As a supplement to your green cleaning arsenal, I strongly recommend the use of steam cleaners for cleaning and disinfecting. I spoke with executives at two steam cleaner companies recently and they filled me in on the many applications and benefits of steam cleaning. Watch for my article on Green Lodging News in the next few days. Steam cleaning is a rare event in hotels these days. One of the executives I spoke with estimates that only about 2 percent of hotels use steam cleaners. It is a missed opportunity to clean very effectively with very little water and no...

The year 2019 was an interesting one in the green lodging world, with many of the stories having to do with the elimination of plastic (straws, single use amenity bottles, water bottles, etc.) or other types of waste reduction. The year started off with Sandals Resorts International eliminating Styrofoam across its Caribbean resorts and finished with the launch of Shepherd Eco, a new sustainable hospitality brand with waste reduction as a focus. What Green Lodging News articles posted in 2019 were read the most? Here is a top 10 list with a brief description of each article. 1.  Creative Alternatives to...

ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX, FRANCE—When stepping into a hotel these days, one cannot help but notice a growing wave of smoothie bowls, pilates poses, and mindfulness seminars. For many years, Accor has been at the forefront of the wellbeing movement, leading the way to integrate health and wellness into all aspects of the guest experience. In a new white paper, “It’s a Wellness World: The Global Shift Shaking up Our Business”, Accor explores the fundamental societal shift currently underway as the lifestyle goal of feeling healthier has moved out from beyond the walls of the spas and gyms and entered the mainstream....

MALE, MALDIVES—Emerald Collection announced that Emerald Maldives Resort & SPA has opened. Unusual to any private island, Emerald Maldives houses a wraparound reef which means guests are never more than a few footsteps away from an encounter with exotic fish, turtles or manta rays. The 120-villa resort is located on the Raa Atoll, renowned for having some of the most diverse marine life in the world and boasts one of the largest lagoons in the Maldives. “With Emerald Maldives Resort & SPA, we wanted to create a sanctuary for guests who wish to escape the pressures and stress of modern-day...

MIAMI BEACH, FLA.—Lucky Shepherd announces the launch of its Shepherd Eco sustainable hospitality brand with a flagship location in Wynwood, Miami. The project, developed by Shepherd Atma and Hoar Program Management (HPM), with Touzet Studio as architect and Gensler as interior design, is slated to open late 2022. The Shepherd Eco brand finds its roots in the deeply intertwined concepts of sustainability and humanity—the dual heartbeats that drive these Eco-systems—thriving, dynamic communities weaving residents, guests, locals, and nature into a rich, fulfilling experience. Eco’s sustainability ethos is honored through strategies for reducing plastic and water usage, and resiliency elements are located where they can be...

REDMOND, ORE.—Soul Community Planet (SCP) announced the newly-renovated New Redmond Hotel reopened December 6 as the SCP Redmond. The 41,000-square-foot property features 49 rooms and suites, coworking, The Rooftop garden and conservatory, fitness center, along with a number of other food and beverage venues, including the Provisions Market. “The vision of Soul Community Planet is to make the world around us a better place by serving those who value personal wellness, social good and the environment. We’re pleased to bring this concept to Redmond, Oregon—a community that clearly embodies the values of Soul Community Planet,” said Soul Community Planet Co-Founder...

ATLANTA—This week, at the annual Greenbuild conference, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launched Insight, a new data-driven tool that highlights building project design features that can lead to better performance. USGBC also announced LEED Positive—a vision statement and LEED development roadmap that will lay the foundation for a future of LEED that is regenerative. In addition, USGBC announced that more than 100 cities and communities have now achieved LEED certification. The City of Atlanta, this year’s Greenbuild host city, marked the 100th certification. Insight Announcement Insight is available as a feature of the Arc platform and provides information on the...

PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS—La Quinta by Wyndham is helping relieve stress for business travelers on November 20—the busiest business travel day of the year—when nearly 60 percent more people are hitting the road than usual. According to the latest “La Quinta Means Business” survey, 96 percent of business travelers have had to travel for work the week before Thanksgiving and 81 percent of them feel they’re likely to experience stress as a result. La Quinta is encouraging its guests to take a breather while they take care of business before the holiday rush with its new Take a Paws Project. On the...

OJAI, CALIF.—GSNPlanet (GSN) announced the dates for the next Congress, the only spa industry event dedicated to sustainability education and inspiration. Congress will be held January 26 to 30, 2020 at the award-winning Ojai Valley Inn in Ojai, Calif. This year’s event theme will focus on Transformation—both personal and planetary. A unique gathering in the spa and wellness industry, GSN’s Congress creates an environment for professional and personal exploration through quality education, collaborative sessions, and networking. The green inspired think-tank is a three-day event designed to be an interactive experience providing attendees with the inspiration and supportive community necessary for...

NEW YORK—1 Hotels, the mission-driven, sustainable luxury hotel brand founded by Starwood Capital Group Chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht, announced that it will debut its UK brand flagship, the 1 Hotel London Mayfair, in 2022. Located in the heart of Mayfair overlooking Green Park, 1 Hotel London Mayfair will be operated by SH Hotels & Resorts and will bring eco-conscious, modern design to London. The brand is inspired by a simple idea: teaching people they can have a luxury lifestyle in a more sustainable way. “1 Hotel London will undoubtedly set a new standard in the city for the luxury...