VISTA, CALIF.—The plumbing industry is set for a significant technological transformation in 2025, reshaping facility management, cleaning, and maintenance, according to Klaus Reichardt, CEO and founder of Waterless Co., Inc. He attributes this transformation to advancements in artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), robots, and enhanced water efficiency technologies. Among the key trends he foresees are the following: 1. Remote Monitoring: New smartphone apps will provide real-time data on building water pressure, flow, temperature, leak detection, and enable water shutoffs. This enables managers to be more proactive in water management 24/7, preventing costly water damage, eliminating emergency cleanups, and improving water...

MIAMI—SH Hotels & Resorts, the parent company of award-winning brands including 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, and Treehouse Hotels, is celebrating its 10th anniversary by officially rebranding as Starwood Hotels, reviving the iconic global brand created nearly 30 years ago by Barry Sternlicht, one of the most innovative and influential leaders in modern hospitality. Along with this bold change, Starwood Hotels is poised for significant growth in 2025, with more than 40 properties open or in development across its three brands on four continents. The rebranding is an exciting return of a trusted name that redefined the hospitality industry. In Sternlicht’s time as Chairman &...

CHICAGO—Registration for the 2025 edition of NeoCon, the premier event for the commercial interiors industry, is now open at NeoCon.com. Taking place June 9 to 11 at THE MART, the show draws more than 50,000 professionals—from architects, designers, dealers, and facility managers to manufacturers and major enterprise clients—as they discover the latest state-of-the-art design solutions shaping our built environments. This year’s theme, “Design Ahead,” will come to life through a conference program headlined by three visionary thought leaders: Annie Jean-Baptiste, Author, Building for Everyone; Alice Rawsthorn, author of Design as an Attitude and cofounder of the Design Emergency podcast; and Chris Barton, Founder and...

SHAWANO, WIS.—NEWH, Inc. (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality), the leading association dedicated to scholarships, education, mentorship, and networking in the hospitality industry, announces its newly-elected 2025 International Board of Directors. The board will continue to advance NEWH’s mission by guiding chapters and disciplines worldwide. Among the new appointments, the most notable is the election of Deidre Schwartz to the position of president-elect. Schwartz will collaborate with current president Sandy Banks for the remainder of the year before stepping into her two-year tenure as president in January 2026. “In reflecting on the 40th anniversary of NEWH this past year, we’ve...

CAM RANH, VIETNAM—Alma Resort Cam Ranh is encouraging the young and the young at heart to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty in the name of the environment. From Monday to Sunday between 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., the award-winning resort’s Kid’s Club offers its “Green Hands, Green Future Tree Planting Activity”. Green thumbs choose between planting three different trees; a Golden Bell, a Bauhinia variegata or a coconut Tree. Participants receive a personalised name tag for their tree as well as regular photo updates of its progress. “Leave your mark on our resort by selecting from three tree...

MIAMI—The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) released its annual Future of Wellness report, the longest-running, most detailed (130-page) forecast of what will make waves in health and wellness in the year ahead. In last year’s report, it was noted that the wellness market was fast becoming a place of contradictory mindsets. A dramatically more high-tech, medical, hyper-optimizing and expensive market was emerging (“hardcare”). At the same time, there is a sharpening desire for much simpler, low-tech, less relentlessly self-optimizing and affordable wellness, where social and emotional wellbeing matter most (“softcare”). The Analog Wellness trend illustrates the demand for slower, low-tech lives. With the online world’s manipulations, disinformation campaigns,...

TROY, N.Y.—Audubon International—the environmentally focused nonprofit organization offering members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect the areas where we all live, work, and play—reports that 2024 continued to see impressive growth in new certifications across all of its programs. Most new certifications were awarded in the golf and lodging categories, while nearly 300 recertifications were also awarded to existing partners, some of whom have maintained their certifications dating back to the 1990s. Programs include Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary (ACSP), ACSP for Golf, Green Lodging, Green Hospitality, Signature Sanctuary, and Sustainable Communities. Each program provides third-party on-site verification of vetted, science-supported...

PARIS—Accor, a global leader in hospitality, Booking.com, one of the world’s leading digital travel platforms, and the University of Surrey, a global leader in hospitality and tourism management education and research, have published a report based on research aimed at understanding and addressing traveler motivations when it comes to making more sustainable decisions during their stay. This initiative has been driven by an understanding that guests play a critical role in the efficacy and efficiency of various sustainability initiatives. However, there can be a high level of skepticism among travelers when it comes to their role in those efforts. The...

NATIONAL REPORT—Are you ready to dive into F&B planning and wonder about new menu trends for 2025? This year marks a pivotal moment for the restaurant and hospitality industry, where menu innovation meets diners’ ever-evolving expectations. Restaurants are adapting and embracing new menu trends that redefine the dining experience. Let’s delve into the exciting food trends that will shape the landscape of restaurants and hospitality this year. 1. Hyperlocal & Regenerative Focus Consumers are increasingly interested in where their food comes from, and this trend is pushing for even more localized and fresh options. Look out for restaurants and markets that...

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.—The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Assn. (IHLA) released the following statement after the Senate Local Government Committee approved SB 1422, which will strengthen the hotel industry’s efforts to combat human trafficking. Under current law, certain hotel employees must be trained to identify the signs of human trafficking and the appropriate steps to take when trafficking is suspected. SB 1422 will ensure those not in compliance with these requirements can be held accountable by local municipalities: “This legislation will strengthen enforcement of existing human trafficking prevention training requirements for hotel employees, adding an extra layer of accountability. The hospitality industry...