tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70636404576590812852024-03-02T12:29:07.288-05:00The Daily SuitcaseThe Daily Suitcase: A Travel Site Packed With News, Information and PunditryLaura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.comBlogger478125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-17251063682137254072023-01-23T09:05:00.006-05:002023-01-23T09:15:15.254-05:00A Refreshed Wellness Tourism Consultancy Coming Soon!<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Looking to understand the skyrocketing wellness tourism sector?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Wondering how your destination can attract this growing market?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Wanting to draw more North American travelers to your international destination through health tourism?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">We can help. For a preview of what's to come, <a href=" Hi Laura! We have built out a design with your photo, contact information, brief bio, services, etc. Check it out here: https://laurapowellstg.wpengine.com/landing-page/">check this out.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Meantime, please enjoy some recent articles covering the wider wellness tourism sector.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.organicspamagazine.com/where-to-go-next-thermia-palace-health-spa-hotel-in-slovakia/">Testing the Medical Tourism Waters in Slovakia</a></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkPrhB7xP--Nq4_4s02vDxRGCocJaqVpWcCol-ImLb2KmDNJZAJaiFcBoB8FaMawOpSgCaZdB7g7HQmrxKXnPEAPw58jQ2KGUPHLnKD28tsj1GqC_6iiAqfCDBhg2szDPof4XDTlPezbCZFOZpoC1Twb6LNSpX7jCX-caf_I5p3eeL6DioIOrJ2GY/s8675/Mud%20Pool%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8204" data-original-width="8675" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkPrhB7xP--Nq4_4s02vDxRGCocJaqVpWcCol-ImLb2KmDNJZAJaiFcBoB8FaMawOpSgCaZdB7g7HQmrxKXnPEAPw58jQ2KGUPHLnKD28tsj1GqC_6iiAqfCDBhg2szDPof4XDTlPezbCZFOZpoC1Twb6LNSpX7jCX-caf_I5p3eeL6DioIOrJ2GY/s320/Mud%20Pool%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mud Pool at Irma Health Spa<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.hospitalityinsights.com/strategy/growing-european-health-tourism-brand-serves-double-dose-hospitality">European</a> <a href="https://www.hospitalityinsights.com/strategy/growing-european-health-tourism-brand-serves-double-dose-hospitality">Health Tourism Brands Serves Up Double Dose of Hospitality</a></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTsbNH203e_f3go-3QO-R0qja7G3jyx0itslNGs5XQ5PfWsiTbgbHUB5KJ5W8pZh_TibUEIs_J6EW3ovkkDclDoX52ZpoMQlatjOqqp0zFP5vzeOS2zPMU2CgMbDpi7Ecjbn9Z4BaNfBvlhpXenw_OUJIp8fbygNXzspKjhKfr-AnjlkOmQcRUaW4/s5461/Aerial%20Crescent.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3637" data-original-width="5461" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTsbNH203e_f3go-3QO-R0qja7G3jyx0itslNGs5XQ5PfWsiTbgbHUB5KJ5W8pZh_TibUEIs_J6EW3ovkkDclDoX52ZpoMQlatjOqqp0zFP5vzeOS2zPMU2CgMbDpi7Ecjbn9Z4BaNfBvlhpXenw_OUJIp8fbygNXzspKjhKfr-AnjlkOmQcRUaW4/s320/Aerial%20Crescent.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buxton Crescent Hotel, England</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.hospitalityinsights.com/investment/country-profile-bosnia-and-herzegovina-slowly-opens-investors">Tourism Development in Bosnia-Herzegovina</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQ38KInj6_2CAqiqJ_jSB965A5qcQj0VOD367f_BQQbIyWfsV5mr_-uKV7THAORf4yY2tpnY8np7iAwW8JVMMGmGJp3kIWnQS9aNrgAxr9C8BpLmTwJkWXD-y1MldYH9YCkfo_rZgJsmlHAxlLhVpmNxL6bnCBLJAHn-0KZlnfyo0dORFMapGQD1uB" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="2115" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQ38KInj6_2CAqiqJ_jSB965A5qcQj0VOD367f_BQQbIyWfsV5mr_-uKV7THAORf4yY2tpnY8np7iAwW8JVMMGmGJp3kIWnQS9aNrgAxr9C8BpLmTwJkWXD-y1MldYH9YCkfo_rZgJsmlHAxlLhVpmNxL6bnCBLJAHn-0KZlnfyo0dORFMapGQD1uB" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A View of Mostar<br />Courtesy State Department</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-3335053392233262882022-12-21T10:41:00.001-05:002022-12-23T16:32:12.133-05:00Growing European Health Tourism Brand Serves Up a Double Dose of Hospitality<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://www.ensanahotels.com">Ens<span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">ana</span></span></a>, a hospitality operator focusing on medical tourism, is aiming to nearly double in size over the next three years while increasing its service offerings.