NATIONAL REPORT—According to a study conducted by Future Partners, the emerging travel trends of Slowcations, Foodie Trips, and Experiential Travel are gaining traction among American travelers. Slowcations, which emphasize a leisurely and immersive travel experience, appeal to 57 percent of American travelers. This trend encourages travelers to spend more time at their destination, engaging with the local culture, environment, and community. Similarly, Foodie Trips, travel experiences centered around exploring destinations known for their food and drink, appeal to 57 percent of American travelers. These enthusiasts actively use social media channels to plan their trips at nearly double the rate of other...

MADRID, SPAIN—The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) unveiled its latest report, exploring the critical gap between travelers’ desire for sustainable options and their actual behavior. Launched at FITUR 2025, Madrid, the report Bridging the Say-Do Gap: How to Create an Effective Sustainability Strategy by Knowing Your Customers was developed in collaboration with WTTC knowledge partner YouGov. The report explores the disconnect between what travelers say about sustainability and the choices they ultimately make. It provides actionable guidance to Travel & Tourism businesses on how they can address this gap by offering solutions that make sustainable travel both more accessible and more...

Should guests pay extra for a greener guestroom experience? Crescent Hotels & Resorts thinks so. Based in Fairfax, Va., and with more than 120 hotels under management, Crescent and Grove Collaborative Holdings, Inc. recently announced a partnership pilot that has guests paying a premium of $50 for a Beyond Plastic Stay at five Crescent properties. According to a press release, guests who participate in a Beyond Plastic Stay will save the equivalent of 50 plastic water bottles during their stay. I recently reached out to Crescent several times for comments on the program but did not hear back. Grove Collaborative...

In today’s evolving business landscape, social sustainability has emerged as a crucial pillar of responsible governance, emphasizing the importance of creating supportive, inclusive environments that benefit individuals and communities. For the hospitality industry, social sustainability involves fostering an atmosphere where all guests feel valued and understood, including those with invisible disabilities like autism. This approach aligns with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and opens new brand opportunities to serve a broader demographic. By making accommodations for autistic guests, hotels can enhance guest satisfaction, loyalty, and inclusivity—essential qualities for a socially sustainable business. Expanding Hospitality to Include Guests with Autism As mid-level...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Westin Washington, D.C. Downtown announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Dr. Whitney Roban, Ph.D., a leading sleep expert, to launch a new sleep enhancing program designed to support the wellness routines of its guests, specifically those who experience “First Night Effect.” According to Dr. Roban, research has shown that when individuals travel to unfamiliar environments, such as hotel rooms, one half of the brain enters into a hyper vigilant state. This increased alertness disrupts the natural sleep cycle, particularly impacting the crucial slow wave deep sleep stage. This phenomenon is known as the “First Night Effect.” Dr. Roban has...

Wellness features have undoubtedly become a key differentiator in the hospitality industry in all markets for attracting guests and driving revenue. But some features may provide better returns on investment (ROI) than others and selecting the most suitable for a property requires a considered approach. The continuous evolution of wellness facilities, amenities, and services likely contributed to the whopping 18.1 percent annual growth the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) detected in the wellness real estate sector in 2020-23 and would also support the 15.8 percent annual expansion GWI predicts for 2024-29. The strong performance and rosy outlook of the sector have prompted...

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA—Rosewood Hotels and Resorts is introducing a new brand campaign, Discovered at Rosewood, highlighting the brand’s commitment to cultural immersion and the promotion of local crafts. The campaign will showcase Rosewood’s unique experiences and cultural ties across its 34 properties. Discovered at Rosewood, photographed by Jo Metson Scott, renowned for her intimate storytelling through portraits and documentary filmmaking, aims to illustrate how each Rosewood location encourages guests to explore local traditions, communities, and lifestyles. The campaign underscores Rosewood’s dedication to providing transformative stays through cultural immersion, the incorporation of local craftsmanship, and a sense of place. The campaign will feature...

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA—Rosewood Hotels and Resorts is introducing a new brand campaign, Discovered at Rosewood, highlighting the brand’s commitment to cultural immersion and the promotion of local crafts. The campaign will showcase Rosewood’s unique experiences and cultural ties across its 34 properties. Discovered at Rosewood, photographed by Jo Metson Scott, renowned for her intimate storytelling through portraits and documentary filmmaking, aims to illustrate how each Rosewood location encourages guests to explore local traditions, communities, and lifestyles. The campaign underscores Rosewood’s dedication to providing transformative stays through cultural immersion, the incorporation of local craftsmanship, and a sense of place. The campaign will feature...

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF.—Soul Community Planet (SCP) Hotels, a holistic hospitality company serving those who value wellness, social good, and the environment, is excited to unveil its newest brand-wide program, Epic Experiences. This initiative is designed to help facilitate lasting take-home value for SCP guests through engaging, immersive, and educational guide-led adventures. Each Epic Experience emphasizes the destination’s culture and unique natural qualities—from California’s spectacular Mendocino coast to Oregon’s rugged Cascades and the vibrant jungle and tropical waters of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. “SCP’s Epic Experiences offer our guests one-of-a-kind opportunities to engage with our natural surroundings as locals would—in ways that...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. announced the launch of Connect Responsibly with Marriott Bonvoy Events (Connect Responsibly), a program designed to help meeting planners embed sustainability into their events at participating hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Connect Responsibly plans to offer meetings and events customers access to detailed Meeting Impact Reports to measure the environmental impact of their events and select options to purchase carbon credits. The program is anticipated to go live at managed and franchised properties from participating brands globally by the end of October. “There is nothing like connecting in person, and doing so responsibly makes it that much...