Global Travel News

Gaylord Hotels Celebrates the Triumphant Return of ICE!

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ICE! returns to Gaylord Hotels for the 2022 season
ICE! returns to Gaylord Hotels for the 2022 season, showcasing a winter wonderland of awe-inspiring ice sculptures and slides made entirely of ice.

Gaylord Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary hotel brands, is thrilled to announce the long-awaited return of ICE!, the brand’s legendary Christmas marquee experience, that will once again anchor Christmas at all five Gaylord Hotels this upcoming festive season. After a two-year hiatus, ICE! will once again bring to life its mammoth holiday-themed, immersive ice displays at Gaylord Opryland in Tennessee, Gaylord Texan in Texas, Gaylord Palms in Florida, Gaylord Rockies in Colorado, and Gaylord National in Maryland. As part of the brand’s beloved Christmas at Gaylord Hotels celebration, this signature experience will also be joined by an exciting and original live entertainment experience, CIRQUE: Spirit of Christmas, at select resorts, as well as the brand’s abundance of festive holiday programming.

ICE! Returns to Gaylord Hotels
A longtime tradition first presented more than two decades ago, Gaylord Hotels’ signature, larger-than-life ice installations will take shape at each resort this festive season. This one-of-a-kind holiday showcase will be created from more than 33,500 massive blocks of ice weighing over 10 million pounds – or 5,000 tons – across the five resorts. Kept at a chilly 9 degrees, each ICE! attraction will bring beloved scenes and characters from classic Christmas films to life with magnificent sculptures and slides. Ice carvings range in size from details as tiny as a coin to soaring scenes more than 30 feet tall. Over six weeks, 40 specialized ice artisans, using skills passed down from generation to generation and following a 300-page design book, will create the magnificent spectacle.

Once again, guests will be able to step into nearly 20,000-square-foot, 3D worlds of their favorite holiday films, with each resort presenting a different theme to discover. This year’s experiences will offer:

  • ICE! Featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Gaylord Opryland – Guests will enjoy favorite scenes from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, brought to life in this colorful winter wonderland.
  • ICE! Featuring The Polar Express™ at Gaylord Texan – Families are invited to take a journey of imagination through this heartwarming story as a young child embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole while learning about friendship, bravery, and the true spirit of Christmas.
  • ICE! Featuring “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!™” at Gaylord Palms – Showcasing the 1957 Dr. Seuss classic, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, families are invited to experience iconic scenes such as the Grinch lurking through the chimneys of the Who-ville homes, the Grinch’s heart growing three sizes after realizing Christmas means a little bit more and sitting down at the Whos’ feast where the Grinch carves the roast beast.
  • ICE! Featuring “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at Gaylord Rockies – Guests will follow along with the lovable Charlie Brown as he rediscovers the meaning of Christmas as the cherished story unfolds.
  • ICE! Featuring A Christmas Story™ at Gaylord National – Fans of this humorous holiday classic will rejoice in experiencing their favorite characters and scenes in this magical ice showcase.

Each theme is brought to life in vivid, colorful fashion with the help of an expert chemist who prepares a proprietary formula of special coloring used in the ice sculptures, which keep them bright and festive all season long. At Gaylord Hotels, many of the same artisans who create the incredible ice displays at the world-renowned Harbin Ice Festival will carve 300-pound blocks of ice into the larger-than-life, whimsical scenes.

Original Production: CIRQUE: Spirit of Christmas
A highlight the 2022 festive season, Gaylord Hotels presents an original production of CIRQUE: Spirit of Christmas at Gaylord Rockies, Gaylord Palms, and Gaylord National. This unique, Cirque-styled live show will feature dazzling acrobatics, feats of flexibility, and high-flying stunts. The Broadway-style spectacle tells the story of Noel, a child dismayed and distressed by the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Trying to recapture her lost love of the season, the child is visited by spirits who bring back the true meaning of the season in energetic, dreamlike chapters.

CIRQUE: Spirit of Christmas will be presented as a 75-minute show at Gaylord Rockies, while Gaylord Palms and Gaylord National will offer a 35-minute show. An exciting lineup of additional signature live performances will also be showcased across the five resorts, with more details to be announced soon.

Gaylord Texan will also showcase a dedicated Cirque: Winter Wonderland performance. This action-packed fusion of theatre and cirque features high-flying stunts, acrobatic feats, jaw-dropping juggling, stunning contortion, and so much more.

Wintertime Activities for All Ages
Families and guests of Gaylord Hotels can look forward to the tradition of the beloved Christmas at Gaylord Hotels celebration, featuring an abundance of festive activities, events, holiday meals, attractions, and dazzling decorations throughout each of the expansive resorts. During the holidays, each of the five resorts and their expansive atriums transform into breathtaking winter wonderland environments with millions of lights, elaborately themed Christmas trees, thousands of ornaments, and miles of garland.

