LAS VEGAS—The organizers of the HD Expo & Conference have announced the conference schedule. The overall event will take place April 26 to 28 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Numerous conference sessions will focus on either sustainability, wellness, or green design, and one will focus on Women in Design. The following is a summary of these sessions: Tuesday, April 26: Sustainability, Environment, Future—DesignWell Pavilion Session description: What does sustainability mean today? What are innovative best practices? How do we continue to push the envelope? Experts talk through thoughtful approaches to high-performance, sustainably driven solutions. Wednesday, April 27: HDAC Series: Holistic Wellbeing...

MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS.—The Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley Corp. has found handwashing frequency decreased 25 percent among adults compared to when the coronavirus first hit. Specifically, in the spring of 2020, Americans were washing their hands an average of 10.5 times per day. This January, that number dropped by one-fourth to 7.8 times per day. While the adult population may be shortchanging their handwashing routine, the survey found that 79 percent of parents take some sort of action to encourage their children to suds up. A total of 44 percent say they regularly ask their young ones to wash their hands, 26 percent...

SAN FRANCISCO—Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants announced a partnership with leading online behavioral health company, Talkspace, rolling out mental health services to its guests and to 4,000+ employees across the country. The KimptonxTalkspace partnership is the first of its kind to bring meaningful and accessible mental health support to hospitality employees, who have been front line workers throughout the pandemic, as well as to travelers managing everyday stresses on the road. According to a recent study, nine out of 10 therapists say the number of clients seeking care is on the rise, and most are experiencing a significant surge in calls for appointments, longer...

BANGKOK—To translate the Six Senses vision of reconnection into an urban environment, the brand looks for iconic landmarks in some of the world’s most breathtaking downtown addresses and then weaves wellness, sustainable design, bespoke hospitality, and community into the guest experience. Following Istanbul, and with upcoming properties in Rome, New York, London, and Bangkok, Six Senses is now celebrating its entry into the heart of Lisbon. This also adds a second prime destination to its Portuguese portfolio after Six Senses Douro Valley in the heart of the country’s wine region. Authenticity in the City As is true with all of the...

STAMFORD, CONN.—WellAir, a leading provider of indoor air disinfection and purification solutions, announced that its Plasma Air HVAC air purification products have been selected by the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel in Athens, Greece to help reduce exposure to airborne pathogens and pollutants throughout the hotel. This partnership expands WellAir’s portfolio of partnerships with a variety of hotels across the world. The Plasma Air ionization solutions are designed to neutralize and reduce airborne pathogens, including viruses and bacteria. The hotel is deploying solutions in all common areas, such as lobbies and restaurants. Guestrooms and suites also benefit from the improved...

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA—Matteson Capital will soon break ground on its highly anticipated development in Oklahoma City, Okla.—The Dream Project. The landmark project is inclusive of two luxury, wellness hotels by hotel brand and management company, Dream Hotel Group and a state-of-the-art, residential tower, The Dream Residences. Designed by architecture firm CUBE3 and built by Hensel Phelps alongside development partners Brad Hogan and Randy Hogan, the project will add over one million square feet to Oklahoma City’s visionary urban expansion. The Dream Project will also be among the country’s first developments offering innovative wellness systems throughout the build to provide...

Since Covid-19 hit us all, I have been hearing from a lot of makers of air filtration/purification equipment. Sometimes the technology is unique to that supplier. Other times it is pretty much the same as others on the market. One thing is for sure: indoor air quality (IAQ) and air filtration/purification will remain hot topics for a long time to come. I heard from one maker of air quality systems in the past few weeks and the company had an interesting story to share. Wynd, led by Ray Wu, CEO, conducted a study of the air quality of 28 hotels...

NEW YORK—Park Hyatt New York, the luxury five-star hotel located within steps of New York City’s most iconic landmarks and destinations, announces the launch of its Bryte Restorative Sleep Suite. Recognizing the growing demand for personalized in-suite wellness amenities and curated experiences, the award-winning hotel is introducing an elevated, restorative sleep sanctuary featuring The Restorative Bed by Bryte. The residential-style, one-bedroom suite offers the perfect blend of comfort and function, designed to provide a serene haven from the city’s bustling atmosphere and a restful night’s sleep. “We’re thrilled to partner with Bryte and offer our guests a truly personalized and restorative sleep experience,” said Peter Roth,...

STAMFORD, CONN.—WellAir, a leading provider of indoor air disinfection and purification solutions, announced that its Plasma Air HVAC air purification products have been selected by the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel in Athens, Greece to help reduce exposure to airborne pathogens and pollutants throughout the hotel. This partnership expands WellAir’s portfolio of partnerships with a variety of hotels across the world. The Plasma Air ionization solutions are designed to neutralize and reduce airborne pathogens, including viruses and bacteria. The hotel is deploying solutions in all common areas, such as lobbies and restaurants. Guestrooms and suites also benefit from the improved...

BANGKOK—Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea will take guests on a journey into seldom-experienced nature, wildlife, and culture, setting new standards in sustainability and desert hospitality as Saudi Arabia drops its pin on the global tourism map. The Concept Untouched and enticing, this part of the world remains relatively unknown. In ancient times, however, it was a busy trading route, used by the Nabataeans to transport luxury goods like silk, incense and textiles. Along the way, they would set up camp and gather around the fire under a starlit night. In 106 CE, the Nabatean Empire was annexed by the...