Marriott International has signed a landmark deal with the Brazilian state of Amazonas that will see the hotel group launch a carbon offset programme for its guests and invest in a fund aimed at securing 1.4m acres of rainforest. The company has invested $2m in the fund, which aims to prevent the deforestation of the threatened Brazilian rainforest. Marriott guests will be invited to invest in the fund, which the company said would offset the carbon emissions associated with their stays.

Jonathan Thomas comes from a family of jewellers, so when the price of gold began to shoot up the Michigan-based entrepreneur saw a commercial opportunity. At the beginning of the year he and his business partners launched My Gold Party.com, a company that helps arrange Tupperware-style parties for people keen to sell unwanted gold items. Business has been brisk, he says. "They bring their gold and they can walk away with a cheque."