Northstar Travel Group partners with Shatterproof

NORWALK, Connecticut — Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization and a leader in improving the way the health care system addresses and treats substance use disorders, has partnered with travel media giant Northstar Travel Group to highlight evidence-based information, educational resources and engagement opportunities to those in the hospitality and travel industries to address substance use disorder, a treatable medical condition that impacts the industry at higher-than-average rate.

According to a recent report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, employees in the accommodations and food [hospitality] industry had the highest rates of substance use disorder in the past year.

Over the next year, Northstar Travel Group will be leveraging a portion of its portfolio of 28 brands and over 100 events to call attention to the crisis and provide critical education and resources for employees in the hospitality and travel industries. Each month, they will highlight issues including the dangers of fentanyl, understanding alcohol use disorder, and provide treatment resources like Shatterproof’s Treatment Atlas to their audience.

In January 2025, Northstar Travel Group will bring this topic to center stage at the annual America's Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) with a panel during the general session. Additionally, Shatterproof’s annual Hospitality Heroes Reception will take place at ALIS honoring an executive in the hospitality industry. The Hospitality Heroes Reception was created by Gary Mendell, a former hotelier who served as the co-founder and chairman of HEI Hotels & Resorts, and who is now the Shatterproof Founder and CEO.

“Northstar is taking the support of Shatterproof from the hospitality industry to the next level, by creating opportunities for those impacted by addiction in the hospitality industry to access to resources, but also to engage the entire hospitality and travel industry to come behind a public health crisis that is impacting so many in the United States,” said Shatterproof Founder and CEO Gary Mendell.

Bob Sullivan, chief commercial officer and president of Northstar Travel Group, added, "At Northstar Travel Group, we recognize the critical impact of substance use disorder on the hospitality and travel workforce and are committed to leveraging our platforms to address this public health challenge. Partnering with Shatterproof allows us to bring essential resources, awareness, and support to our industry, helping foster a healthier environment for those affected by addiction. Together, we aim to create a stronger, more resilient hospitality community that cares for and supports its members."

Mendell founded Shatterproof 10 years ago after losing his son to the stigma of addiction. His goal was to ensure that other families don’t have to experience the same pain and heartbreak he went through. Since its inception, the Hospitality Heroes Reception has raised more than $5 million to help the Shatterproof mission and gathered more than 100 hotel companies and 500 employees.