This past week I learned about one of the most impressive wellness resort projects in the world—Amaala. The ultra-luxury well destination in Saudi Arabia is slated to be completed by 2028 and will include approximately 30 hotels, an airport, and much more. Sustainability is a cornerstone of the project with the primary goal being a zero-carbon footprint. The project has the support of many international companies. Very impressive. One of the team members behind the project is His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. It was the CIA’s assessment that His Royal Highness ordered the murder...

HOLLAND, MICH.—Boxed Water Is Better announced the launch of Boxed Matcha in collaboration with mission-driven tea importer Art of Tea. The bundle includes a 24-pack of 500 mL Boxed Water and 24 Art of Tea Matchasticks, an organic ceremonial grade blend of three Japanese green tea varietals. Simply pour, shake and go. For each product sold, Boxed Water and Art of Tea will plant 24 trees in U.S. National Forests with the National Forest Foundation (NFF). “At Boxed Water, we’re always looking for brands who share our Better Planet ethos,” said Boxed Water Chief Marketing Officer Rob Koenen. “With Art of...

MIAMI—The Global Wellness Institute (GWI), a nonprofit research and educational resource for the world wellness industry, has launched a new white paper series: “Understanding Wellness.” The new research papers are designed to become the go-to primer for policymakers, businesspeople, researchers and students to understand—in clear and simple terms and backed by rich data—the major force that wellness has become around the world and how it will evolve in the future. This first paper, “The Global Forces Driving the Growth of the Wellness Economy,” examines the four macro forces that are propelling consumer demand and the ongoing, surging growth of the...

BANGKOK—The Galápagos Islands are home to some of the world’s most amazing wildlife encounters. The isolated chain of 19 islands emerged alone from the rest of the world and its ecology developed in its own unique way. Guests at the upcoming Six Senses Galapagos will therefore experience a one-of-a-kind (literally-anywhere-on-earth) natural environment. Six Senses Galapagos is located in Cerro Verde on the northeastern coast of San Cristobal Island. This is the quietest of the main islands, blessed with a relaxed, tranquil vibe. UNESCO recognized the Galápagos Islands as a World Heritage Site in 1978 and a Biosphere Reserve in 1985, and...

While on a press trip in New York City with Lutron last week, I got to visit their new Commercial Experience Center as well as the gigantic $20 billion Hudson Yards development located just south of the Javits Center. If you have an interest in the power of commercial lighting and controlling it, I highly recommend visiting the Experience Center. If you have a general interest in green building, I recommend a visit to Hudson Yards. Wikipedia does a good job explaining the scope of the Hudson Yards development. According to the site, Hudson Yards is a real estate development...

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIF.—Soul Community Planet (SCP) announced a new program—“One Tree: One Forest”—with the goal of making a meaningfully positive difference in the world one small step at a time. Through the program, Soul Community Planet will help to reforest unnaturally deforested areas around the world by donating the estimated cost to plant a tree to the One Tree Planted organization every time a guest stays overnight in one of its SCP Hotels. “SCP is founded on three core values: personal wellness (Soul), social good (Community) and sustainable practices (Planet). We chose to name this new program ‘One Tree:...

ASHLAND, ORE.—Vios Spa Group announces the launch of the U.S. based certification program for “green” spas. A comprehensive, global spa certification designed just for spas and offered by spa veterans, the purpose of the Vios Certified Sustainable Spa global program is to assess and recognize leading spas with sustainability best practices and quality standards. The program’s founder, Shelley Lotz, is the pioneering author of Green Spas and Salons: How to Make Your Business Truly Sustainable (2013), and a former Board Member of the Green Spa Network. With over 25 years of experience in the spa/wellness/beauty industry as an owner, esthetician,...

MINNEAPOLIS—Research by CWT, the B2B4E travel management platform, shows that awareness of maintaining healthy eating habits is growing momentum amongst business travelers. Overall 38 percent of business travelers eat healthier while on the road. Asia Pacific travelers are the most likely to eat healthier when traveling for business (46 percent) compared to travelers in Americas (35 percent) and Europe (29 percent). “Maintaining healthy habits while traveling is nearing the top of the priority list for travelers around the world,” said Niklas Andréen, CWT’s Chief Traveler Experience Officer. “At the end of the day, being in tune with what matters to...

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – Millennial travelers have spoken: they want more plants, please. In a recent survey by Orbitz, 63 percent of millennial vacationers said the hotel amenity they’d most like to see is more plants in their hotel rooms and the same amount said they are seeking out plant-filled spaces and activities such as botanical gardens and parks on vacation. That’s why Orbitz, in collaboration with Garfield Park Conservatory (GPC) and The Kimpton Gray in Chicago’s Loop neighborhood, are teaming up to create the first plant pop-up hotel, bookable exclusively on Orbitz.com during National Indoor Plant Week September 16 to...

COOPERSBURG, PA.—For almost six decades, Lutron Electronics has been a leader in the lighting control industry. Now, as Lutron celebrates its new Commercial Experience Center in Manhattan, the company is once again bringing bold ideas and a fresh vitality to lighting and design. “Experience” is the operative word at the flagship center, located just off Fifth Avenue at 3 E. 28th Street in New York’s lively NoMad neighborhood. At the core of the center is the Lutron HXL approach, a broad philosophy of human centric lighting that deftly employs four elements of lighting design—natural light, quality light, connection to the...