WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Westin Washington, D.C. Downtown announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Dr. Whitney Roban, Ph.D., a leading sleep expert, to launch a new sleep enhancing program designed to support the wellness routines of its guests, specifically those who experience “First Night Effect.” According to Dr. Roban, research has shown that when individuals travel to unfamiliar environments, such as hotel rooms, one half of the brain enters into a hyper-vigilant state. This increased alertness disrupts the natural sleep cycle, particularly impacting the crucial slow wave deep sleep stage. This phenomenon is known as the “First Night Effect.” Dr. Roban has identified...

The Westin Washington, D.C. Downtown announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Dr. Whitney Roban, Ph.D., a leading sleep expert, to launch a new sleep enhancing program designed to support the wellness routines of its guests, specifically those who experience “First Night Effect.” According to Dr. Roban, research has shown that when individuals travel to unfamiliar environments, such as hotel rooms, one half of the brain enters into a hyper vigilant state. This increased alertness disrupts the natural sleep cycle, particularly impacting the crucial slow wave deep sleep stage. This phenomenon is known as the “First Night Effect.” Dr. Roban has identified...

PENNSYLVANIA—Situated on a sprawling wooded ridge at the confluence of the Allegheny and Clarion rivers, Six Senses RiverStone Estate will mark the next chapter in one of the region’s cultural and architectural treasures. Marking the latest milestone in the brand’s entry into the Americas market, this picturesque country estate will echo the Six Senses ethos of wellness and sustainability, while offering guests and owners a community for connection and reflection. Located outside the quaint Western Pennsylvania town of Foxburg, just 90 minutes north of Pittsburgh, the property is in close proximity to three private airports and a quick getaway from...

TAMPA, FLA.—Wellness in Travel & Tourism (WITT), an independent organization composed of experts with over 125 years of combined experience at the intersection of hospitality, wellness, and travel, announced the launch of a wellness certification for hotels and resorts. This groundbreaking initiative aims to transform the hospitality sector by providing prestigious certification criteria that sets properties apart in a competitive market, enabling them to enhance their wellness offerings and attract travelers. “The WITT Certified seal provides hotels and resorts with a significant advantage in attracting travelers by offering objective and rigorous audits of their wellness amenities and services,” said Robin Ruiz, WITT’s CEO and...

Who stayed in your hotel last night? Were they already sick, or had they been exposed to possible illness? Did the room attendant thoroughly clean the rooms? Hotel managers never know if a hotel room has been exposed to airborne or surface germs, but there are precautions that hoteliers take that can help hotel guests leave their stays unscathed by germs. Hotel guests increasingly care about health and wellness. For instance, before booking a hotel, I always check the reviews for comments about cleanliness and housekeeping. And the very first thing I do upon entering a hotel is wash my hands....

MIDWAY, UTAH—Derived from the Aztec definition of “a place where the healing water flows,” AMEYALLI is the only well-being and longevity-focused community built around natural geothermal springs. The property was designed in collaboration with Deepak Chopra and the Chopra Foundation and sits just 40 minutes from the Salt Lake City Airport while neighboring Park City and Deer Valley, providing easy access for ski enthusiasts and adventure seekers. The property's first model home—featured in Phase One of AMEYALLI residence sales—will be completed in June 2024. Located minutes from one of the world’s top ski resorts, AMEYALLI is tucked away in the...

DANBURY, CONN.—Employee empowerment has always been a key operating principal for Meyer Jabara Hotels (MJH). To take its Journey culture to new heights this year and boost employee engagement, the owner and operator of 32 hotels has partnered with Beekeeper, the leading app for frontline teams. Beekeeper features an intelligent dashboard that connects property leaders and the corporate management team with all frontline employees to improve internal communication, support HR teams, and streamline business processes. Secure, relevant information is readily distributed, searchable, and measurable in one central hub for an efficient digitized workflow. “We’ve only been using Beekeeper for 30 days, and it has quickly...

NEW YORK—Fitwel, the leading global healthy building certification and data insights platform, has released Version 3 (“v3”) of its evidence-based standard. This update translates the latest public health research to optimize real estate assets for health and quality of life, future-proof them for climate adaptation, and maximize their value. Fitwel’s v3 introduces the Smart Scorecard, offering a streamlined, efficient, and refreshed user experience, enhancing its reputation as an accessible and trusted industry tool. Evolving the Fitwel Standard Fitwel’s operator, the globally renowned nonprofit Center for Active Design (CfAD), systematically updates the evidence-based standard to incorporate recent research, industry feedback, and market...

KYOTO, JAPAN—Six Senses Kyoto has opened its doors, marking the brand’s entry into Japan. Conveniently situated among the iconic heritage shrines and palaces within the ancient capital, Six Senses Kyoto invites guests to both an epicenter and an escape, to enjoy holistic wellness, signature sustainability and out-of-the-ordinary experiences. Six Senses Kyoto marks a historic milestone of taking the Six Senses brand into new frontiers, while continuing to enrich IHG’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio—now the second largest in the world. The hotel’s design draws inspiration from the Heian period (794 to 1185), when Heian-kyo (now Kyoto) was the capital of Japan, considered...

Hotels with wellness amenities experienced notable revenue growth in 2023, with upper-upscale properties emerging as top performers, according to the latest Wellness Real Estate Report by RLA Global, published in collaboration with P & L benchmarking firm HotStats. Among the key findings: Revenue Performance: Luxury hotels with comprehensive wellness offerings reported the highest Total Revenue Per Available Room (TRevPAR), achieving three times the TRevPAR of upper upscale hotels in 2023. However, upper upscale properties led in terms of both Average Daily Rate (ADR) and TRevPAR growth across all wellness categories. Operational Insights: Minor Wellness properties, those earning less than $1 million or...