Home News & Features New Certification Institute’s Goal: Legitimize ‘Healthy Travel Destinations’

New Certification Institute’s Goal: Legitimize ‘Healthy Travel Destinations’

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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Health-conscious travelers now make up more than 40 percent of the U.S. travel marketplace and that number is trending upward. Already a $439 billion market, the wellness travel industry is expected to grow another 50 percent through 2017, according to the Global Wellness Tourism Congress (GWTC). Meanwhile, hotels and resorts are spending billions of dollars on new facilities and upgrading existing properties to meet the demand of travelers looking for the best possible healthy destination experience.

To help legitimize the business of healthy travel destinations, a new, first of its kind nonprofit has been formed called the Institute for Healthy Destination Accreditation (IHDA). The Washington, D.C.-based IHDA utilizes a proprietary science-based certification process, the only one in the industry, designed to help resorts and hotels measure and improve their health-related initiatives, amenities, facilities and personnel. Likewise, the IHDA-operated website will serve as a consumer portal where health-focused travelers can find useful and timely IHDA-certified information about healthy travel options throughout the United States and eventually throughout the world.

IHDA co-founders, Mary Ellen Rose, Ph.D., who serves as Chief Science Officer, and veteran hospitality executive, Peter Hyland, President of IHDA, spent more than three years developing IHDA and the unique science behind it. They are pleased by the reception it is getting from major hotels and resorts and associations that have been approached by IHDA.

Six Hotels/Resorts are Founding Members

Among the inaugural founding members are six U.S. hotels/resorts that have been IHDA approved as meeting Healthy Hospitality Best Practices and are committed to providing a Healthy Guest Experience. These include The Breakers Palm Beach (Fla.), The Hotel del Coronado (Calif.), The Broadmoor (Colo.), Mauna Kea Resort—Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel (Hawaii), The Coeur d’Alene Resort (Idaho), and Airlie (Va.).

“We are excited to have this stellar group of fine resorts as our founding members,” Hyland said. “Health-conscious travelers are an extremely important customer segment and we’re confident that hundreds, if not thousands, of independents, and chain-affiliated hotels and resorts, will become IHDA members and participate in our certification process.”

David Burke, Vice President Sales and Marketing for The Breakers Palm Beach, said, “We expect our accreditation with IHDA to enhance our appeal as a luxury destination to discerning, health-conscious travelers. Wellness has become a lifestyle priority for our guests, and our affiliation with IHDA as a trusted, independent source will help endorse The Breakers in that context.”

Barry Brown, Director of Sales and Marketing at The Hotel del Coronado, said he welcomed the invitation by IHDA to become a charter member. “At the Del we are always looking for ways to meet our customers’ desires, and health and well-being is a high priority for our guests as it is for us,” Brown said. “Meeting the high standards of IHDA is an added plus to communicate to our guests and travelers considering a stay at the Hotel del Coronado.”

Process to Get Certified

Applicants for IHDA Approved Healthy Destination Membership must complete an Approved Healthy Destination Membership online questionnaire outlining the Best Practices in Healthy Hospitality. This assessment tool demonstrates they meet the basic standards regarding programs, services, amenities and facilities contributing to the Healthy Guest Experience. The IHDA accreditation team then evaluates the destination’s Best Practices and determines whether or not it qualifies for Approved Healthy Destination (AHD) status.

If the hotel or resort property is approved, the annual membership fee is $850. A range of benefits include: Member listing in IHDA’s consumer-directed online Healthy Travel Directory; customized member profile pages within IHDA website; itemized listing showcasing the destination’s Healthy Hospitality Best Practices; consistent exposure in IHDA Travel Healthy Newsletter and through IHDA’s media platform; ability to feature specific health initiatives and promotions in IHDA Travel Healthy Newsletter; access to health resources specifically designed for the hospitality industry; IHDA support with development and implementation of health promotion programs; access to post-consumer feedback from Healthy Traveler database, and approved IHDA Healthy Destination logo usage on all promotional and resort materials.

Hospitality destinations can apply online for an IHDA Approved Healthy Destination Membership by clicking here. IHDA can be reached by phone at (888) 670-4432. By e-mail, contact Peter Hyland at phyland@travelhealthy.org.

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