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="container p-0 ad-container inline-native-ad pos-14" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 1280px; padding: 0px !important; width: 800px;"><div class="row justify-content-center ad-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: center !important; margin-left: -15px; margin-right: -15px;"><div class="ad-placement-wrapper col d-flex justify-content-center nativeAdUnitPos141671829867252" id="nativeAdUnitPos141671829867252-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex !important; flex-basis: 0px; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center !important; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; min-width: 1px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; position: relative; width: 830px;"></div></div></div><div class="container p-0 ad-container" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 1280px; padding: 0px !important; width: 800px;"><div class="row justify-content-center ad-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: center !important; margin-left: -15px; margin-right: -15px;"><div class="ad-placement-wrapper col d-flex justify-content-center contentEmbedOne1671829867252" id="contentEmbedOne1671829867252-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex !important; flex-basis: 0px; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center !important; max-width: 100%; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; position: relative; width: 830px;"></div></div></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The company began life in 2019, when Hungary's Danubius Hotels Group divided its city hotels and its <a href="https://www.spabusiness.com/index.cfm?pagetype=news&codeID=343016" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">medical spa facilities</a> into two separate brands. Both are under the ownership umbrella of CP Holdings Ltd, a multinational investment company based in the UK.</span></p><div class="" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;"></div><div class="olytics_injection" id="omeda-promo-article-inline-after-p3" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;"></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Given the highly-fragmented nature of Europe’s medical spas, most of which are local and independently-owned and operated, the Ensana brand quickly became the largest medical spa operator on the continent. The company now manages 27 properties in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and the United Kingdom, many of which are located in Europe’s most historic spa towns.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For those not familiar with the concept of medical spas, they combine hotels and health facilities. Unlike the wellness hotel concept, which focuses more on relaxation and lifestyle programming (fitness classes, massages, saunas, etc.), medical spas have doctors on staff who provide treatments at on-site clinics over periods of one to four weeks.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qDbmn13tXq1WYC30kNj_DTckIdJ1IcDIG4Gp4uLgyl2wooD4Yn64fD0ykka-xW4h4_dTdkyxkczERBu-vwXSW6XBhXzb1mk7j37QOlVJNRz9QV-v1srjTw6SRP6tC89t5x8Kb7GqfqYbMZMfPYzoDLfi7KgDHPxdFkv1EB148KfNVo8AzQ67klcl/s5412/Thermia%20Palace%20Hotel%202%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3289" data-original-width="5412" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qDbmn13tXq1WYC30kNj_DTckIdJ1IcDIG4Gp4uLgyl2wooD4Yn64fD0ykka-xW4h4_dTdkyxkczERBu-vwXSW6XBhXzb1mk7j37QOlVJNRz9QV-v1srjTw6SRP6tC89t5x8Kb7GqfqYbMZMfPYzoDLfi7KgDHPxdFkv1EB148KfNVo8AzQ67klcl/s320/Thermia%20Palace%20Hotel%202%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Inter, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Thermia Palace Hotel Piešťany, Slovakia</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Petra Lelovska, Ensana vice president, provides some context: “A medical spa blends hospitality and medical treatment together. Doctors provide services, while guests are treated to the hospitality services they would expect at a typical hotel. In other words, we are a hotel brand focused on health.”</span></p><div class="mobile-ad" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;"></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Traditionally, medical spas existed to help clients suffering from specific health issues. For more than a century, ailing patients have flocked to the medical spas of Eastern and Central Europe, which harness the healing properties of natural elements to treat a range of health conditions relating to muscles, bones, organs, metabolism and skin. Still today, Frank Halmos, Ensana chief executive officer, explains, “Medical spa operators use a combination of natural resources like thermal waters and mineral-rich mud with expert medical knowledge to offer treatments supporting the health of guests.