Guests can look forward to the brand’s notable abundance of festive holiday programming from tried-and-true favorites including snow tubing, ice skating, caroling, gingerbread decorating, and adventurous scavenger hunts, to captivating atrium light shows, character dining, visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and so much more. Highlights will include the Christmas Tree Trail at Gaylord Palms to discover and take an “elfie” with eight elaborately decorated holiday trees throughout the atrium and Carriage Rides at Gaylord Opryland, featuring a private horse-drawn ride through the resort’s decorations and lights. Additional experiences will include the Christmas Carousel at Gaylord Texan, a timeless, family-friendly ride offering endless spins and fun; a festive Campfire & S’mores experience at Gaylord Rockies; and live performances including The Greatest Story Stage Show at Gaylord National and Gaylord Palms, a musical stage show and multicultural celebration of six international storytellers highlighting the birth of Jesus Christ.

Tickets and Packages
Tickets for ICE! and Christmas at Gaylord Hotels are available now and can be purchased at www.ChristmasatGaylordHotels.com. Advance online reservations are required for all ticketed events. Families can also take advantage of special packages that will include entrance to the ICE! experience and other fan-favorite holiday activities.

Christmas at Gaylord Hotels will be presented over the following dates:

  • Gaylord Opryland: November 11, 2022 – January 1, 2023
  • Gaylord Texan: November 11, 2022 – January 1, 2023
  • Gaylord Palms: November 18, 2022 – January 1, 2023
  • Gaylord Rockies: November 18, 2022 – January 1, 2023
  • Gaylord National: November 25 – December 31, 2022

For a full lineup of Christmas at Gaylord Hotels programming at each resort as the festive season approaches, please visit www.ChristmasatGaylordHotels.com.

Gaylord Hotels participates in Marriott Bonvoy – the award-winning travel program from Marriott International – allowing members to earn and redeem points for their stay, and at other hotels and resorts across Marriott Bonvoy’s extraordinary portfolio of brands. With the Marriott Bonvoy app, members enjoy a level of personalization and a contactless experience that allows them to travel with peace of mind.

Note for Media: For a preview of what to expect this upcoming holiday season, a selection of imagery and video b-roll depicting ICE! showcases and Christmas at Gaylord Hotels programming can be viewed in the image library.

About Gaylord Hotels
Gaylord Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary hotel brands, welcomes guests to more, with extraordinary environments, diverse dining options, full-service spas, pools, top-notch entertainment, shopping and more. Locations include Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee; Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Florida; Gaylord Texan on Lake Grapevine, Texas; Gaylord National on the Potomac in National Harbor, Maryland; and Gaylord Rockies in Aurora, CO.

Media Contact
The Brandman Agency
Michael Gartenlaub & Mallory Pound
GaylordHotels@brandmanagency.com
+1 (212) 683-2442

Read original article at Marriott Hotels

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

STILL FILLING THE HOUSE: Elvis death anniversary increases tourism at his birthplace

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The Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum in Tupelo, Mississippi, has welcomed an increasing number of visitors as fans commemorate the 45th anniversary of Presley’s death and a new movie reawakens international interest in the singer.

Roy Turner was named executive director of the Birthplace last fall after longtime leader Dick Guyton retired.

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reported Turner’s biggest challenge is getting visitors to return to Tupelo’s top attraction amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Birthplace has seen more visitors this year than in the past two.

“It really picked up the first of April with steady increases, and then when the film came out it really picked up,’ he said.

The birthplace and Gladys, Elvis and Vernon Presley

The Baz Luhrmann-directed “Elvis” movie has been a global hit. With international tourists typically making up 60% of Birthplace visitors, the movie about the king of rock ‘n’ roll couldn’t have been released at a better time.

Fans make a pilgrimage every year to Memphis, Tennessee, to attend events during “Elvis Week,” the annual celebration of his life and career in the days surrounding his death anniversary. The highlight is a candlelight vigil at Presley’s white-columned Graceland mansion, where he died on Aug. 16, 1977.

During the vigil, devotees carry candles as they walk solemnly through the Meditation Garden, where Presley is buried alongside relatives. This year, thousands of fans attended the vigil that started Monday night and ended Tuesday morning.

The Birthplace in Tupelo is about 94 miles (151 kilometers) southeast of Graceland. Turner said it was only last November that a busload of visitors became the first international tour group at the site since January 2020.

“They’re coming from all over the world,” Turner said.

He said about 20 people from Belgium visited the Birthplace on Aug. 9, spending most of the day there. About 35 bus tours were expected in just over two weeks. Turner said those numbers are approaching pre-COVID levels.

Before the pandemic, the Birthplace saw about 60,000 visitors a year.

Turner said tourism at the Birthplace typically increases “in those five-year increments” of the anniversary of the death.

Turner said he’s happy to see more visitors, including younger ones.

“We’ve seen a lot of young people show an interest in Elvis,” he said. “Another interesting thing is that there are more African American visitors as well, because the movie told more of Elvis’ connection to the African American community.”

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Melia Takes a Local Touch with Wellness Throughout Asia

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Melia in Asia - TRAVELINDEXAs Meliá broadens its reach throughout Asia, Spain’s leading hotel brand is embracing local culture and unique experiences in the broad range of health-related offerings available to guests. From purification rituals in Bali to forest bathing in a national park in Vietnam, we’ve highlighted several novel wellness experiences at Meliá properties that are inspired by their locations.

