BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International has won the Best in Building Health Award from Fitwel for its new global headquarters in Bethesda, Md. The award recognizes Marriott International’s outstanding achievement in healthy building design, which has become increasingly important in the hospitality sector of commercial real estate. The new headquarters showcases cutting-edge technology and design, providing an intuitive and healthy workplace for its employees. The new HQ campus features innovative design elements that prioritize health, such as natural light, green spaces, and active workstations. Marriott International worked closely with Fitwel, a people-centric healthy building certification system, to achieve the highest score for healthy...

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Elior North America, one of the nation’s leading foodservice operators in contract catering and hospitality services, has launched its first-ever social and environmental responsibility report. The Doing Good Annual Report is designed to inform the company’s stakeholders, including clients, team members and the public, about its ambitions and progress toward its social and environmental responsibility mission of Doing Good. “We are at the infancy of our sustainability journey as a company, so it’s a priority for us to establish transparency, credibility and accountability with our stakeholders about where we are and where we aim to go,” said Olivier Poirot,...

I must admit that I have never written about feet before for Green Lodging News, but I should have. Hoteliers, housekeepers, restaurant workers, etc. spend a lot of time on their feet and deserve the best protection there. According to a new report by ARRIS Composites, the average American worker spends 56 percent of the day standing or walking. ARRIS Composites surveyed more than 1,000 workers for its recent survey. The purpose of the survey: to learn more about what American professionals have to say about what they wear on their feet. The survey focused on those folks who tend to...

NAPA VALLEY, CALIF.—Six Senses is taking its wellness and sustainability formula to a sanctuary in Napa County, an agricultural haven producing some of the world’s most sought-after wine. Named after the natural thermal Aetna Springs discovered in the 1870s, the original resort thrived until the 1970s as a natural spa destination, with Aetna Mineral Water also sold throughout the American West. “Six Senses Napa Valley will marry the region’s beauty with the unique natural resources of the original Aetna Springs,” said Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs. “Working with Weller Development Partners, Pegasus Capital Advisors, and committed sustainability partners, we have...

TAMARINDO, COSTA RICA—Upon setting foot at Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas, guests enter a transcendent, sustainable experience where every element of the property is meant to instill wellness, from the hotel’s free daily fitness classes and complimentary bicycle rental to farm-to-table cuisine and holistic spa treatments at Lahari Wellness Center. Sparked by the pandemic, the property underwent several renovations to its facilities and experience offers. The remodeled rooms, villas, and restaurants have been elevated. The experience programming focuses on creating lasting feelings for guests and transformational experiences unique to Cala Luna’s location, including educational visits to its nearby farm, La...

VISTA, CALIF.—During the pandemic, we learned several good restroom habits that kept us healthy. However, public health officials are concerned that many of these protective measures are now being tossed out the window. “Even when restroom surfaces look clean, they may be little more than a Petri dish,” says Klaus Reichardt, CEO and Founder of Waterless Co., Inc. marketers of no-water urinals. “With so many surfaces, counters, knobs, and handles in public restrooms, it’s hard not to come in contact with surface contaminants.” Making matters worse, toilet and urinal plume—the releasing of germs and bacteria into the air when toilets or urinals are flushed—continually...

MIAMI—1 Hotels, the luxury lifestyle hotel brand that cultivates the best of sustainable design and architecture, together with extraordinary comfort and an unrivaled level of service, will celebrate Earth Month with a series of brand and property offerings that honor the beauty of the natural world, promote environmental unity and encourage individuals to take small steps towards sustainability. For the month of April, all eight carbon-neutral properties in North America will launch activities and initiatives that promote a more collective effort towards protecting our planet. As a mission driven brand, 1 Hotels aims to serve as a platform for change....

MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE, KENYA—JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of 30 hotel brands, announced the opening of JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, marking the company’s highly anticipated debut in the luxury safari segment. Sitting within the Masai Mara National Reserve in Southwestern Kenya, one of Africa’s most renowned wildlife and wilderness conservation regions, the lodge is a sophisticated sanctuary from which to discover animals and vistas in harmony. Guided game drives offer guests the opportunity to observe the “Big Five” that Masai Mara is home to, including lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinoceros, and elephants. Between June and September,...

GOLDACH, SWITZERLAND—The 5th Annual World Air Quality Report reveals alarming details of the world’s most polluted countries, territories, and regions in 2022. For this year’s report, data from more than 30,000 air quality monitoring stations across 7,323 locations in 131 countries, territories, and regions was analyzed by IQAir’s air quality scientists. Key Findings from the Report: The most polluted city in the U.S. was Coffeyville, Kansas. The most polluted major U.S. city was Columbus, Ohio, followed by Atlanta, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Dallas California was home to 10 of the 15 most polluted cities in the U.S. Las Vegas was deemed the cleanest major city...

TARRYTOWN, N.Y.—Nightfood, a company pioneering the sleep-friendly nighttime snacking category, announced that Sonesta International Hotels Corp. is the first hotel company to introduce sleep friendly Nightfood ice cream pints across multiple brands. Sonesta launched Nightfood into approximately 160 managed Sonesta Select, Sonesta ES Suites, and Sonesta Simply Suites properties nationwide during the recent Sleep Awareness Week. Sonesta is the eighth largest hotel company in the United States, with approximately 1,200 properties totaling 100,000 guestrooms across 17 brands in eight countries. This launch is part of Sonesta’s ongoing corporate-level commitment to guest sleep and wellness. “At Sonesta, we recognize sleep is the...