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Ensana Gives Medical Tourism a Shot in the Arm</i></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For decades, most guests to these hospitality/medical hybrids would book two to four-week annual stays at a facility located in-country. That way, the multi-week visit could be covered by state insurance. However, as state budgets have tightened, the insurance reimbursement process has become less reliable, and medical spas are increasingly focusing on self-paying guests to keep things going. In the past, the rate of insurance reimbursed clients (usually domestic) versus free-payers was 80-20; now that ratio has been reversed. As a result, notes Halmos, “It’s not a long-term business for Ensana to accept insurance. So, we are focusing on the free market, looking to grow international business as we acquire more upper and upper upscale properties.” </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Halmos says the strategy is adding properties in countries where Ensana already operates, and then expanding to nearby countries with strong medical healing traditions, such as Austria, Germany and The Balkans (Greece and Bulgaria are high on the list). The company is also eyeing locations in further-flung places like Georgia, Kazakhstan and Egypt.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In 2020, Ensana opened the Buxton Crescent Health Spa Hotel. The historic building had languished for decades and it <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-54357630" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">took 17 years</a> to transform it.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLBm7QD3oCfuBvJx5nQNyRIT8nA_oknS8ii8-K8_d_QS6fgtIyFnSc2UiSISmdgJ01JzAkB7BtvV-vrzzdr20xvgnD6F0wN_X0jBe5oQPSXb0VOzRrfiubrZXyoHWitCPK9mtodBu292HrbhYBMYg_uxWGbwd8xwvp3ENPN12N6pqS5zSYZ7JsOAN/s5461/Aerial%20Crescent.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3637" data-original-width="5461" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLBm7QD3oCfuBvJx5nQNyRIT8nA_oknS8ii8-K8_d_QS6fgtIyFnSc2UiSISmdgJ01JzAkB7BtvV-vrzzdr20xvgnD6F0wN_X0jBe5oQPSXb0VOzRrfiubrZXyoHWitCPK9mtodBu292HrbhYBMYg_uxWGbwd8xwvp3ENPN12N6pqS5zSYZ7JsOAN/s320/Aerial%20Crescent.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buxton Crescent Health Spa Hotel</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="olytics_injection" id="omeda-promo-article-inline-after-p10" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;"></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Halmos says that by the second or third quarter of 2023, he expects at least two new Ensana-branded properties to be open. By 2025, he says, the brand could have up to 45 facilities. According to Lelovska, the growth will come “mainly through hotel management contracts. We want to operate and not to buy—to be asset light and work with a portfolio of investors.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Challenges and Changes</b></i></p><div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ensana is also looking to grow its programming. As state insurance coverage gets phased down, the medical tourism market is facing the challenge of finding new, and in many cases, younger clients, who currently are looking more at developing healthy lifestyle practices rather than curing a particular condition. Some of these potential clients, particularly those from the North American market, may not even understand the European concept of a medical spa. Therefore, says Halmos, “The challenge for growth is increasing consumer awareness of what we offer–the proven health benefits of combining natural resources with medical knowledge.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Due to demographic changes and the increased demand for preventive health programs, Ensana is expanding its offerings. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">“New health enhancement options will include lifestyle programming around issues such as weight loss, healthy eating, and de-stressing," Lelovska says.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The additions will blur some of the lines between what in North America is considered holistic wellness tourism (a term not highly esteemed in the European health spa community) and pure medical tourism. “We are looking to add more programming that allows for shorter stays, which will appeal to clients seeking more of a leisure focus for enhancing their health,” says Lelovska. The new concept will be unveiled next year at the Ensana on Margaret Island in Budapest and the Thermia Palace Spa Hotel located in Piešťany, Slovakia. After that, the plan is to offer similar “health enhancement” options at Ensana locations in Marienbad, Czech Republic and Buxton, England.