Eat, Pray, Love in Bali at Meliá Bali

Elizabeth Gilbert’s captivating memoir, “Eat, Pray, Love,” and Julia Roberts portrayal of her life on the silver screen, introduced the mystical island to the masses. Years later Gilbert’s journey back to herself still looms large and the quest inspired Meliá Bali’s one day wellness retreat program, that shares the same name as the book. This full day journey was designed to cleanse body, soul and mind. The day combines a meditation and yoga practice, a healthy breakfast using the ingredients and spices produced at the resort’s own organic garden, a water purification ceremony at Tirta Empul, in what is believed to be the island’s holiest waters, and a private session with a traditional Balinese healer or palm reader.

The ultimate coconut experience in Koh Samui 

This tropical island in the Gulf of Thailand is synonymous with coconut palms swaying in the warm ocean breeze. It is this local fruit that is the star ingredient in Meliá Koh Samui’s new “Samui Paradise Experience,” the ultimate 2.5 hours pampering session. The decadent therapy begins with a 15-minute steam and/or sauna to prepare the skin for a fresh coconut body scrub, followed by a virgin coconut oil massage. The treatment ends with a relaxing aromatic bath with a blend of natural essential oils to release stress and restore energy. The Samui Paradise Experience is available until December 2022.

Forest bathing at a nature preserve in Vietnam

Set within 108-square-kilometers of protected natural forest, Meliá Ba Vi Mountain Retreat is an ideal place to offer the practice of shinrin yoku (forest bathing). The picturesque resort inside Ba Vi National Park is one of the first properties in Vietnam to offer this mood-boosting, stress-releasing practice. The guided experience involves walking with intention through the resort’s surrounding tropical forest to a hidden stream. Guests are encouraged to tune into all their senses, noticing everything from the beautiful bird songs to the feeling of the rough bark of trees. Although spending time in the forest is nothing new, the act of slowing down and connecting with nature, in a world where we’re normally digitally distracted, has a myriad of health benefits, from reducing blood pressure to boosting the immune system. The whole experience lasts around two hours and is roughly five kilometers.

Tapping with Tok Sen in Chiang Mai

Meliá’s newest property in Asia, Meliá Chiang Mai, opened this year in the ancient city in Northern Thailand. Embracing both the local culture and the brand’s Spanish roots the property has launched a signature treatment, Tok Sen, at its YHI Spa. The traditional form of Thai massage, that originated in Northern Thailand, traces its roots back more than 2,500 years. A special wooden stick made from the bark of a tamarind tree is used in the 90-minute therapy, and is rhythmically tapped to relax the muscles and stimulate energy points throughout the body. This distinct massage type is combined with unique Spanish massage techniques to relax muscles, relieve fatigue, and eliminate tension throughout the body.

Vietnamese coffee coats the body in Ho Tram

The Vietnamese may serve their coffee with a generous dose of condensed milk, but luckily you don’t need to worry about the sweet liquid making its way into your spa therapy at Meliá Ho Tram. The beachfront resort is however using the grounds in their cellulite-reducing 45-minute Coffee Treatment that’s available through the end of September at the property. The caffeine content in the thick aromatic coffee scrub helps dilate blood vessels, tightening the skin and reducing the appearance of skin dimples, while also improving circulation.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh Welcomes New General Manager Juan Mercadante

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Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh Welcomes New General Manager Juan Mercadante - TRAVELINDEXPhnom Penh, Cambodia, August 17, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh, the newest international branded hotel in Cambodia’s capital, is pleased to announce the appointment of experienced general manager Juan Mercadante.

The well-traveled Mexican aims to maintain the high-performance capabilities of one of the city’s top-ranked luxury hotels.

The property has earned widespread acclaim since its opening in January 2021. Most recently, it was ranked “top city hotel” in Cambodia, as leading travel publication Travel & Leisure Asia published its Asia’s Best Awards 2022.

Mercadante, who takes the lead as general manager at the property this August, is looking forward to collaborating with the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh team. “I intend to enhance our personalized and inclusive service. I’m excited to share my knowledge and contribute to the hotel’s continued success,” he said.

He has overseen a succession of projects with Hyatt including rebranding, deflagging, and pre-opening properties. “In my tenure with Hyatt, I’ve had the privilege of working in five different continents, he said. “Each role has been a unique experience that has contributed to my knowledge and skills to become a better leader.”

Over the decades, he rose through the room and management ranks at Hyatt Regency Cancun Mexico, Hyatt Regency Almaty Kazakhstan, Hyatt Regency London -The Churchill and Hyatt Regency Dubai, and Galleria Residence. In 2012, he returned to his hometown to join Hyatt Regency Mexico City as a hotel manager before advancing as a pre-opening general manager at Grand Hyatt Playa Del Carmen Resort, which was the first Grand Hyatt brand in Mexico. Most recently he was selected as pre-opening general manager at the first Andaz brand in South Korea.

With shifts at high-profile city and resort hotels around the world in his background, Mercadante can draw upon extensive experience in the global tourism industry. The passionate world traveler from Mexico City is confident that his solid guidance will ensure Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh remains prominent among Cambodia’s elite hotels.

