AVON, COLO.—The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa Avon, Vail Valley is gearing up for an exciting 2025-2026 ski season with major updates designed to elevate the guest experience. From a newly expanded Ski Valet and refreshed event spaces to private Work Pods and a curated Gondola Market + Café, the resort offers convenience, comfort, and style for winter visitors. Ski Season upgrades now available at The Westin Riverfront include: Expanded Ski Valet: Nearly doubling in size to 4,000 square feet, the Ski Valet now features two cozy fireplaces, extensive seating, and 1,700 boot warmers. Newly configured direct access to The Westin’s Riverfront...

NATIONAL REPORT—Commercial lodging facilities handle massive water volumes daily. Daily wastewater output from guestrooms, kitchens, and laundry services places continuous pressure on aging or undersized sewer infrastructure. When sewer issues emerge, the fallout often disrupts revenue, damages brand reputation, and requires costly emergency responses. Identifying repeat failure points and infrastructure risks can help facility operators take preemptive action before problems escalate. Undersized or Outdated Infrastructure Many hotels operate in buildings constructed decades ago with sewer systems designed for a lower capacity. As facilities expand services or add more rooms, outdated plumbing often fails to keep up with the demand. Pipe diameters that once...

MIAMI—The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), the foremost gathering of leaders in the $6.3 trillion global wellness economy, announced that a hot topic at its conference, being held in Dubai from November 18 to 21, will be the shifting consumer desires and the best new ideas emerging in the wellness tourism space. The pandemic sparked a seemingly permanent shift: people demanding more wellness in travel. Global Wellness Institute research reveals that the wellness tourism, spa and hot springs markets clocked roughly 30 percent growth in 2023 (the last year studied), representing by far the fastest growth rates for any wellness sectors. The GWI...

AMSTERDAM—Travel has always been personal, but in 2026 it will move far beyond one-size-fits-all itineraries. In 2026, travelers will reject conventions and lean into passions that feel distinctive and truly their own. From adrenaline-fueled compatibility tests to mystical detours and stays in futuristic homes, every trip becomes a bold expression of individuality and identity: this is who I am, this is what I want, and this is what I love. Now in its tenth year, Booking.com’s Travel Predictions spotlight how people want to experience the world. Over the years, these insights have revealed shifts in travel, from Cool-cationers chasing cooler climates given extreme...

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS—The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with New York-based nonprofit Travel Unity to strengthen the region’s commitment to sustainable tourism by integrating inclusive practices across its membership and programming. The agreement leverages Travel Unity’s expertise in inclusive travel to support CTO’s vision of positioning the Caribbean as the world’s most desirable and welcoming destination. Founded in 2016, Travel Unity is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that makes the world of travel welcoming for all people through innovative approaches to education, professional development and community building. “Travel Unity is honored to formalize our collaboration with the...

LOS ANGELES—In a historic victory for consumer safety, a Ventura County judge has denied the defendants’ Motion for New Trial, officially upholding a $2 million jury verdict obtained by Brian Virag, trial attorney and founder of MYBEDBUGLAWYER, INC. The case—Alvaro Gutierrez and Ramiro Sanchez v. Dario Pini and DLP Management Company—arose from a severe bed bug infestation at the Shores Inn in Ventura, Calif. During a 2020 stay, the plaintiffs awoke to find live bed bugs crawling on the bed, furniture, and walls. The infestation was so significant that the mattress and bedding contained visible blood smears, fecal spotting, and insect casings, indicating a long-standing and untreated problem. Both Gutierrez and...

PALM SPRINGS, CALIF.—Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs has joined Kind Traveler’s Every Stay Gives Back community impact program, empowering positive impact on local communities with every guest stay. The 153-room boutique hotel is partnering with Friends of the Desert Mountains, whose mission is to connect people to the Coachella Valley land through conservation, education and research, while also serving as the nonprofit steward of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. Since 1987, the organization has conserved 63,000 acres of desert landscape, built and restored over 310 miles of recreational trails, and protected more than 27 threatened and endangered plant...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the global developer of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, opened certification to the LEED v5 rating system and announced new tools and resources for users of the world’s most widely used green building certification program. This week at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Los Angeles, USGBC will showcase the practical use of LEED v5 and feature exclusive presentations, workshops and hands-on training for the new system. “Since releasing the rating system and launching LEED v5 registration earlier this year, we have seen interest in using the new rating system spread across the industry,” said Peter Templeton, President...

MALDIVES—Green Lodging News was recently approached to learn more about the environmental efforts at the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort. The following are the results of questions presented by Green Lodging News to Shoaib Siddiqui, Assistant Chief Engineer at the resort. 1. In what year did the property open? 2019 2. How many employees? 290 3. What plastics have been eliminated to qualify the resort as being free of single-use plastic? For example, is water now available in glass bottles? Another form? Are bathroom amenities available in pump dispensers? What other single-use plastics have been eliminated and why is it so important to do that? From...

ROME—Despite facing economic challenges and overtourism, the global hospitality industry is urged to focus on long-term opportunities, as discussed at the Italian Hotel Investment Conference in Rome. Terence Baker of CoStar News reports that the global hotel and travel industry is navigating a complex landscape characterized by both challenges and opportunities. At the recent Italian Hotel Investment Conference, industry leaders emphasized the importance of looking beyond immediate hurdles and planning for the future. The conference highlighted the dual pressures of economic uncertainty and overtourism, while also pointing to the enduring appeal of travel and the potential for growth in the hospitality...