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>This<a href="https://www.hospitalityinsights.com/strategy/growing-european-health-tourism-brand-serves-double-dose-hospitality"> article originally appeared</a> in the December 9 edition of Hospitality Insights.</i></span></p></div></div>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-89223663282018002702022-11-21T10:38:00.001-05:002022-11-21T10:38:11.674-05:00Country Profile: Bosnia and Herzegovina Slowly Opens Up to Investors<p><br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px;">One of the things that is striking during a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is the relative lack of international franchise companies doing business in the country. This is especially notable in the hospitality sector, where the vast majority of hotels are independent and locally-owned. Currently, Accor and Marriott are the only major international hotel companies operating in the country. But the picture may be different in five years’ time, thanks to a number of initiatives being put in place by international organizations.</span></p><p><span style="color: #212121; font-family: PT Serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4biUpxHkZM9wJv-4u5jUkS_1gCYFGSj8b8ijS6J_PY0LMqnejlLBZugzgXbXS3diMtxNALEIgqX_EZ6hcwbg78wlL1Cv9-co2xTSNOQ_aoicv2-sx6bsuC3PhrDgakQMLVcJs1tOZzlxm3dSs-kZQ2y2bgNF1gQ8qMgR51X6AjtsSWSbaPkn0_uZP" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img alt="" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="850" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4biUpxHkZM9wJv-4u5jUkS_1gCYFGSj8b8ijS6J_PY0LMqnejlLBZugzgXbXS3diMtxNALEIgqX_EZ6hcwbg78wlL1Cv9-co2xTSNOQ_aoicv2-sx6bsuC3PhrDgakQMLVcJs1tOZzlxm3dSs-kZQ2y2bgNF1gQ8qMgR51X6AjtsSWSbaPkn0_uZP" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Inter, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Latin Bridge in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Leonid Andronov/Getty Images)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="container p-0 ad-container inline-native-ad pos-14" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 1280px; padding: 0px !important; width: 800px;"><div class="row justify-content-center ad-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: var(--content-body-fonts); justify-content: center !important; margin-left: -15px; margin-right: -15px;"><div class="ad-placement-wrapper col d-flex justify-content-center nativeAdUnitPos141669044722027" id="nativeAdUnitPos141669044722027-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex !important; flex-basis: 0px; flex-grow: 1; font-family: var(--content-body-fonts); justify-content: center !important; max-width: 100%; min-height: 1px; min-width: 1px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; position: relative; width: 830px;"></div></div></div><div class="container p-0 ad-container" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 1280px; padding: 0px !important; width: 800px;"><div class="row justify-content-center ad-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: var(--content-body-fonts); justify-content: center !important; margin-left: -15px; margin-right: -15px;"><div class="ad-placement-wrapper col d-flex justify-content-center contentEmbedOne1669044722028" id="contentEmbedOne1669044722028-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex !important; flex-basis: 0px; flex-grow: 1; font-family: var(--content-body-fonts); justify-content: center !important; max-width: 100%; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; position: relative; width: 830px;"></div></div></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;">On October 12, the EU recommended Bosnia for candidate status, on the condition that a <a href="https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/10/12/brussels-recommends-granting-bosnia-the-status-of-eu-candidate-but-with-conditions" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--content-body-fonts); text-decoration-line: none;">number of steps be taken dealing with several issues, including rule of law, judicial reform and corruption</a>.This could seem like good news for international investors, according to Charlotte Ruhe, managing director for Central and South Eastern Europe at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).</p><div class="" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px;"></div><div class="olytics_injection" id="omeda-promo-article-inline-after-p3" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px;"></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;">“When countries ascend into the EU, it’s like a Good Housekeeping seal of approval in terms of their rules of governance, which gives investors confidence,” she said.