“Together with my team, we will strive to fulfill the owner’s vision of making Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh one of the leading hotels in the city,” he added.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Meliá Chiang Mai Launches a Journey to Farm Package

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Chiang Mai, Thailand, August 17, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Meliá Chiang Mai is ushering guests onto a nearby 250-acre gourmet organic farm, to meet local farmers and learn more about sustainable farming and healthier eating, as part of its A Journey to the Farm Package.

Under the new hotel’s ‘360° Cuisine’ program its kitchen works closely with ORI9IN The Gourmet Farm in San Sai District, sourcing ‘farm to plate’ organic produce that travels only a short distance. As much of each ingredient is used – roots, leaves, stems, stalks and more – before ‘plate to farm’ food waste returns to the farm as fertilizer in a truly 360° concept.

Priced at THB 8,800 nett (USD 243 nett) per room for two, the A Journey to the Farm Package comprises two nights in a Meliá Room, daily breakfast for two, and a day trip for two to the scenic farm inclusive of a picnic lunch.

The farm experience includes feeding the animals, walking through the farm with a guide to learn about both the cultivation of Meliá Chiang Mai’s fruits, vegetables and herbs as well as Ori9in’s Pharm traditional herbal medicine garden, and a chance to rummage through a garden maze.

According to chef turned sustainable farmer James Noble, who oversees ORI9In, the day trip is a chance for guests to learn more about the journey their food and these products have made, as well as who has been a part of that journey.

“This is tourism that leaves no footprint on the land; we’re trying to show people that you can have a day out without harming what you came to see in the first place,” he said.

Under the partnership between Meliá Chiang Mai and the farm, local farmers grow an array of fruits, vegetables and herbs for the hotel’s restaurants, bar and spa. In addition to local seasonal produce such as young morning glory, red basil, lemongrass and passion fruit, the farm grows various kinds of tomatoes, salad leaves, and specialized ingredients such as padrón pepper that would otherwise need to be imported from Spain for the hotel’s authentic Mediterranean cuisine.

“The partnership is a central plank of our ‘360° Cuisine’ program, under which we aim to work closely with local farmers to help them improve sustainability and encourage ethical production to make communities and the overall food system more resilient,” said the hotel’s general manager Edward E. Snoeks.

Towering over Chiang Mai’s River Ping and Night Bazaar, Meliá Chiang Mai opened in April. With a design that pays tribute to Chiang Mai’s charming history and culture with a contemporary flair, the hotel comprises a striking 22-floor tower fronted by an adjoining seven-floor podium building.

Drawing on Meliá’s Spanish origins and celebrating Spain’s famed gastronomy, the hotel’s dining landscape features restaurants Mai Restaurant and Bar and Laan Na Kitchen, bars Mai The Sky Bar and Tien Pool Bar, and lounges Ruen Kaew and The Level Lounge; the latter a 21st-floor executive lounge with panoramic views of the city.

The A Journey to the Farm Package is available to book from now until 28 November 2022 for a stay until 30 November 2022. For further information or to make a booking, call +66 (0) 52 090 699

About Asset World Corp Public Company Limited
Asset World Corp Public Company Limited is a holding company under TCC Group operating leading integrated lifestyle property development in Thailand. The company has two main businesses consisting of the Hospitality business managed by top hotel executives of world-renowned hotel brands such as Marriott, The Luxury Collection, Okura, Banyan Tree, Hilton, and Sheraton and Retail, Wholesale and Commercial properties whose projects include 1) Retail and Wholesale including lifestyle travel destinations, community shopping malls, community markets, and wholesale business real estate. Popular real estate projects consist of ASIATIQUE the Riverfront Destination, Gateway at Bangsue, AEC Trade Center – Pantip Wholesale Destination, and Tawanna Bangkapi and 2) Commercial buildings including the famous Empire Tower and Athenee Tower located in Bangkok’s central business district.

About Meliá Hotels & Resorts
Meliá Hotels & Resorts is the best-known international brand in the portfolio of the Meliá Hotels International company; it has more than 100 city and resort hotels in the main leisure and business destinations of Europe, Asia, Africa and America. The brand offers exemplary meetings and events facilities in all important business cities as well as in exotic locations, catering to the ever-expanding conference and incentive travel market. As part of its innovation philosophy and new positioning, Meliá Hotels & Resorts has reinvented itself to cater to every aspect of the guests’ wellbeing. Unique experiences are created for guests and are defined by relaxation, quality time and personalised services. For a balanced lifestyle, Meliá Hotels & Resorts instinctively understands the guests’ needs and lifestyle expectations, which is an integral part of its redefined identity.

