Bradley Corp. just released the results of its annual Healthy Handwashing Survey. What is really no surprise—thanks to the years of Covid—Bradley found most Americans are so averse to encountering germs in public restrooms that they go out of their way to avoid surfaces and touchpoints in these shared spaces. According to the survey, 62 percent of Americans use a paper towel as a barrier to avoid touching flushers, faucets, and doors. Women are even more likely to use the “paper towel as a glove” approach, with 67 percent taking this evasive measure. Others employ sheer physicality to steer clear...

AHLA last conducted The Lodging Survey with STR in 2018. It provided valuable information on numerous trends in lodging, including ones falling under Sustainability. AHLA and STR no longer conduct that survey. A very valuable replacement to that survey is the 2022 Green Lodging Trends U.S. Market Report. It is based on U.S.-specific data gathered for the 2022 edition of the global Green Lodging Trends Report (GLTR). The newly available U.S. report from AHLA—representing its Responsible Stay program—is based on data from 17,000 U.S. hotels. There were two data collection methods: direct participation by responding to the GLTR survey on...

HONOLULU—Premier beach resort brand Outrigger Resorts & Hotels has successfully achieved Green Seal certification for key properties in Fiji and Hawaii. Outrigger is first in the State of Hawaii to earn the prestigious Green Seal designation as well as the first hospitality brand to achieve certification outside of the United States. Green Seal is a global nonprofit whose certification mark is a universal symbol that a product, cleaning service or facility meets the highest benchmark of health and environmental leadership. Outrigger’s owned/managed properties that are now Green Seal certified include: Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel OHANA Waikiki...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added Force of Nature to its Green Product & Service Directory in the Cleaning Products/Disinfectants/Laundry category. Force of Nature is a toxic-free multi-purpose cleaning and disinfecting brand that is safe for guests and staff and saves up to 80 percent of cost versus traditional toxic cleaning products. The company’s portable appliances use electricity to convert tap water, salt and vinegar into an all-in-one cleaner, deodorizer, sanitizer, and EPA registered hospital-grade disinfectant as effective as bleach. Force of Nature uses a 60-year-old industrial technology called electrolyzed water, to create two new ingredients: Hypochlorous Acid (the disinfectant)...

NATIONAL REPORT—The uncertainty and instability of the past several years have increased the level of stress in employees. In correlation to this, the health and wellness tourism market is growing. Indeed, the Global Wellness Institute expects that wellness tourism expenditures will likely hit $1.3 trillion by 2025. For this year, wellness packages, i.e., trips that focus on holistic well-being such as yoga retreats, are forecast to reach $29.3 billion, almost attaining the pre-pandemic level. This growing interest in health and wellness is not a surprise. The Covid-19 outbreak has shone a light on the importance of physical and mental health issues. As a result,...

PUNTA MITA, MEXICO—Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita, Mexico was named one of the Best New Nature Resorts and one of the Best New Hotels in the world in Travel + Leisure’s 2023 It List. The distinguished annual It List recognizes the 100 best new and renovated hotels and resorts around the world that have made the biggest impression on the magazine’s editors and contributors. As a recognized property, Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita, Mexico will be featured in the May 2023 issue of Travel + Leisure and online at travelandleisure.com. “We are excited to be spotlighted on the Travel + Leisure 2023 It List as a...

LAS VEGAS—More than 600 exhibitors displayed their goods and services at last week’s HD Expo at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. More than 80 of those exhibitors identified themselves as sustainable in one way or another. It would be impossible to mention all those companies in this article but below are many examples of what this author considered especially creative and unique. Elkay Manufacturing Co. introduced its ezH2O Liv Pro Filtered Water Dispenser. Unlike other Elkay dispensers, this one features a low-profile design and a more upscale look with its either black or white frame. It fits within 16” OC...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) and the International WELL Building Institute pbc (IWBI) released a streamlined process for projects pursuing certifications for the LEED green building rating system and the WELL Building Standard. The process streamlines documentation for projects that are pursuing both certifications at the same time or that have already earned one certification and are looking to add the other. “USGBC’s partnership with IWBI builds upon our shared commitment to driving positive health outcomes across the built environment,” said Peter Templeton, President and CEO of USGBC and GBCI. “Improving human health has...

BETHESDA, MD.—JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of 30 hotel brands, announced the opening of JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, marking the company’s debut in the luxury safari segment. Sitting within the Masai Mara National Reserve in Southwestern Kenya, one of Africa’s most renowned wildlife and wilderness conservation regions, the lodge is a sophisticated sanctuary from which to discover animals and breathtaking vistas in harmony. Exhilarating guided game drives offer guests the opportunity to observe the “Big Five” that Masai Mara is home to, including lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinoceros, and elephants. Between June and September, the reserve is...

DUBLIN, IRELAND—The “Wellness Tourism Global Market Opportunities and Strategies to 2032” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering. The wellness tourism market reached a value of nearly $731.36 billion in 2022, having grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6 percent since 2017. The market is expected to grow from $731.36 billion in 2022 to $1,178.93 billion in 2027 at a rate of 10.0 percent. The market is then expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.7 percent from 2027 and reach $1,876.43 billion in 2032. Growth in the historic period resulted from increasing tourist spending on cultural and sports tourism, strong economic growth in emerging markets, rising disposable income, aging population and...