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;">However, Ruhe adds that given Bosnia’s current constitutional issues and complicated political structure, both relics of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Bosnia-and-Herzegovina/Government-and-society" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--content-body-fonts); text-decoration-line: none;">Dayton Peace Agreement</a>, it might be quite some time before the country is able to make the qualifications for EU accession. And there are plenty of other matters as well.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;">Simply put: it’s complicated. The political structure divides the country’s governing bodies into two main entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, made up of a collection of somewhat autonomous cantons, and the Republika Srpska, where power is centralized at the top. There is a third administrative area, Brcko District which is a tiny section straddling a border between the other two. The three areas share a tripartite national presidency. As a result, says Almir Pestek, PhD, a professor teaching at the University of Sarajevo School of Economics and Business, “We are trapped into the post-Dayton structure, which is a big burden, since there are different economic and political systems and legislation is not harmonized.”</p><div class="mobile-ad" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px;"></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;">That means, he says, that “the overall business climate is pretty-bad compared to other countries in the region. You can see it from recent World Bank reports, the complex environment when it comes to government structure and legislation, plus high levels of corruption and slow administration, are main constraints. Based on that information, you can see why companies avoid us in terms of investments.”</p><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: var(--domain-fonts); line-height: 3.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Slow Winds of Change</span></h2><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;">Yet, despite the aforementioned challenges, Pestek says he would still suggest investment here, particularly in the tourism sector. “In terms of tourism the positive things outweigh the negative. “Bosnia is far from its full potential,” he notes. Prior to the pandemic, Bosnia was growing at the third highest tourism rate in the world. While the pandemic put a huge dent in that progress, investment during that period by international organizations like USAID and the EBRD didn’t slow down.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;">EBRD is investing in the highway systems, improving connectivity between the country’s main cities and between BiH and neighbouring countries. Meanwhile, USAID’s Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Turizam) project is in the middle of a five-year (2020-2025), $20 million project aimed at improving the economic regulatory environment, enhancing the quality and diversity of products, professionalizing human and institutional capacity, and promoting Bosnia and Herzegovina to high-yield visitors.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;">Plus, there’s that EU invitation. Pestek believes working toward EU membership will give a boost to improvement efforts.</p><div class="olytics_injection" id="omeda-promo-article-inline-after-p10" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px;"></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;">“So many international organizations tell us what should be done, but just a narrative and the situation hasn’t changed over the years,” says Pestek. “But maybe the idea of EU accession may finally be the incentive to help us resolve the issues on our to-do list. So, I think the invitation will help make the business climate better, but it will still take a while for us to make the changes.”</p><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: var(--domain-fonts); line-height: 3.6rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Opportunities for Private Investment</span></h2><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;">Despite the lack of a national tourism office and its limited transportation infrastructure, the country’s competitive advantages are many. BiH is cheap compared to most other European countries; the diversity of product and culture in a relatively small area is appealing, and its proximity to the rest of Europe are bonuses. Plus, the country is making substantial headway in Gulf markets.