About Meliá Hotels International
Founded in 1956 in Mallorca (Spain), Meliá Hotels International operates more than 380 hotels (portfolio and pipeline) throughout more than 40 countries, under the brands Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Paradisus by Meliá, ME by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, The Meliá Collection, INNSiDE by Meliá and Sol by Meliá, plus a wide portfolio of affiliated hotels under the “Affiliated by Meliá” network. The Group is one of the leading companies in resort hotels worldwide, while also leveraging its experience to consolidate the growing segment of the leisure-inspired urban market. Its commitment to responsible tourism has led the Group to become the most sustainable hotel company in Spain and Europe, according to the last S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2022 (Silver Class distinction). It also has ranked seventh in the Wall Street Journal’s list of the 100 most sustainably managed companies in the world (and the leading travel company) and is the only Spanish travel company included in the list of “Europe’s Climate Leaders 2021” by Financial Times. Meliá Hotels International is also included in the IBEX 35 Spanish stock market.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

AC Hotels by Marriott Unveils New Hotel in Downtown Bethesda Near the Nation’s Capital

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AC Hotel Bethesda
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AC Hotel Bethesda
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AC Hotels by Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands, has opened the doors to its newest hotel in the heart of downtown Bethesda, Maryland, bringing the brand’s signature “perfectly precise hotel” experience to a thriving urban center near the nation’s capital. AC Hotel Bethesda Downtown welcomed its first guests on August 16, 2022, with a purposeful design that strikes the perfect balance of form and function, featuring curated artwork evoking a true sense of place.

OTO Development, part of The Johnson Group, developed and will manage the new hotel, which is adjacent to and shares amenities with Avocet Tower, a trophy-class office building developed by Stonebridge.

“Like many travelers, we appreciate everything about the AC Hotels by Marriott brand, having opened properties in top destinations,” says David Ward, COO of OTO Development. “It’s a delight to provide the AC signature guest experience imbued with a particular sophistication and practical comforts.”

With the completion of the Bethesda project, OTO has opened six AC Hotels — the others in South San Francisco, California; Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Spartanburg, South Carolina; Times Square, New York; and Washington, D.C. — with two more currently under development in Naples and Jacksonville, Florida.

The 18-story AC Hotel Bethesda Downtown comprises 220 sleek, modern guest rooms and more than 11,000 square feet of activated shared space complete with a signature restaurant. Other amenities include 3,500 square feet of flexible, top-floor meeting space with an outdoor terrace overlooking Silver Spring, Maryland; Tysons Corner and Arlington, Virginia; and downtown Washington, D.C., as well as a 5,000-square-foot fitness center boasting a full range of weights, cardio equipment, a yoga studio, a spin room, and stellar views.

“AC Bethesda is filled throughout with the details that matter most to discerning travelers,” says General Manager Chris Raines, who heads up a leadership team that also includes Maria Bardos, CGMP, Director of Sales, and Jim Barnett, Director of Food & Beverage. “From commissioned artwork to top-tier amenities to intuitive technology, even high-end toiletries, our hotel is designed to provide guests with everything they want — and nothing they don’t — in a well-designed, thoroughly considered space.”

The hotel’s art portfolio is highlighted, figuratively and literally, by two dramatic installations by German artist Anke Neumann of LichtPapier, who illuminates the hotel’s shared space with abstract, organic compositions created out of fiber optic lights and handmade paper. “The Fizz” comprises dozens of cloudlike forms scattered across the restaurant ceiling, where they comingle into a unique sense of movement and chaotic harmony. Meanwhile, “The Fizz Tree” branches out within a wall niche at the front desk.

Michael Sirvet leads the local coterie of commissioned artists with “Aeolian,” an ebony-stained wood sculpture he describes as mechanical in both the thought and the creative process. Other D.C. artists whose creativity is featured in the hotel include Lori Katz, Madeline Stratton, Nicole Salimbene, and Kerry Hays — a D.C.-born native now living in Atlanta who showcases several abstract paintings with a sculptural quality.

AC Hotel Bethesda Downtown has crafted a food-and-beverage program on par with the city’s finer eateries. Corella Café & Lounge is named after the hometown of Antonio Catalán, the founder of AC Hotels. With minimalist aesthetics featuring soaring 23-foot ceilings, the light-drenched venue is designed to flex throughout the day while serving everything from locally roasted morning coffee to late-night bites and creative cocktails. Seating is available inside, at the bar, and out on an expansive street-level patio.

Corella’s signature cocktail — a tea-infused gin martini — celebrates Bethesda’s Madonna of the Trail, the first in a series of 12 granite mother-and-child statues placed along a key 19th century migratory route stretching from Maryland to California. Corella toasts the indominable spirit of the pioneer women represented by the statues, those determined mothers who “didn’t stay but traveled through” on their quest toward a better life for their children. The cocktail ritual echoes the 12 Madonnas of the Trail with a spirited mix of 12 ingredients, including gin from Tenth Ward Spirits, a local, female-owned distillery.

AC Hotel Bethesda Downtown is located at the bustling intersection of Montgomery and Wisconsin Avenues, just a few blocks from Marriott International’s new global headquarters, and only seven miles from downtown D.C. The hotel is a one-minute walk from the Red Line Metro Station and a three-minute bike ride to the Capital Crescent Trail; it is also conveniently located near the National Institute of Health and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Project partners include Cooper Carry, architect/interior design; Balfour Beatty, base building contractor; and Coakley & Williams Construction, general contractor. The curated artwork was sourced from Kalisher and Material Driven.

For hotel reservations, call +1 (301) 656-2260 or visit www.ACHotelBethesda.com. Connect on social @ACHotelBethesda. For information about Corella Café & Lounge, visit www.CorellaBethesda.com and connect on social @CorellaCafeAndLounge.

