BAA ATOLL, MALDIVES—With the world-famous manta destination of Hanifaru Bay on its doorstep, Amilla Maldives Resort wanted to do more to help protect these magnificent creatures. So Amilla Maldives has teamed up with the Manta Trust, an NGO dedicated to protecting manta rays and the marine ecosystems they inhabit. Now, as a Manta Trust Responsible Operator hotel partner, Amilla is officially committed to minimizing the impact its guests have on the mantas and mobula rays they encounter. Manta Season runs from April to November in Baa Atoll, Maldives. Peak time is July, and when the lunar, tidal and weather conditions are perfect something magical happens in the...

BANGKOK—Encompassing three private islands—two deserted neighboring islands and Kanuhura itself—this laid-back retreat is the epitome of white sands, turquoise lagoons, lush tropical greenery and gently swaying palm trees to doze under. This second collaboration with Singapore-based Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) will adopt the Six Senses brand in late 2022 as a northerly sister to the popular Six Senses Laamu. Until then, it is available for bookings through www.kanuhura-maldives.com and www.ihg.com. When it adopts the Six Senses brand, the resort will offer 80 private overwater, beach and spacious family villas offering sunset or sunrise views. A 40-minute seaplane flight from the main international airport...

BANGKOK—Within just a few hours of the United States, Belize is known for its warm and turquoise water, incredible snorkeling and diving, and active and vibrant culture. Guests and residents at Six Senses Belize will experience something out of this world as the team has worked tirelessly to strike the perfect balance between vivacious beach life and small-scale, secluded island bliss so that residents can enjoy either or both, any time they wish. The resort and residences are uniquely set across two areas. The sun-drenched stretch of secret beachfront on Ambergris Caye, the most sought-after destination in Belize, offers an...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Fresh produce, locally sourced ingredients, herbs grown onsite—and a little bit of sunlight. These are the tools that Chef Josh Murray uses to create five-star dishes at SUMMIT the Rooftop at Conrad Washington D.C., a restaurant that’s making strides toward becoming a zero-waste kitchen. Working with pure and natural ingredients comes easy to Murray, who grew up on a farm in Spotsylvania, Va. He was raised dining on local ingredients—many from his own backyard. His appreciation for the healthy qualities that locally sourced produce can offer is just one of the factors that make Murray perfect to helm the eco-conscious cooking efforts...

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIF.—Soul Community Planet (SCP) announced the acquisition of the 41-room, beachfront Laguna Riviera Beach Resort. The historic Laguna Beach hotel marks SCP’s first expansion into California, and its sixth hotel overall. The acquisition advances SCP’s plan to expand its footprint into communities that align with SCP’s healthy, kind, green values. Opened in 1948, the Laguna Riviera is located directly on the beach just two blocks south of Downtown Laguna Beach. Described as a part French Riviera and part Mediterranean retreat, the resort boasts scenic coastal views, direct access to surfing and stand-up paddle boarding, and features a variety of...

OLYMPIC VALLEY, CALIF.—Resort at Squaw Creek, a luxury Lake Tahoe resort based in California’s Olympic Valley, announces its commitment to change its name to remove the word “squaw” through an official rebranding. The resort will unveil its new name by April 2022. “Removing the word ‘squaw’ from our name is an ongoing priority for our resort, and we feel that this change is of the utmost importance to showcase the core values of our resort and our commitment to inclusion and diversity. With the rebrand next year, we look forward to joining our local Olympic Valley partners in starting a...

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FLA.—Element by Westin has debuted in Jacksonville Beach with the opening of the 80-room Element Jacksonville Beach. It is operated by Shivam Property Management. The new longer-stay hotel in Jacksonville Beach will feature Element’s new room concept, Studio Commons. Blending the convenience of a hotel with the flexibility and comfort of a home, the rooms are designed for groups looking to spend time together in a more private setting, while still enjoying all the benefits of a hotel room. Anchored by four private guestrooms, travelers can cook, collaborate, and relax together in shared kitchen and living room areas,...

KAWASAKI CITY, JAPAN—In any conversation about green hotels, one of the hotels that deserves a lot of time is the Kawasaki King Skyfront Tokyu REI Hotel in Kawasaki City, Japan. The 186-room property is run by 100 percent renewable energy. Thirty percent of the energy is derived from hydrogen. Seventy percent of the energy is derived from food waste generated renewable energy. Since transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy the hotel has saved more than $15,000 per year. To generate hydrogen, used plastics (household plastic trash plus hotel amenities) are sent to Showa Denko K.K.’s hydrogen production facility where they...

CANON CITY, COLO.—Fremont Economic Development Corporation, a 501c6 private not-for-profit focused on economic development in Fremont County and central Colorado, announced the opening of The Industrial Hotel, a 4-unit hotel in Florence, Colo.,, built from upcycled shipping containers. Located in an industrial section of south Florence, the project’s business partners, Barna Kasa, owner of KDevelopers, and Wyatt Reed, owner of Fire Age Designs, reclaimed a dilapidated lot on the bank of Coal Creek for a building site. To be billed as Fremont County’s most sustainable Airbnb, The Industrial showcases building design and furnishing principles based primarily on salvaged, recycled, and...

BANGKOK—The best things come to those who wait, and wait. Located in the lunar-like Arava Valley in the south of the Negev Desert, Six Senses Shaharut will celebrate its highly anticipated arrival this August. With all the final touches in place, the resort is already proving popular with national guests and is looking forward to welcoming international travelers as soon as border restrictions allow. With its secluded setting, Six Senses Shaharut has the obvious advantage of complete privacy. It aims to bring guests in balance with nature and its elements so they can kick back and enjoy traditional desert hospitality and rich...