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;">About ten years ago, Ajdin Sehic, sales manager for the <a href="https://tarcinforestresort.ba/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--content-body-fonts); text-decoration-line: none;">Tarcin Forest Resort and Spa, part of Accor’s MGallery Hotel Collection</a>, says BiH became increasingly popular among Saudis and other Middle Easterners looking to escape the scorching summers at home. Aside from its natural advantages, such as mountains and waterways, Sehic said Bosnia was particularly attractive because “it is a cheap destination in terms of accommodation and food (particularly attractive to Middle Easterners looking to stay for several weeks or months) and it is a ‘brotherhood’ country.” Muslims comprise the single largest religious community in the country, with the majority of those concentrated in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;">Where GCC travelers went, investment followed. Saudi investors in particular made note of the increasing demand and invested in several hotel properties, including the Tarcin Forest Resort and three other properties which were brought under Accor flags (the Novotel, Ibis Style and Swissotel, all located in Sarajevo). All of these properties opened between 2017 and 2019.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;">Frank Reul, Accor’s vice president of development for Northern Europe, Eastern Europe and the Balkans, says that after a pandemic pause, the company is once again exploring partnership possibilities in the country. Targets include the cities of Mostar, Banja Luka and Tuzla, plus resort locations in the mountainous regions. Given that the market “cannot carry many five-star hotels,” says Reul, “we are looking at growing the midscale Mercure brand and the premium Movenpick brand in the country.” He thinks the time for international investment in tourism is right. “It’s a tremendous opportunity, as the country is underdeveloping in terms of exploiting its tourism potential.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;">Courtney Chubb, mission director of USAID/Bosnia and Herzegovina, concurs, saying: “The tourism sector offers tremendous investment potential. We are already seeing examples of successful foreign investments in the hotel and entertainment sector. For example, <a href="https://www.malakregency.com/en/our-story" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--content-body-fonts); text-decoration-line: none;">Hotel Malak Regency,</a> a five-star hotel on the outskirts of Sarajevo, Tarcin Forest, Swissotel and several other resorts are examples of Middle East investments that have done well.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;">Moving forward, Chubb adds: “Opportunities exist in the conferencing and exhibition space for new facilities, mixed use facilities (hotels with serviced or non-serviced residences), and in transport. In the hotel sector specifically, there are opportunities to increase international brand presence, as this is an area that offers ample room for brands to either invest or come in with management contracts to brand and operate local hotels.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; word-break: keep-all;">This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.hospitalityinsights.com/investment/country-profile-bosnia-and-herzegovina-slowly-opens-investors">Hospitality Insights</a>.</p>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-89386901470199467522022-05-23T11:52:00.017-04:002022-06-21T12:09:25.351-04:00Why Gluten-Friendly is Like Being a Little Bit Pregnant: Part One<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">My inspiration for writing this post was a meal I recently ingested at a restaurant located at a five-star resort. Note the phrase<i> ingested</i> rather than <u>enjoyed</u> or <u>indulged in</u>. Now, a much-hailed items at this eatery was homemade potato chips. Long overdue for lunch, I spotted a chicken salad sandwich, served on a croissant, served with a big heaping of said chips on a table nearby. It looked delicious; just the carb-filled sustenance that my body craved. I knew, as someone who is gluten-intolerant, that I would have to forego the croissant. But the chips--ooh, la, la.