For high-resolution images please visit AC Bethesda Downtown image library.

About AC Hotel by Marriott Bethesda Downtown
AC Hotel Bethesda is an 18-story hotel tower comprising 220 sleek, modern guest rooms; a well-equipped fitness center complete with a yoga studio and spin room; and Corella Café & Lounge, a signature restaurant serving everything from locally roasted morning coffee to late-night bites and creative cocktails, with seating inside, at the bar or out on an expansive street-level patio. Flexible event space includes top-floor meeting rooms with an outdoor terrace overlooking Silver Spring, Tysons Corner, Arlington and Downtown D.C. Guest rooms and shared spaces strike the perfect balance of form and function, with curated artwork evoking a true sense place. Find AC Hotel Bethesda at 4646 Montgomery Ave. in the heart of Bethesda, Maryland. For information and reservations, call +1 (301) 656-2260 or visit www.ACHotelBethesda.com. Connect on social @ACHotelBethesda and @CorellaCafeAndLounge.

About AC Hotels by Marriott®
AC Hotels includes over 210 hotels in 30 countries and territories. At AC Hotels, every moment has been designed, refined, crafted, and considered to create a seamless guest experience. Each AC Hotel features purposefully designed signature spaces that strike the perfect balance of form and function. Most notably, the AC Lounge® invites guests and locals alike to collaborate during the day, or to enjoy signature cocktails and tapas in the evening. The AC Kitchen offers a European-inspired breakfast each morning. All AC guest rooms, and public spaces evoke a particular sophistication, featuring sleek furnishings, curated artwork, and intuitive technology. The brand is dedicated to the details that matter most to guests during their travels with a mission to deliver The Perfectly Precise Hotel™ experience. For more information, visit www.AC-Hotels.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. AC Hotels is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy®, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments, and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit www.MarriottBonvoy.com.

About OTO Development
OTO Development, part of The Johnson Group, is an award-winning, fast-growing hotel development and hospitality management company. Founded in 2004 and partnering with the Hilton, Hyatt, IHG and Marriott brands, OTO’s industry leadership position is anchored by a portfolio of excellent hotels staffed by exceptional people. The company currently owns and/or operates ~70 hotels comprising approximately 9,600 room keys. OTO’s growth is focused on developing new hotels in high-barrier-to-entry markets; purchasing and repurposing existing hotel properties; and expanding management contracts with clients ranging from publicly traded REITs to private equity firms to high-net-worth individuals. For more information, visit www.OTODevelopment.com.

Media Contacts
Diane Jackson
OTO Development
djackson@otodevelopment.com

Christine Lin
Marriott International
christine.lin@marriott.com

Read original article at Marriott Hotels

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Mindful Chef Celebrates B Corp Certification with Increase in Environment Section

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Mindful Chef Celebrates B Corp Certification with Increase in Environment Section - SUSTAINABLEFIRST.com - TRAVELINDEXLondon, United Kingdom, August 16, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Healthy food brand Mindful Chef is proud to announce that it has boosted its B Corp score by a third, including an impressive 249% increase in the ‘environment’ section of the assessment.

The new ‘outstanding’ score secures Mindful Chef’s spot as one of the highest-rated food & beverage B Corps in the UK, as well as placing the brand in the top 3% of global B Corp food companies. Mindful Chef has been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, for a second time, having met rigorous social and environmental standards which represent its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.

The steep increase in Mindful Chef’s B Corp score reaffirms the carbon-neutral brand’s commitment to pursuing purpose, and not just profit, across a number of categories considering environmental, social and economic issues. The B Corp certification addresses the entirety of a business’s operations and covers five key impact areas including an ‘environment’ section, which Mindful Chef has particularly excelled in through an array of initiatives including, but not limited to [see ‘Notes to Editors’ for further information]:

– Carbon management plans, conducting three annual carbon footprint assessments since 2019 and striving for Net Zero by 2030
– Quality and regenerative farming, focusing on free-range and sustainably-sourced produce, mostly sourced from UK soil that is accredited by stamps including LEAF marque, Red Tractor, MSC & ASC fish and RSPCA
– Low carbon recipes that are in line with the WWF’s target of reducing food-related emissions

Mindful Chef has also seen an increase in its ‘Workers’ impact score, which relates to the way it treats its team. Key developments in this area include improving the employee benefits most important to the team, from enhanced maternity and paternity leave to healthcare and mental health resources. With the ambition of Mindful Chef being ‘more than just a job’, the brand has introduced initiatives such as extending holiday leave, launching an Unafraid in Action sabbatical program and offering 4 giving back days per team member each year.

As a business grows, and the assessment evolves, B Corp (re)certification gets harder. In order to maintain B Corp certification, a company must update its assessment every three years, ensuring that certified B Corporations continue to engage in a high level of impact, even as the business grows or changes. As such, Mindful Chef is already looking ahead to what more can be done to support the brand’s mission to be healthy for both people and the planet.

Mindful Chef is working with its suppliers to drive down the impact of its supply chain – where most of its carbon emissions come from – with an exciting announcement scheduled for Q4 2022, just after the company launches its fourth annual nationwide clean-up operation following a record 2021 event that registered as the UK’s biggest clean-up event to date. Mindful Chef is also pleased to announce that it has just extended its Low Carbon Range across its full menu and hit the amazing milestone of donataing 14 million meals to children living in poverty via it One Feeds Two program.

