SHAWANO, WIS.—NEWH, Inc. (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality), the premier association committed to scholarships, advancing education, mentorship, and networking in the hospitality industry, has announced Fiona Rath and Aiden Stich as the winners of their inaugural Structures of Hospitality Excellence (SOHE) Scholarships. Recipients were honored at a ceremony during ALIS DESIGN+ at the JW Marriott in Los Angeles on January 31, 2025. “Hospitality excellence is defined in many different ways, and we’re honored to recognize individuals who embody this concept in the pursuit of their careers in the construction industry,” says Chris Tucker, CEO of NEWH, Inc. “As the inaugural...

PARIS—Accor announced the release of a new white paper. Making Waves: Rethinking Spa and Wellness Design for a Modern Era shares the priorities for well-being that Accor believes are most relevant now and how the global hospitality group is advancing innovative ways to deliver wellness through its portfolio of global hospitality brands. The thought-provoking report leverages the insights, predictions and analysis garnered from a symposium held by Accor’s Global Well-being, Strategy, Design, and Development team, and features perspectives from Accor specialists and renowned industry experts around the world. Based on this collaborative forum, Making Waves, the white paper, explores the future of the wellness...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton and mental health company Calm have announced a new partnership to meet consumers’ rising demand for wellness offerings. Starting in March 2025, Hilton will integrate Calm’s content into its proprietary Connected Room Experience technology. This will allow guests to access guided meditations, Sleep Stories, calming soundscapes, and mindfulness exercises from their in-room TV without a subscription. The collaboration is in response to the expanding global consumer wellness market, which now stands at $1.8 trillion annually. The U.S. market has seen a 10 percent year-on-year growth to $480 billion, as per the McKinsey Future of Wellness Report published in...

MONTEVERDE, COSTA RICA—Ecolodge Hotel Belmar in Costa Rica invites artists from around the world to spend up to three weeks this March being inspired by the breathtaking Monteverde Cloud Forest. The Artist Residency Program runs four times a year and provides artists with room and board, and in some cases, a stipend based on financial need. Open to both Costa Rican and international artists across all mediums, the Artist Residency Program at the carbon neutral boutique property nurtures and inspires artists’ creative journey. Begun in 2019, the program enriches not only the artists but also hotel guests, staff, and the local community. It brings...

NATIONAL REPORT—This article explores the importance of sustainability in the hospitality industry, showcases real-life examples of sustainable practices in action, and highlights key strategies hotels and businesses can adopt to align with sustainability trends in hospitality. Climate change is driving the world’s agenda. Business leaders everywhere are wrestling with how to respond to rising public and political pressure and align their systems and operations with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, established to keep global warming below 2°C and ideally 1.5°C. None more so than for hotels, that means reducing their emissions by 90 percent by 2050. Sustainability is no longer an optional...

NATIONAL REPORT—The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a significant piece of federal legislation that protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in various areas of life. Title I, in particular, applies to the protection of individuals with disabilities in the area of employment. Title I ensures that, so long as individuals with disabilities can perform the essential functions of a given job with or without reasonable accommodation from their employers, they are awarded equal employment opportunities and treatment within the workplace. All employers with 15 or more employees are strictly bound by the ADA. For these employers, understanding and...

SEATTLE—1 Hotels, the nature-inspired luxury lifestyle hotel brand founded by hospitality visionary Barry Sternlicht, announced that reservations are now open for 1 Hotel Seattle, debuting in April 2025. Set in the buzzy South Lake Union neighborhood at the cross-section of Seattle’s emerging biotech and big-tech industries, 1 Hotel Seattle is a world-class urban retreat, blending sustainable luxury with the restorative beauty of the Pacific Northwest. “Seattle has always been a city that values sustainability, innovation, and connection to nature,” says Barry Sternlicht, founder of 1 Hotels and Chairman of SH Hotels & Resorts (soon to be Starwood Hotels). “With 1...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Coverings, the largest event and world class showcase of ceramic tile and natural stone in North America, has announced an empowering lineup of educational opportunities for Coverings 2025, which will take place April 29 to May 2, 2025, at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla. Coverings 2025 is set to offer attendees an array of educational experiences, including live demonstrations, interactive learning sessions, expert Q&A panels, partner-led education, live podcasts and much more. These edifying opportunities have been planned for all business segments of the tile and stone industry, including architecture and design, and will equip...

NATIONAL REPORT—Many organizations delegate the HR department to manage their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, and sustainability is an incremental component of such efforts. However, an organization’s sustainability efforts go beyond building a strong employment brand for current and prospective employees. It also affects a company’s bottom line. Hotels, for example, ensure guests continue to choose their property amongst the rest by providing great customer experiences, high-quality services, and a comfortable stay. Recently, another factor affecting travelers’ hotel choice and perception of a hotel brand is on the rise in importance: sustainability. Sustainability is becoming a core focus as it...

DALLAS—A civil lawsuit filed by Fortenberry Firm PLLC in Dallas County, Texas, asserts claims of sex trafficking on behalf of a 16-year-old girl from Baytown, Texas, who was groomed by a 32-year-old male, lured to Dallas, drugged, and prostituted at the Hawthorne Extended Stay by Wyndham Dallas. Hawthorne Suites is a division of Wyndham hotels. The suit details that once in Dallas, the victim was taken to the man’s loft apartment and told they were going to make money together but did not specify how. Shortly thereafter, he took her to the hotel and told her she would be prostituting for him. After forcing her to...