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...

MALÉ, REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES—JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 hotel brands, announces the opening of JW Marriott Kaafu Atoll Island Resort, the second JW Marriott resort in the Maldives. Nestled in Kaafu Atoll’s largest lagoon and conveniently located just 15 minutes by boat from Velana International Airport, this luxurious retreat offers an idyllic sanctuary to recharge the mind, body, and spirit in this tropical oceanic paradise. “JW Marriott Kaafu Atoll Island embodies our dedication to blending unparalleled luxury with holistic well-being, offering guests a peaceful escape where every detail is designed to inspire balance and rejuvenation,” says Bruce Rohr,...

HOLLYWOOD, FLA.—Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming are continuing their commitment to fight human trafficking this National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and all through the year. The companies will expand their educational high school program focused on preventing online luring of minors to middle school curriculums, spotlight the crisis around Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW) and continue other efforts to recognize human trafficking and take action. “As owners of Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming, with hotels and casinos on nearly every continent, the Seminole Tribe of Florida believes it has a duty to raise awareness of the MMIW crisis and actively work...

MADRID, SPAIN—The Abel Matutes Foundation is giving a new boost to Palladium Cares, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) area of Palladium Hotel Group, part of Grupo Empresas Matutes. Founded in Spain in the late 1970s with social purposes, the Abel Matutes Foundation has significantly expanded its scope of action and multiplied its budget tenfold to finance initiatives with greater reach and impact through Palladium Cares, both in Europe and the Americas. This significant budget increase also ensures the continuity of its work in Ibiza and Formentera (Spain). The Abel Matutes Foundation has been essential in Palladium Cares’ first year and will continue to play...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—University of New Mexico Health Sciences researchers have detected microplastics in human brains at much higher concentrations than in other organs—and the plastic accumulation appears to be growing over time, having increased 50 percent over just the past eight years. Microplastics—tiny bits of degraded polymers that are ubiquitous in our air, water and soil—have lodged themselves throughout the human body, including the liver, kidney, placenta and testes, over the past half century. In a new study published in Nature Medicine, a team led by toxicologist Matthew Campen, PhD, Distinguished and Regents’ Professor in the UNM College of Pharmacy, reported that plastic...

NATIONAL REPORT—Great outdoor lighting can make all the difference in a property’s overall appeal, especially for hotels. For eco-conscious hoteliers, lighting design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating memorable guest experiences, reducing environmental impact, and reinforcing safety. We’ll explore four key reasons why outdoor lighting design matters at hotels and how it can impact your business. Enhancing the Guest Experience When guests arrive at your property, the outdoor spaces often create the first impression. Outdoor lighting can guide them seamlessly from the parking lot to the entryway while highlighting the architecture of your hotel. Well-lit gardens, courtyards, or pool areas invite...

SINGAPORE—With its recent attainment of the BCA Green Mark Super Low Energy (SLE) Certification, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore celebrates its recent trifecta of sustainability accomplishments, making it the first hotel in Singapore to attain three sustainability certifications in 2024—BCA Green Mark Super Low Energy (SLE) Certification, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Industry Criteria for Hotels Certification and Green Globe Certification. As shared by Phil Smith, General Manager of PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore, “Our commitment to sustainability has always been at the heart of our operations and culture. This is a proud moment for our team whose hard work and passion for sustainability have made this possible,...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Wellness tourism is a dynamic and rapidly expanding segment of the global travel industry, reshaping how individuals approach travel by prioritizing self-care, personal enrichment, and transformative experiences. According to the Global Wellness Institute, this sector, defined as “travel associated with the pursuit of maintaining or enhancing one’s personal well-being,” was projected to reach an impressive $1.3 trillion by 2025. The Farm at San Benito, celebrated as one of the world’s premier medical wellness destinations, has been a pioneer in the Philippine wellness tourism industry since 2002. Nestled in Lipa City, Batangas, this eco-luxury healing sanctuary offers medically supervised retreats...

SHAWANO, WIS.—NEWH, Inc. (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality), a premier association committed to scholarships, advancing education, mentorship, and networking in the hospitality industry, unveiled its scholarship recipients during a series of events held alongside BDNY, from November 8-11, 2024. In its ongoing commitment to empower and elevate the hospitality community, NEWH awarded $75,000 in scholarships to deserving individuals, coinciding with the association’s 40th anniversary. “At NEWH, we believe that education and mentorship are essential to shaping the future of our industry,” said Chris Tucker, CEO of NEWH, Inc. “Our scholarships empower the next generation of hospitality leaders by providing the...

CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR, CALIF.—A major new study by KPMG, which provides financial and environmental insights for major organizations around the globe, examined the sustainability reporting of 5,800 organizations worldwide.* Among their recent findings were the following: Sustainability Reporting is Now Standard Practice: Nearly all the world’s top 250 companies, and the majority of the top 100 companies in each country or region, now regularly publish sustainability reports. A Dramatic Increase: In 1999, only 35 percent of the world’s largest companies reported on their sustainability effort. Defines a Sustainability Report: A sustainability report discloses a company’s nonfinancial performance, including progress on...