CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels Corp. and RLH Properties announced the planned transformation and rebranding of Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya to Alila Mayakoba, which will mark the Alila brand’s entry into Latin America and the Caribbean. Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya is expected to suspend operations on March 2, 2025, and debut as Alila Mayakoba later this year. Alila is a luxury brand that has received substantial recognition for its place at the forefront of transformational travel. Hotels and resorts in the global brand portfolio are known for their awe-inspiring experiences that allow guests to create a sense of connection to...

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.—TravelBoom Hotel Marketing, a leading provider of innovative digital solutions for the hospitality industry, recently released new research to provide companies in the hospitality and tourism sector with a deep-dive look at today’s evolving leisure travel landscape. Its 2025 Leisure Travel Study offers actionable insights for how these industries can better reach and engage with leisure travelers today. One dominant theme that emerged was that today’s leisure travelers are more inclined to pay for these types of experiences if companies prioritize affordability, flexibility and personalization. Earlier this month, the U.S Travel Association published a report that predicted that domestic leisure travel will increase...

PARIS—Accor announced the release of a new white paper. Making Waves: Rethinking Spa and Wellness Design for a Modern Era shares the priorities for well-being that Accor believes are most relevant now and how the global hospitality group is advancing innovative ways to deliver wellness through its portfolio of global hospitality brands. The thought-provoking report leverages the insights, predictions and analysis garnered from a symposium held by Accor’s Global Well-being, Strategy, Design, and Development team, and features perspectives from Accor specialists and renowned industry experts around the world. Based on this collaborative forum, Making Waves, the white paper, explores the future of the wellness...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton and mental health company Calm have announced a new partnership to meet consumers’ rising demand for wellness offerings. Starting in March 2025, Hilton will integrate Calm’s content into its proprietary Connected Room Experience technology. This will allow guests to access guided meditations, Sleep Stories, calming soundscapes, and mindfulness exercises from their in-room TV without a subscription. The collaboration is in response to the expanding global consumer wellness market, which now stands at $1.8 trillion annually. The U.S. market has seen a 10 percent year-on-year growth to $480 billion, as per the McKinsey Future of Wellness Report published in...

SEATTLE—1 Hotels, the nature-inspired luxury lifestyle hotel brand founded by hospitality visionary Barry Sternlicht, announced that reservations are now open for 1 Hotel Seattle, debuting in April 2025. Set in the buzzy South Lake Union neighborhood at the cross-section of Seattle’s emerging biotech and big-tech industries, 1 Hotel Seattle is a world-class urban retreat, blending sustainable luxury with the restorative beauty of the Pacific Northwest. “Seattle has always been a city that values sustainability, innovation, and connection to nature,” says Barry Sternlicht, founder of 1 Hotels and Chairman of SH Hotels & Resorts (soon to be Starwood Hotels). “With 1...

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES—Wellness tourism is diversifying dramatically as today’s cross-generational tribe of enlightenment seekers strive for mental, spiritual and physical well-being. For almost 30 years, Six Senses has pioneered wellness initiatives that take guests beyond the destination into new discoveries. Visitors to its 27 properties around the world surrender to the ministrations of therapists, practitioners, and forward-thinking experts who bring an extensive and evolving roster of treatments, taking guests as deep as they wish to go. Driving the Six Senses well-being agenda is Wellness Pioneer Anna Bjurstam. With over 25 years of experience, Bjurstam is at the forefront of...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has released its 2025 Trends Outlook report, offering a comprehensive analysis of the evolving forces shaping the interior design landscape. Addressing changes in lifestyles, wellness, technology, the workforce, and the economy, the report explores a growing focus on creating environments that inspire joy, foster well-being, and harmonize sustainability with timeless craftsmanship. From neuro-inclusive design and multigenerational workforce dynamics to the integration of smart technologies and outdoor living, these trends are redefining the future of interior spaces in an era of rapid change. “Design touches every aspect of our lives, shaping how we...

COSTA RICA—With the demand for wellness tourism accelerating, The Retreat Costa Rica, an acclaimed luxury wellness boutique resort and spa, has embarked on an ambitious $3 million expansion, adding 26,500 square feet encompassing a clubhouse, three restaurants and 10 luxury lofts—all poised for completion late April 2025. According to the Global Wellness Institute, the wellness market is gaining rapid ground and expected to reach $9 trillion by 2028—data that has relevance for The Retreat Costa Rica Founder Diana Stobo, whose property has been named one of the Top Ten Spa Destinations in the World by Conde Nast Traveler. “With increasing numbers of...

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...

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA—Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica is positioning itself as a global leader in health and wellness tourism, combining its rich cultural heritage and natural resources to attract travelers seeking transformative experiences. The Minister shared this ambitious vision at the 6th Annual Jamaica Health and Wellness Tourism Conference, held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. The event, themed “Beyond the Horizon: Embracing Innovation in Health and Wellness Tourism,” brought together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to explore opportunities in this fast-growing sector. “Today’s travelers seek more than leisure; they are searching for experiences that enhance their physical, mental, and emotional...