Did you know that you breathe over 11,000 liters of air a day? If you’re reading this, you will probably spend around 2,000 hours per year breathing the air in the office for which you are about to sign that lease.  This year alone, you will bring into your lungs over 900,000 liters of whatever is in the air of that cool new office space. Would you drink 900,000 liters of water if I said, “I actually have no idea what’s in it or how long it has been sitting in this room…but it’s fairly clear and doesn’t really...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that author, sustainability entrepreneur and activist Paul Hawken will provide the opening keynote at its annual GreenerBuilder conference taking place at the Marriot Marquis in downtown San Francisco on July 25, 2019. GreenerBuilder is the largest conference dedicated to the green building industry in the Pacific region and brings together hundreds of building professionals, sustainability leaders and change-makers to discuss today’s most pressing sustainability and green building issues. Registration is currently open. “GreenerBuilder is an opportunity for the green building community in the region to come together and discuss innovations and sustainability opportunities for the built environment,”...

LOS ANGELES, CA.—The Élan Hotel—a recently renovated boutique property located in the heart of West Hollywood—has partnered with AllerWell Travel—a division of the Wellness Hospitality Association International—to implement eight allergy-friendly guestrooms within the hotel. The only AllerWell Certified hotel, the Élan is the first property in the nation to offer AllerWell accommodations. AllerWell rooms eliminate more than 95 percent of the room allergens that trigger most allergy symptoms, and as more travelers look toward allergy-friendly accommodations, AllerWell and the Élan Hotel aim to make allergy-friendly rooms as common as smoke-free rooms. The three central components installed in all AllerWell rooms include: Hypoallergenic Bedding—Hypoallergenic...

DENVER—There was business as well as wellness on the agenda as the Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) held its second annual meeting of membership at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona, May 29 to 30, 2019. One priority? The introduction of the WTA Annual Award (WTAAA). Open to WTA members and non-members alike, the new Annual Award will be presented once each year during the association’s annual meeting to honor an organization, company, or individual that has successfully launched and implemented a wellness project or initiative in keeping with the association’s stated mission “to shape and support sustainable wellness tourism for the...

ATLANTA—Full-service digital public relations and marketing firm, Trevelino/Keller, has been engaged by Pure Wellness to help secure the company’s position as a leader in hotel guestroom wellness solutions. Trevelino/Keller is spearheading digital marketing, creative, and public relations that align with Pure Wellness’ focus of enabling hotel partners to better serve the growing wellness-minded business and lifestyle traveler market. The stress and wear of frequent travel are tied to detrimental health outcomes—from long-term conditions such as obesity and cardiovascular disease to more immediate physical, behavioral and mental health issues. Pure Wellness, via its Pure Room service offering, offers a guestroom experience that promotes...

SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIF.—In January 2019, Green Spa Network (GSN) launched its first sustainability research survey to collect information from its members regarding their environmental efforts in their businesses. The response has been positive and since then, monthly surveys have been collected and have given GSN great insight into where its members are and how to best direct them on their sustainability journey. Conducted surveys have been geared towards gaining knowledge to increase members’ ability to successfully transform their businesses into socially and environmentally responsible organizations. A few of the findings show GSN that: 84 percent of members say consumers are...

SAN JOSE, CALIF.—Lumileds, a global leader in innovative lighting solutions, released its 2018 Sustainability Report, which details the company’s progress in supporting the transition to a worldwide low-carbon economy. In the report, Lumileds highlights how its lighting solutions are contributing to positive changes in energy usage, safety, and health and wellness, supporting the company’s commitment to making the world safer, better and more beautiful with light. Lumileds follows a formalized sustainability agenda that identifies specific priorities and tracks progress. For example, in its global LED and automotive lighting operations, the company recently surpassed its 2020 operational goals relative to...

It was on October 22, 2006 when I first wrote about Barry Sternlicht’s 1 Hotels venture. Then, it was called “1” Hotel and Residences. For various reasons—primarily a recession—the first 1 Hotel did not open until March 2015. That one is in South Beach in Miami Beach and now owned by Host Hotels & Resorts. Since that time other 1 Hotels have opened in Brooklyn, N.Y. and by New York’s Central Park. Another is coming soon in West Hollywood, Calif. With his award-winning 1 Hotels, Sternlicht has created one of the most successful green brands in the world. The...

NORMAN, OKLA.—Best Western Plus Norman has formed a new, ongoing partnership with the University of Oklahoma Food Pantry to provide a regular supply of personal hygiene products. More than 4,000 products—including shampoo, razors, body wash, mouthwash, deodorant and other toiletries—were presented to OU Food Pantry Graduate Director Matt Marks recently. “We are extremely honored to kick off this partnership with the OU Food Pantry,” said Steve Martens, CEO of Hospitality Management LLC, which operates four Best Western-branded properties in Oklahoma and Kansas. “This is the second time one of our hotels has partnered with a local food bank, and we’ve...

HONG KONG—Rosewood Hotels & Resorts today debuts the ultra-luxury hotel brand’s Global Wellness Day programming, which includes a variety of engaging, family-oriented health and wellness activities across the brand’s properties worldwide. In celebration of the annual event, taking place on Saturday, June 8, 2019, Rosewood properties across the Americas, Europe and Asia will offer specialized wellness-focused events and activities that have been designed to facilitate bonding moments between families while simultaneously immersing them in the rich culture of the destination, ranging from an athletic bootcamp set against the inspiring backdrop of Paris’ Place de la Concorde at Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood...