistic sustainability transformation at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, making it Portugal’s first hotel to achieve both Green Key (2024) and Forbes VERIFIED (2025) certification. Under her leadership, single-use plastics have been eliminated throughout the facility and replaced with refillable and compostable alternatives. She implemented waste separation throughout the hotel and worked with Reciclar e Alimentar to compost Nespresso sites and support rice cultivation for food banks.
“I am incredibly proud of this recognition as it reflects our hotel’s continued commitment to sustainable practices with a broader vision. It is an opportunity to contribute to a cause that extends far beyond just our guests, and has a positive impact on the broader community and the environment,” said Mariana Domingues, Sustainability Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon.
Since 2012, Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon has been donating food daily through DariAcordar, reducing waste and supporting the local community. In the CURA restaurant, more than 60 percent of the ingredients are locally and ethically produced. Domingues also engages staff through beach cleanups, sustainability conversations and linen reuse partnerships with Hospes. Guided by Four Seasons’ ‘Lead with Care for the Planet’ strategy and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, its replicable initiatives – such as the Clean Plate campaign and inclusion events – prove that operational change and cultural impact can go hand in hand.
WSTHA is run in partnership with the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, whose partners and members represent more than 66,000 hotels, eight million rooms worldwide, 300 brands and more than 100 supply chain and strategic partners.
Glenn Mandziuk, President & Chief Executive Officer of World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, said: “We congratulate Mariana Domingues on this special award. This achievement reflects an outstanding commitment to innovation, collaboration and leadership in sustainable hospitality. At the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, we are proud to recognize organizations that are not only redefining guest experience excellence, but also demonstrating that responsible business practices and sustainability are essential to the future of our industry – a net positive hospitality future.”
Justin Cooke, Executive Vice President of the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, said: “Our organization is committed to celebrating the individuals and companies who are setting new standards in protecting our planet for future generations – and Mariana Domingues of Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon is a truly deserving winner. It is a privilege to recognize her achievements at our second annual Gala Ceremony, and I wish the team in Portugal every success in the years to come.”