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge5WGnaAUknvCKyhqyI18mjRjdcwryf593zWr4r9WCZdefsZMPqso7Wp1SDun3K3fTifxr2t96J1DQAj2ROydax6CfyGT52QTrQnG3_PIaWL32czdy3fjdAr3lca6bXbTKzy3oZrHsFaYayfC6Adgdc8gkRg5aEE5KPxOokBEOJUI35bK68x5ea5Vp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge5WGnaAUknvCKyhqyI18mjRjdcwryf593zWr4r9WCZdefsZMPqso7Wp1SDun3K3fTifxr2t96J1DQAj2ROydax6CfyGT52QTrQnG3_PIaWL32czdy3fjdAr3lca6bXbTKzy3oZrHsFaYayfC6Adgdc8gkRg5aEE5KPxOokBEOJUI35bK68x5ea5Vp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A facsimile of the meal I craved, courtesy of Trip Advisor</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-69316dc0-7fff-9ec4-023b-e60bbb253c72"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But quickly, and sadly, I learned that those delicious homemade potato chips were not, in fact, gluten-free. My only alternative–carrot and celery strips. But listen, restauranteurs, I beseech you. If you advertise homemade potato chips, let all of us enjoy them. It's an easy fix. Just put 'em in their own dang deep fryer. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As someone who has been gluten-intolerant for more than 30 years, it flummoxes me that today, even with all of the science and education available about the allergen; the places where it can be hidden (soy sauce, soups and processed meats--here’s looking at you); and the dangers of cross-contamination; that so many food and beverage outlets still get it wrong.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please understand that for a guaranteed 100 percent gluten-free experience, food would have to be prepared in a kitchen where there are absolutely no traces of gluten. But for most people, if food is carefully prepared with tools that have not touched a source of gluten (i.e., a toaster, a deep fryer, an unwashed mixing bowl), most people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance are going to be just fine eating out at a regular restaurant.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, as a long-time travel and wellness journalist and consultant, let me provide a little tutorial on the ABCs of GF. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lesson #1: A GF label on a menu should only reference Gluten-Free, not Gluten Friendly</b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The *GF I often see on menus these days connotes, when one reads the very fine print, "gluten-friendly".....not gluten-free. As I once said to a server, isn't gluten-friendly like being a little bit pregnant? Something is either gluten-free or it's not, and marking it gluten-friendly doesn't help anyone, even the gluten-trendy wannabe. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Lesson #2: Wheat is Wheat, Even by Another Name</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Durum, semolina, farro and farina are simply wheat by another name. Spelt is a species of wheat, and it contains gluten, albeit not as much as your classic variety. Therefore, it will likely “spelt” trouble for those with gluten sensitivities. On the other hand, buckwheat, aka kasha, is not wheat. However, the problem with buckwheat products is that the buckwheat is often mixed with gluten-containing flours. So, eater beware. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQXoTCkpb41y9UKDgnVEs0-OnFEQkhMm7MV_x9YVQDDh4YbPJaeHiRBgqxewNDsfzH8SP0JXag3a3ZHmKxBGG-lULGWRBWq0jVQLvBXXEwDrzoW0HkwBd_0UI1_p0w3vys5zI61YJXDDXpazVrFr6omFqMHeX0_Zk_VwNpBDjxTa-tXH5q6fmkDZ1g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQXoTCkpb41y9UKDgnVEs0-OnFEQkhMm7MV_x9YVQDDh4YbPJaeHiRBgqxewNDsfzH8SP0JXag3a3ZHmKxBGG-lULGWRBWq0jVQLvBXXEwDrzoW0HkwBd_0UI1_p0w3vys5zI61YJXDDXpazVrFr6omFqMHeX0_Zk_VwNpBDjxTa-tXH5q6fmkDZ1g" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">verywellhealth.com</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Lesson #3: Getting Granular with Grains</b></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4e0JnzPq8T5fasiKxXKmr5DMqj_xbyoUe8EpCzO3LCbpUmrbMGwRkEqbINJvbdMemzC6tzyeGzlpc_0sR3_xIvyu17efxzVHK0rNmbBNWcSBpHro4izpIEjnC7JzQTJOvbma2A7bIvvxjqMUafz5LNNj8qkL7pRaqpXTO1XsR3CKU-PlHdCQ86Lw2" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="158" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4e0JnzPq8T5fasiKxXKmr5DMqj_xbyoUe8EpCzO3LCbpUmrbMGwRkEqbINJvbdMemzC6tzyeGzlpc_0sR3_xIvyu17efxzVHK0rNmbBNWcSBpHro4izpIEjnC7JzQTJOvbma2A7bIvvxjqMUafz5LNNj8qkL7pRaqpXTO1XsR3CKU-PlHdCQ86Lw2" width="119" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NOT GF</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Other grains containing gluten include rye, barley (a must ingredient in beer and a frequent ingredient, in the form of barley malt, in many seemingly gluten-free cereals, like Rice Krispies). Oats are always a question mark. Some people can tolerate them; some can’t. The problem, as I understand it, isn’t the oat itself, which by nature is gluten-free, but rather cross-contamination from being planted among gluten-laden grains. So, for example, I can tolerate Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Oats, but sometimes have issues with Quaker Oats. <br /></span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grains that <i>are</i> gluten-free include millet, amaranth and teff, as are rice, corn and quinoa.