MCLEAN, VA. – To celebrate National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day earlier this month, DoubleTree by Hilton, known for the beloved signature cookie welcome, announced that it will begin offering a new allergy-friendly soft chocolate chip cookie, alongside the original DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie, extending the iconic welcome to even more guests. DoubleTree by Hilton has collaborated with Partake Foods, a leading allergy-friendly food company, to produce the new cookie, with the goal of creating a more inclusive welcoming experience at check-in. More than 32 million people in the United States are affected by food allergies, and others have food intolerances or dietary...

KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII—Officially open to guests last month, Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort is privileged to call the sacred land of Kaʻūpūlehu home. An inspired reimagination of the original Kona Village Resort, which first opened in the 1960s and subsequently shuttered in 2011, a familiar silhouette has returned to the island’s horizon. Real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson took a light-on-the-land approach to reconstructing the resort and has partnered with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts to build on that foundation, prioritizing environmental responsibility and care for local culture in the guest experience. Spanning 81 acres of stunning geologic landscape, Kona Village pulls inspiration from Kaʻūpūlehu’s...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Wellness amenities at full-service hotels, along with standalone destination wellness hotels (DWHs), are always evolving. Wellness amenities and hotels both come in a variety of sizes, configurations, and service levels. Historically, DWHs have been independently developed and operated as the vision of an owner who wanted to provide an environment in support of a specific lifestyle or wellness practice. The growing awareness of lifestyle choices makes hotel guests increasingly savvy consumers, and as a result, mainstream hotel companies are aggressively courting them with goods and services targeted toward their sensibilities. Hyatt Corp. purchased Miraval Resorts, a destination luxury wellness brand, for...

SOMERSET, N.J.—Manchester Mills, a Guest Worldwide company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Sysco Corp., announced the launch of the DUO Mock Duvet Cover Top of Bed System for the hospitality industry, expanding the company’s collection of innovative textile solutions. The DUO Mock Duvet Cover is uniquely constructed for a better fit at the bottom of the bed for a contemporary and clean aesthetic, pairing seamlessly with the patented Advantiva blanket to form the Top of Bed (TOB) System. Elizabeth McNulty, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Manchester Mills, commented, “Our textile engineers designed this bedding solution with sustainability in mind,...

BANGKOK—Six Senses will open its first Greek resort in partnership with Grivalia Hospitality, one of the most significant investors in the ultra-luxury hospitality sector in Greece. It will be located on a southerly white-sand cove on Megalonisos, one of the 10 Petalioi islands and islets with some of the finest undiscovered beaches in the “Greek Maldives”. Six Senses Megalonisos will be a short boat ride from the port of Rafina, just across the mainland from Athens, or Marmari on Evia’s West coast. Whereas the island of Evia or Euboea was said to have been separated from mainland Greece by a...

When I first started Green Lodging News, there were still many in our industry who supported keeping a percentage of their rooms as smoking rooms. Many factors have led to the mass elimination of smoking rooms in the industry—consumer demand, legislative action, brand policies, etc. At The Hospitality Show in Las Vegas last month, there were many exhibitors of interest, including a couple of companies that make it easy to catch guests who violate nonsmoking policies. The two companies include alerteer and FreshAir Sensor LLC. The companies’ products function similarly. In the case of alerteer, it provides a system of...

MIAMI—Grupo Piñero announces the opening of Cayo Levantado Resort, an exclusive complex located in one of the most enigmatic destinations in the Dominican Republic. The opening of Cayo Levantado Resort marks Grupo Piñero’s venture into the luxury segment of the hotel industry, redefined through a commitment to sustainable innovation and sophistication. Situated just five kilometers from the Samaná Peninsula, Cayo Levantado Resort officially opened its doors in the presence of Isabel García Lorca, President and Founder of Grupo Piñero, and Encarna Piñero, Executive Vice President, and CEO. This unique resort, nestled on a captivating island, features 218 rooms spread across 10...

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND—Real estate investor and developer Lamington Group is adding to its pioneering eco hometel brand with the opening of room2 Belfast, the fourth outpost, and first property outside England, set to open later this summer. With the opening just months away, the team are giving a first look at the hometel, which is set to become a hub for the community in the heart of the bustling city, moments away from Belfast’s most popular attractions. The new property will consist of 175 rooms across nine floors as well as a vibrant café, beautifully designed tearoom, meeting and event spaces, a gym,...

SALT LAKE CITY—R-Zero, a leader in healthy buildings and green buildings, unveiled the results of its new “Indoor Air Impact” report, which sheds light on the impact of indoor air quality on physical and mental health, Americans’ attitudes towards crowded indoor spaces, and workplace hygiene. The findings reveal significant concerns around indoor air quality, an underlying health issue that has long gone unaddressed. “Not only are people demanding healthier indoor spaces, but it has become mission critical for businesses to protect their workforce while maintaining sustainability goals and creating spaces that optimize productivity," said R-Zero CEO Jennifer Nuckles. “While we are...

CHICAGO—As a pioneer in destination wellness spa resorts for nearly 30 years, Miraval Resorts & Spas brings its core intention of empowering people to lead their best lives to the podcast space with the launch of Miraval Life in Balance. The first podcast from the Miraval brand aims to guide audiences to cultivate wellness, intention, and inspiration from anywhere in the world. Host Lauren Scruggs Kennedy, an American lifestyle and clean-living blogger, takes listeners on a virtual journey of insight and mindfulness to Miraval Resorts & Spas, where thought leaders, brand collaborators, and guests share their personal expertise on wellbeing practices and...