Myles Hopper, Mindful Chef Co-founder, comments: “We are so proud to not only have secured B Corp recertification but to have vastly improved our score thanks to so much hard work and dedication from the whole Mindful Chef team, alongside the continued support of our community of customers, over the last three years.

The B Corp movement was started based on the foundational belief that business can be a force for good and used to tackle the challenges we humans face, which resonates deeply with the core values and morals we have always placed importance on here at Mindful Chef.

The hard work of being a B Corp never stops – we’re always figuring out new and exciting ways to use our business as a force for good and we’re really excited about what’s coming up, including a ground-breaking biodiversity and soil health project in Q4 2022 to further drive down our impact from farm to fork”.

About B Lab UK
B Lab UK is transforming the economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. A leader in economic systems change, our global network creates standards, policies, and tools for business, and we certify companies—known as B Corps—who are leading the way. To date, our global community includes over 4000 B Corps in 77 countries and 153 industries, and over 100,000 companies manage their impact with the B Impact Assessment and the SDG Action Manager.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Wynn Palace Presents Sustainably Chic Mooncakes

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Wynn Palace Presents Sustainably Chic Mooncakes - TOP25Hotels.com - TRAVELINDEXMacao, Macao SAR, August 16, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / In keeping with Wynn’s ongoing efforts to build a greener city and continued support of Macau local brands, Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace are pleased to once again collaborate with October Fifth Bakery Macau to present delicately crafted mooncakes in sustainably chic gift sets for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

This year, Wynn has taken its eco-friendly mooncake gift set design to a whole new level by creating completely sustainable packaging that is made to impress – both inside and out. Not only are the carry cases designed as stylish tote bags for use all year-round, the interior packaging has also been thoughtfully designed to minimize Wynn’s carbon footprint. Each elegant mooncake gift box features 3D embossed Wynn flowers and is printed on FSC-certified paper that has been harvested responsibly to protect the forests, and a more sustainable Soy Ink is used in place of traditional ink. The mooncake trays within the boxes are also made entirely of biodegradable materials to further reduce environmental impact. In true Wynn fashion, the tote bags are stylish, yet also very versatile and practical. Each tote bag is lined with a layer of thermal insulation to protect food and beverages for outdoor celebrations anytime of year.

Catering to popular demand, Wynn has once again joined hands with October Fifth Bakery Macau, a local and homegrown favorite brand, to specially curate two mooncake gift set collections. The Wynn Tea Classic Mooncakes are infused with the irresistably fragrant Osmanthus Oolong tea, while the Wynn Signature Mooncakes feature three distinctive flavors – Tea Classic, Lava Pineapple and Coffee. Meticulously made with the highest quality of ingredients, these locally crafted mooncakes are the perfect gifts for friends and family to enjoy all throughout the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Guests may visit Wing Lei at Wynn Macau or Sweets at Wynn Palace to purchase mooncakes or gift vouchers for friends and loved ones in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Wynn partners with a local Macau bakery to present delicately crafted mooncakes in sustainably chic gift sets – a truly eco-concious way to celebrate the magic of Mid-Autumn.

About Wynn Macau
Wynn Macau is a luxury hotel and casino resort in the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China with two iconic towers featuring a total of 1,010 spacious rooms and suites, approximately 252,000 square feet of casino space, over 59,000 square feet of retail space, 12 food and beverage outlets, two spas, a salon and a pool. The resort proudly boasts three distinct entertainment experiences, including Macau’s only choreographed Performance Lake, blending lofty plumes of water, gracefully choreographed music from Broadway tunes to renowned Chinese songs, powerful LED lights and fire effects.

Wynn Macau is operated by international resort developer Wynn Resorts, recipient of more Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Awards than any other independent hotel company in the world. Wynn Macau opened on September 6, 2006 and its second tower

About Wynn Palace
Wynn Palace is the second luxury integrated resort from international resort developer Wynn Resorts in the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, following the launch of Wynn Macau. Located in the Cotai area, it features a 28-storey hotel with 1,706 exquisitely furnished rooms, suites and villas, versatile meeting facilities, over 107,000 square feet of renowned luxury retail, 14 food and beverage outlets, Macau’s largest spa, a salon, a pool and approximately 424,000 square feet of casino space. The resort also features a variety of entertainment experiences, including the dazzling 8-acre Performance Lake that mesmerizes guests with a choreographed display of water, music and light, the unique SkyCab, spectacular, large-scale floral displays and an extensive collection of art works by some of the world’s leading artists. Wynn Palace Macau is one of the TOP25 Hotels in the World – The World’s Best Luxury Hotels.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Forest Bathing with Hotels Around Asia

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Forest Bathing with Hotels Around Asia - TRAVELINDEX - TOP25SPASWhile a relaxing soak in a deep tub is sine qua non for any luxury hotel stay, there’s another kind of bathing that is making its way into resort lexicon – forest bathing. Hotels are rolling out experiences where guests absorb nature like sponges.

