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...

SINGAPORE—Singapore is building a Super Low Energy (SLE) resort in the backyard of its National Singapore Zoo. This zone, called the Mandai Project, aims to support Singaporean flora and fauna and to eventually become a destination for nature lovers. WOW architects, in partnership with Banyan Tree Holdings Limited, is designing treehouses in the shapes of seeds. Perched above the canopy, 338 rooms will feature stunning rain forest vistas. What is Biophilic Design? How will this be made possible? By biophilic design of course. First coined by American biologist E.O. Wilson in 1984, biophilic stems from two roots: bio—relating to life, and philic—indicating appreciation for a specific thing. Biophilic...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International announced an evolved vision for social impact and sustainability including setting goals to bolster diversity and inclusion, donate millions of meals and continue offering scholarship and educational opportunities for employees and their families. Through a commitment to be “Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet,” MGM Resorts is committing to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make a bigger difference in the lives of its employees, guests and in the communities where the company operates. “As a company with a global presence and more than 80,000 employees worldwide, MGM Resorts recognizes...

SAUDI, ARABIA—Amaala, one of the largest ultra-luxury sustainable resort projects ever conceived—one that will create 22,400 jobs and attract 310,000 visitors annually—is in the design stages for Saudi Arabia’s northeastern coast along the Red Sea. (See video.) Amaala, which is derived from the Arabic word for “hope,” will be set in a pristine natural reserve and includes three sites: Triple Bay, The Island, and The Coastal Development. Unique to the project is its environmental story. It will be built to have a zero-carbon footprint. Reaching zero-carbon status will be a challenge, as the project will also include an airport, 200 retail...

QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO—With thousands of sea turtles saved every season since the program’s inception nearly 40 years ago, the turtle protection program of the Mexican Caribbean keeps drawing travelers and top Quintana Roo hotels aim to continue that growth through new on-site initiatives. One in every 1,000 baby turtles don’t survive to adulthood and of the seven sea turtle species in the world, the loggerhead, white, hawksbill and leatherback species especially thrive in warm Caribbean waters. “More than an attraction, the turtle protection program is a way of life in the Mexican Caribbean. Now that such programs are becoming more...

READING, PA.—Ambius, a global leader in creating enhanced commercial spaces and North America’s largest interior landscape organization, announced that Marshall Gardens of Lake Oswego, Ore., and Glenn’s Greenery of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. have joined the Ambius family of businesses. These acquisitions expand the Ambius presence in the Pacific Northwest and Florida markets to better serve a growing customer base, and further cement Ambius as the nationwide provider of interior landscapes. The deals were finalized in August and September, respectively; terms were not disclosed. Marshall Gardens was founded in 2009 by Abigail Marshall and Patrick Alexander. The company provides customized, interior...

MIAMI—The Global Wellness Institute (GWI), a nonprofit research and educational resource for the world wellness industry, released the second white paper in its “Understanding Wellness” series. The white papers are designed to serve as primers for policymakers, businesspeople, researchers and students on how wellness has become a major force around the world and the ways it will evolve in the future. This second paper, “Opportunities and Impacts of the Wellness Economy for Regional Development,” outlines the ways a growing wellness industry can facilitate development and growth in countries, regions and communities around the world. “The wellness economy is now a $4.2...

FOREST, VA.—NanoTouch Materials announced broad support for corporate ESG (environmental, social and governance) initiatives as well as UN SDGs (United Nations sustainable development goals) with their line of self-cleaning surfaces for facilities. One of the main categories of initiatives has to do with health and wellness in the built environment. Commercial real estate owners and investors, along with facility managers and facility services firms, are racing to offer innovative new approaches in this category. “We’re very excited to be able to contribute to these wellness initiatives with products that also positively impact occupant experience,” says NanoTouch Co-founder Dennis Hackemeyer. “Imagine having...