If you are looking for more good reasons to eliminate plastic beverage bottles, be sure to read Hidden Hazards: The Chemical Footprint of a Plastic Bottle. It reveals the health, environmental, and climate threats caused throughout the lifecycle of plastic beverage bottles (made from polyethylene terephthalate or PET)—from the hazardous air emissions released in the petrochemical manufacturing process to the cancer-causing toxic chemicals leaked in the consumption and final waste stages. Making PET requires hundreds of chemicals, including ethylene oxide (EtO), the most potent cancer-causing chemical emitted by chemical manufacturers, and antimony. Antimony is one of at least 150 chemicals that can escape from...

BANGKOK—A peaceful haven nestled in the beating heart of the Eternal City, Six Senses Rome opened its doors in the historical Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini on March 16. This milestone also marks the completed renovation of the magnificent façade of the adjacent San Marcello al Corso Church, the first sustainability project sponsored by the hotel. “After almost three decades away from my hometown, it is a joy to be back to lead such an incredible project,” says Francesca Tozzi, General Manager of Six Senses Rome. “It makes my team and I feel very proud to open the first urban...

LONDON—1 Hotels, the nature-inspired luxury lifestyle hotel brand founded by hospitality visionary Barry Sternlicht, announces that its U.K. flagship and first European destination, located in the heart of London’s historic Mayfair, is now accepting reservations with an anticipated opening date of July 13, 2023. The nine-story sustainable sanctuary overlooks the stately trees and verdant lawns of Green Park, just steps away from the world-class galleries, sophisticated boutiques, first-class restaurants and renowned emporia of Bond Street, Berkeley Square and Piccadilly. 1 Hotel Mayfair consciously creates an unexpected fusion of sustainability and luxury in the fashionable heart of London’s most exclusive hospitality district. The...

BERLIN—Hotels with wellness offerings had strong TRevPAR growth in 2022 as markets benefited from a recovery in demand, hospitality advisor RLA Global said in its Wellness Real Estate Report 2023, released during this year’s International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) in Berlin. Hotels with major wellness offerings outperformed those properties with minor wellness offerings in revenue and occupancy, but they recorded lower GOP-to-revenue ratios. Revenues at wellness hotels rose sharply in 2022 as demand rebounded despite economic and geopolitical difficulties, data from the Wellness Real Estate Report 2023 show. Average TRevPAR rose by over 53 percent on the year in 2022...

Bradley Corp. just released the results of its annual Healthy Handwashing Survey. What is really no surprise—thanks to the years of Covid—Bradley found most Americans are so averse to encountering germs in public restrooms that they go out of their way to avoid surfaces and touchpoints in these shared spaces. According to the survey, 62 percent of Americans use a paper towel as a barrier to avoid touching flushers, faucets, and doors. Women are even more likely to use the “paper towel as a glove” approach, with 67 percent taking this evasive measure. Others employ sheer physicality to steer clear...

AHLA last conducted The Lodging Survey with STR in 2018. It provided valuable information on numerous trends in lodging, including ones falling under Sustainability. AHLA and STR no longer conduct that survey. A very valuable replacement to that survey is the 2022 Green Lodging Trends U.S. Market Report. It is based on U.S.-specific data gathered for the 2022 edition of the global Green Lodging Trends Report (GLTR). The newly available U.S. report from AHLA—representing its Responsible Stay program—is based on data from 17,000 U.S. hotels. There were two data collection methods: direct participation by responding to the GLTR survey on...

HONOLULU—Premier beach resort brand Outrigger Resorts & Hotels has successfully achieved Green Seal certification for key properties in Fiji and Hawaii. Outrigger is first in the State of Hawaii to earn the prestigious Green Seal designation as well as the first hospitality brand to achieve certification outside of the United States. Green Seal is a global nonprofit whose certification mark is a universal symbol that a product, cleaning service or facility meets the highest benchmark of health and environmental leadership. Outrigger’s owned/managed properties that are now Green Seal certified include: Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel OHANA Waikiki...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added Force of Nature to its Green Product & Service Directory in the Cleaning Products/Disinfectants/Laundry category. Force of Nature is a toxic-free multi-purpose cleaning and disinfecting brand that is safe for guests and staff and saves up to 80 percent of cost versus traditional toxic cleaning products. The company’s portable appliances use electricity to convert tap water, salt and vinegar into an all-in-one cleaner, deodorizer, sanitizer, and EPA registered hospital-grade disinfectant as effective as bleach. Force of Nature uses a 60-year-old industrial technology called electrolyzed water, to create two new ingredients: Hypochlorous Acid (the disinfectant)...

NATIONAL REPORT—The uncertainty and instability of the past several years have increased the level of stress in employees. In correlation to this, the health and wellness tourism market is growing. Indeed, the Global Wellness Institute expects that wellness tourism expenditures will likely hit $1.3 trillion by 2025. For this year, wellness packages, i.e., trips that focus on holistic well-being such as yoga retreats, are forecast to reach $29.3 billion, almost attaining the pre-pandemic level. This growing interest in health and wellness is not a surprise. The Covid-19 outbreak has shone a light on the importance of physical and mental health issues. As a result,...

PUNTA MITA, MEXICO—Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita, Mexico was named one of the Best New Nature Resorts and one of the Best New Hotels in the world in Travel + Leisure’s 2023 It List. The distinguished annual It List recognizes the 100 best new and renovated hotels and resorts around the world that have made the biggest impression on the magazine’s editors and contributors. As a recognized property, Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita, Mexico will be featured in the May 2023 issue of Travel + Leisure and online at travelandleisure.com. “We are excited to be spotlighted on the Travel + Leisure 2023 It List as a...