LONDON—Dubbed by the media as the “Phoenix of Dominica,” Jungle Bay resort has finally reopened, four years after closing down. The popular five-star development had previously operated for 10 years before Storm Erika destroyed it in 2015. It has now relocated to the western coast of the small island of Dominica, in the Mourne Acouma village in Soufriere and has already welcomed its first guests. The island has made a remarkable recovery after Hurricane Maria made landfall in 2017 and has since gone on to “build back better” largely using money coming from foreign investors also seeking second citizenship. Jungle...

ATLANTA—Pure Wellness, a pioneer and leader in hotel guestroom wellness solutions, announces the expansion of their portfolio with the installation of 15 Pure Rooms at three properties in Atlanta, one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Now, wellness-minded travelers visiting the Fairfield Inn and Suites Atlanta Kennesaw, or Marriott International’s Springhill Suites Atlanta Kennesaw and Springhill Suites Atlanta Buford/Mall of Georgia can experience Pure Rooms. “Both the Fairfield and Marriott International brands are known and designed to deliver an inviting and effortless experience for guests,” said Haley Payne, Chief Wellness Experience Officer for Pure Wellness. “The wellness trend is...

DARMSTADT, GERMANY—Green Pearls recently welcomed Hotel Rinner in Soprabolzano, South Tirol, as the newest Green Pearl. At the family run hotel everything revolves around the fascinating world of the bees, from honey tastings to the worldwide unique Api wellness. Here, the sustainable handling of resources plays a special role as the bees find their optimum living conditions only in intact nature. For more than three generations family Rinner has devoted themselves to beekeeping. Host Paul Rinner has been a beekeeper since he was a young boy. In 1966, family Rinner realized their dream with the construction their own beekeeping operation with accompanying workrooms. It was only later...

It is certainly not a ground swell, but it is further evidence of the increased interest in wellness throughout our industry: the announcement that the five-suite Inn at Moonlight Beach has become the first lodging establishment in the world to obtain Well Certification. It was awarded the certification by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) in collaboration with Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). For those of you not familiar with IWBI, it is a public benefit corporation whose mission is to improve human health and well-being in buildings and communities across the world through its WELL Building Standard. WELL Certification...

ENCINITAS, CALIF.—The Inn at Moonlight Beach announced that it has been awarded WELL Certification at the Platinum level by the International WELL Building Institute’s (IWBI) collaboration with Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). Going a step further than LEED certification, the prestigious distinction was awarded through IWBI’s WELL Building Standard (WELL), which is the premier building standard to focus on enhancing people’s health and wellness through the buildings where we live, work and play. The Inn, an intimate 4,000 square foot boutique hotel on a third of an acre lot, is nestled in a residential neighborhood in historical downtown Encinitas, a short...

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...