AOMORI, JAPAN—Jikeikai Group announced Wellness Hotel Zen-Aomori, Japan’s first wellness hotel. The hotel features a full medical check-up upon arrival, followed by personalized wellness regimens, spa treatments, meditation guidance, nutritional and dietary treatments—and more. To be constructed in the upper levels of the JR Aomori Station Building in the city of Aomori, Wellness Hotel Zen-Aomori combines Jikeikai Group’s 60 years of expertise in hotels and medical facilities in a single purpose-built, world-class offering for those seeking to revitalize their physical and spiritual well-being. Guests begin their stay with a comprehensive health and wellness check. Wellness Hotel Zen-Aomori staff then create a custom wellness program...

PHILADELPHIA—Element Hotels—part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 leading brands and designed for today’s healthy, active traveler—announced the opening of Element Philadelphia, marking the brand’s debut in the city. Developed by Conshohoken-based Chestlen Development, the hotel will be the newest addition to Philadelphia’s reemerging hospitality scene, with travelers planning an average of 2.7 trips this year, according to a recent Visit Philadelphia report. Designed with a focus on sustainability and well-being, Element is ideal for families, groups and business travelers who want to maintain a balanced lifestyle while on the road. “Bringing the Element brand to Philadelphia was a strategic decision to appeal...

BANGKOK—Travel + Leisure’s Global Vision Awards spotlight 30 individuals, companies and organizations making meaningful strides in responsible travel and sustainable living. In addition to thought leadership, these changemakers are also proactively protecting communities and environments and inspiring their industry colleagues and travelers to do their part. To arrive at this year’s list of honorees, an esteemed panel of experts across the travel, hospitality, and sustainability industries submitted nominations, which were then narrowed to a select list of finalists vetted by Travel + Leisure editors. Six Senses has been honored as a group for its dedication to sustainability, conservation, and ethical environmental...

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.—The Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA) Program announced its new accreditation programs for hotels seeking to enhance the guest experience and safety protocols for wellness and/or medical travel guests. GHA has developed two accreditation programs: WellHotel for Well-being and WellHotel for Medical Travel. Both programs focus on validating the programs hotels provide for these growing niche markets and the accreditation seal builds trust and offers a competitive edge to those hotels that achieve accredited status. According to Karen Timmons, GHA’s Chief Executive Officer, “This year has provided revitalized interest from hotels to reinvent niche offerings to meet the demand...

SARASOTA, FLA.—Pürlin, LLC has hired Eric Eisenberg to serve as Vice President of Hospitality. In collaboration with their University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) partners, the entire team will be working with Eisenberg to introduce Pürlin’s unique closed-loop bedlinen system to the Las Vegas hotel market. “With his extensive background in hotel operations and his professional ties to the business community, we have every confidence in Eric’s abilities to lead Pürlin’s Las Vegas commercialization initiative and to build our South West Regional Sales Operation,” says Pürlin Founder and President, Richard Ferrell. In response to the devastating impact that COVID-19 continues to...

DELRAY BEACH, FLA.—A new study conducted by the Korean testing and research company Kotiti, www.kotiti-global.com, validates that the Graphene Oxide technology applied to the MyGo2Mask, www.mygo2mask.us, provides a 99.9 percent Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE). The Kotiti testing is compliant with the Korean Accreditation System’s (KAS) requirements for such testing. In specific, the Korea Accreditation System (KAS) is a national accreditation body established in 2001 within the framework of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) which is a governmental body under the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE). The Administrator of KATS serves as the Head of KAS. Most...

ASHLAND, ORE.—Hotels, resorts, and spas are embracing Functional Botanicals dry wipes—biodegradable bamboo tablets infused with organic essential oils. The castile soap in the Essential Wipes Plus features an aromatherapy blend of Copaiba, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Niouli, and Palo Santo, and Rose and Frankincense in Luna Wipes. The soap infused dry wipes are clinically proven to clean and disinfect. Tablets expand to a full-size aromatic cleansing towelette with an ounce of hot or cold water. Use in the hospitality environment reduces two major pain points: laundry and labor. At the helm of the hospitality division is seasoned sales executive Cortney Devlin...

AUGUSTA, MAINE—The Maine Office of Tourism (MOT), in partnership with the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation, has launched Look Out for ME, a marketing and educational initiative to support responsible recreation in the Maine outdoors. With input from leaders in the outdoor recreation industry, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Bureau of Parks & Lands and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, MOT developed a communications tool that is meant as an asset to be shared with both the public and private sectors to reinforce Maine’s outdoor brand and ensure respect and care for natural...

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped hotel operations in many areas, from contactless check-in to keyless room entry to QR codes for restaurant menus. Hotel gym operations and cleaning protocols have also changed in response to pandemic health and safety concerns. Many of these changes are projected to become mainstays in 2021 and beyond to meet guest expectations for enhanced cleaning and hygiene protocols. For most hotel guests, the best location, five-star restaurants and over the top amenities have taken a back seat to high standards for health and safety. According to a TripAdvisor survey, cleanliness is the most important factor in...

BANGKOK—The Six Senses Botanique has joined the Six Senses portfolio. This emerald gem is located 2.5 hours from São Paulo and 3.5 hours from Rio de Janeiro. It lies at the confluence of three river valleys in the heart of the Mantiqueira Mountains, known as the “mountains that weep” due to the abundance of springs and rivers. For Six Senses Botanique, however, there is plenty to be happy about. After three months of training centered around the Six Senses brand standards and values, hosts cannot wait to showcase out-of-the-ordinary experiences and emotional hospitality, with the Six Senses integrated pillars of...