NEW YORK—WhyHotel, a hospitality platform and operator, announced its partnership with Alpha'a, an online, community-oriented platform offering tailor-made art collections for businesses across several industries including hospitality, technology, and interior design, to curate artwork collections across WhyHotel’s portfolio of existing and future pop-up hotel locations. Elevating up-and-coming creatives with local ties to the community, Alpha'a works to highlight local artists and their creations to build aesthetic narratives that resonate with WhyHotel cities and guests alike. WhyHotel first partnered with Alpha'a in 2020 for the Miami & D.C. properties. Featured artists included contemporary painter and photographer Patricia Carparelli, Dustin Harewood—whose work explores multiculturalism and historical narratives—and J.D....

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) announced additional steps to increase attendees’ comfort level at its upcoming meetings. Co-located are the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) North America and the HFTP Annual Convention, September 27 to 30, 2021 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. In consideration of the ongoing pandemic, health safety guidelines and protocols are in place for the protection of all attendees. This includes a strong recommendation for attendees to be vaccinated. For the adversely hit hospitality industry, these meetings are critical for industry professionals to share their experiences and strategies face-to-face, and to meet with...

LAS VEGAS—Guests at SAHARA Las Vegas are now able to give back to local Las Vegas charities while playing their favorite slot games through the resort’s new “Change for Charities” program. When players cash in their slot tickets at property ATMs, they will be given the opportunity to donate the change to their choice of one of four predetermined local charities, which will rotate on an ongoing basis. Each month, the money will be collected and sent to the respective charities. The first four charities benefiting from the “Change for Charities” program are: Epicurean Charitable Foundation: relies on support from the community to change the...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group has made the decision to postpone the 2021 Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show and Healthy Food Expo Florida that were scheduled for September 19 to 20 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. This decision was made following conversations with exhibitors, operators, sponsors, and speakers who recommended moving the next in person live event to 2022 because of health and safety conditions related to the pandemic in Orlando. Dates and venue will be announced shortly. “Our events are here to support the industry as a partner, and although disappointed that we will not be able...

IBIZA—Six Senses Ibiza recently opened, establishing itself as one of the world’s most discerning destinations for today’s generation of creatives and culture seekers. Conceived by architect and developer Jonathan Leitersdorf, the year-round destination set in secluded Xarraca bay offers a comprehensive range of amenities and programming, farm-to-table dining, music, art, sustainable fashion, culture, longevity and wellness. Each experience is inspired by the traditions and values of the island’s north to deliver an intentional destination that provokes meaningful moments of community, spirituality, and celebration. Xarraca Bay is a long-hidden secret on Ibiza’s northern tip. Integrated into its contours to enjoy unobstructed sunsets,...

NEW ORLEANS—The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) has been honored with the highly coveted New Orleans Top Workplaces 2021 Award by The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate. The award is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner, Energage, LLC. The anonymous survey uniquely measures 15 drivers of engaged cultures that are critical to the success of any organization including alignment, execution, and connection. This is the fifth year NOENMCC has been recognized with this award. It has been a year of achievements for NOENMCC, as they were also...

ASHEVILLE, N.C.—Renaissance Asheville Hotel received its Native Pollinator Garden Certification from Asheville Greenworks, a community-based, volunteer-led environmental conservation and education organization. Renaissance Asheville is a long-time supporter of pollinators, hosting the annual Black Jar International Honey Tasting Contest each June in honor of Pollinator Month. Every year, the Center for Honeybee Research invites beekeepers to enter their honey in a tasting contest. While many honey contests are judged based on a variety of criteria including clarity, moisture, and foam, the Black Jar relies solely on taste. Jars of honey are wrapped in black cloth and tasted over a variety of...

DALLAS—Attendee registration is now open for ISSA Show North America 2021, which will take place in person at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in Las Vegas, November 15 to 18. Featuring more than 500 exhibitors and 65-plus educational sessions, ISSA Show North America is the one week when the entire professional cleaning industry comes together for top-tier education, networking, commercial opportunities to grow business, and to showcase the latest innovative products and solutions. This year’s event will be hosted in the newly expanded West Hall of LVCC. In August 2020, LVCC earned GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division...

TALLAHASSEE—Yesterday, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA), the National Restaurant Association, and other state restaurant association partners sent a letter to Congressional leadership sharing new national consumer confidence survey findings and urging swift replenishment of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). Florida has more than 11,500 pending applications that total nearly $2.7 billion in stabilization funding that would be addressed by the $60 billion proposed replenishment bills. The letter urges Congress to complete the mission of the RRF and provide adequate funds to replenish the program and offer relief for the applications still pending. “There are thousands of Florida small business owners stuck...

NANTUCKET, MASS.—GSN Planet announced recent board appointments to the Board of Directors who are dedicated to leading the spa and wellness industry’s growth in the new green economy, helping to incorporate sustainable and regenerative business practices for the betterment of the planet. Current and newly elected members are diverse and talented individuals who bring experience in practicing sustainability in their personal and professional lives and bring international reach to the industry. “We are honored and humbled by the response we received by so many professionals who were interested in serving the members and sponsors of GSN Planet,” says Thor Holm, GSN...