What used to be a plain old walk in the woods has taken on new shades since the ‘80s when Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) was first introduced in Japan. The practice has spread further over the years as people seek an antidote to too much time online. Just like unwinding in a bath, forest bathing is about immersing yourself fully in the present moment. The practice has a myriad of health benefits, from reducing blood pressure to boosting the immune system.

Not all forest bathing is the same, of course. There are many ways to take a bath. Here are a few from Vietnam to Thailand that you might want to dip your toe in.

Walking with Intention in a National Park in Vietnam

Set within 108-square-kilometers of protected natural forest at Ba Vi National Park, Melia Ba Vi Mountain Retreat is one of the first properties in Vietnam to offer this mood-boosting, stress-releasing practice. The guided experience involves walking with intention through the resort’s surrounding tropical forest to a hidden stream. Guests are encouraged to tune into all their senses, noticing everything from bark to birdsong. The expansive park, west of the capital, has subtropical and tropical evergreen forest to bask in and diverse wildlife, including over 150 bird species to provide a one-of-a-kind soundtrack. The whole experience lasts around two hours and is roughly five kilometers.

Meet Banyan Tree Krabi’s Neighbors – the Waterfalls and Mountains

With a bountiful and beautiful variety of flora and fauna in adjoining Khao Ngon Nak National Park, including a panoramic viewpoint offering stunning views of the surrounding islands in the Andaman Sea, Banyan Tree Krabi is the ideal jumping-off point for for a hike up Naga Mountain. Banyan Tree’s half-day walking tour includes ample time for birdwatching, soothing your feet in a waterfall pool, and wallowing in the tranquility and splendor of a tropical forest. “Leave your phone in the villa for one morning and come with us into the forest,” said Sustainability Manager Thepsuda Loijiw.” It’s suitable for all ages, and you’ll never regret spending time with Mother Nature.” The national park is open from 5am to 2pm every day. For bookings, contact Thepsuda and her team at: krabi@banyantree.com, or call +66 75 811 888.

Elephant ‘Poo Poo Paper’ Walking Tour

While forest bathing and elephant poo poo don’t necessarily go hand in hand, there are many ways to skin a cat when it comes to Shinrin-yoku. What they’re doing at “Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park” is a case in point. From Meliá Chiang Mai, the mindful traveler embarks on the park’s “interpretive walking tour” through lush gardens and eight different pavilions to demonstrate the sustainable practice of making tree-free paper products from elephant poop fibers, from poo collection to rinsing and final product assembly. During the self-guided tour, guests are encouraged to pull up a stool, roll up their sleeves and join the park’s talented artisans and guides to participate in the fascinating process to handcraft the paper used for cards, paper pads, journals and more.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

PolyU Staff Honoured with Chef Herman Breithaupt Award

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PolyU Staff Honoured with Chef Herman Breithaupt Award - TRAVELINDEXChef Simone Nabbs, Executive Chef and Kitchen Manager of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), was recently bestowed the Chef Herman Breithaupt Award by the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (ICHRIE).

The Chef Herman Breithaupt Award honours the memory of a pioneer in culinary education by recognising outstanding achievement and contributions to culinary arts or foodservice education by a chef/educator. Chef Nabbs is the first recipient from an institution in the Asia-Pacific region to receive this prestigious award since its introduction in 1980. The award clearly recognises her high professionalism and her remarkable contributions to hospitality education and to ICHRIE.

An Australian national, Chef Nabbs identifies herself as passionate and colourful ambassador of the culinary arts, being part of a team, an extension of a long history of tradition and pride in connecting people through food. Having worked internationally in a diverse range of opportunities around the globe, she has served the industry assiduously for more than two decades. Chef Nabbs then amalgamated with education and joined the SHTM in 2012, vividly engaging with her students and introducing them to the diversity and dynamic world of food and beverage.

The Chef Herman Breithaupt Award was presented at the 2022 Annual International CHRIE Summer Conference held in Washington, DC on 3-6 August.

About International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education

International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (ICHRIE) is a non-profit professional association dedicated to providing programmes and services to continually improve the quality of global education, research, service and business operations in the hospitality and tourism industry.

About PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management

For over 40 years, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has refined a distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education and become a world-leading hotel and tourism school. Ranked No. 1 in the world in the “Hospitality and Tourism Management” category in ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022 for the sixth consecutive year, placed No. 1 globally in the “Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services” category in the University Ranking by Academic Performance in 2020/2021 for four years in a row, rated No. 1 in the world in the “Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism” subject area by the CWUR Rankings by Subject 2017, and ranked No. 1 in Asia in the “Hospitality and Leisure Management” subject area in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022 for the sixth consecutive year, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field, exemplifying its motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism.

The School is driven by the need to serve its industry and academic communities through the advancement of education and dissemination of knowledge. With a strong international team of over 80 faculty members from diverse cultural backgrounds, the SHTM offers programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate degrees to doctoral degrees. Through Hotel ICON, the School’s groundbreaking teaching and research hotel and a vital aspect of its paradigm-shifting approach to hospitality and tourism education, the SHTM is advancing teaching, learning and research, inspiring a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals to take their positions as leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News