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That's enough to digest for now. More lessons to come in an upcoming post.</span></p><br /></span>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-30986541685487277362022-02-24T09:47:00.005-05:002022-02-24T09:53:15.141-05:00New Wrinkles in Senior Living: Looking Toward an Intergenerational Future<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">When the <a href="https://www.globalwellnesssummit.com/">Global Wellness Summit </a>once again asked me to contribute to its annual Wellness Trends Report, my pitch may have seemed a bit out of my usual travel/ wellness wheelhouse. That said, the idea of writing about "New Wrinkles in Senior Living" evolved out of the work I have been doing for the past two years in the wellness real estate sector. On the face of it, it's a subject matter that may seem to have limited appeal. But in actuality, as the trend report is more about the value of intergenerational living, it's something young, old and everyone in between should read. Here's a teaser.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhL2a191B5ROprV6EBR4HRBygEs1sDREVpbFOl7XpUOXH3oVNOG-cEE0Lvhz0ceehPE7FYU-UJn0FU6-z5grwRSooHynRxfiGz3T21t_SQzmRq_IPRDgmcgfr5WQi9eMJuK5QCwXzq9CWSff2NeEoab1PK8RmzrhjZM6NPZVJ6sLxDEQss4qtdeJIhd" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhL2a191B5ROprV6EBR4HRBygEs1sDREVpbFOl7XpUOXH3oVNOG-cEE0Lvhz0ceehPE7FYU-UJn0FU6-z5grwRSooHynRxfiGz3T21t_SQzmRq_IPRDgmcgfr5WQi9eMJuK5QCwXzq9CWSff2NeEoab1PK8RmzrhjZM6NPZVJ6sLxDEQss4qtdeJIhd" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.globalwellnesssummit.com/2022-global-wellness-trends/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to Get the Full Report</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Summary:</b> For years, it’s been said that 60 was the new 40. But now, according to leading aging experts, 90 will be the new 40 within a decade. The exponential jump in longevity means that people are retiring later, aging younger, and focusing on being active and engaged with self-care and personal growth into old age. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Healthier, more youthful, and more active than their cohorts in previous generations, this incoming senior class doesn’t “feel old” and doesn’t want to be defined by age, nor socially segregated by it. That’s why today’s age-segregated models of senior living communities are no longer cutting it with a new generation that doesn’t believe in the concept of being put out to pasture upon retirement. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">To meet the changing expectations of aging adults, we believe “senior living” (a term that we would like to see retired) needs to focus more on intentional intergenerationality. This goes back to days of yore, when people were not so transient and communities stayed organically intergenerational. Such old-school intersectionality still exists in the world’s Blue Zones, places like Okinawa, Japan and Sardinia, Italy, which also happen to be among the places where people live the longest and age the healthiest.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtDT6TPbDyAHt_IZMOKOoFarkErv2u7Ev7j6BNcVApZxlfpBUx-N1I0GPpl58iYouMl6JL-gn5j4-NsJpUP1CrXEQojCWurtBwX9DCVq1WpA9ZqFv81s_fJZqkPYArnacr65VQMBLzYDFakeuLxikeeEM54AENkNizJabE3v4VYVRVJm4SZFI1nISX" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtDT6TPbDyAHt_IZMOKOoFarkErv2u7Ev7j6BNcVApZxlfpBUx-N1I0GPpl58iYouMl6JL-gn5j4-NsJpUP1CrXEQojCWurtBwX9DCVq1WpA9ZqFv81s_fJZqkPYArnacr65VQMBLzYDFakeuLxikeeEM54AENkNizJabE3v4VYVRVJm4SZFI1nISX" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A multigenerational family living in the Blue Zone <br />of Sardinia, Italy (franoi.com)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this trend report, we examine new models for intergenerational living, environments that can set the stage for reducing age segregation, while increasing social connections and decreasing loneliness, which is an epidemic at this point. These new models have great potential for resulting in better health and wellbeing outcomes for all residents. We look at the development of pocket neighborhoods, innovative mutually-beneficial intergenerational co-living models, and strategies for designing for intergenerationality. These new models have great potential for resulting in better health and wellbeing outcomes for residents of all ages.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjX4cHGeA3S38HdNVMWiylejCqXfm3KNOepHzV9JZ2xbYENQxaMCbjAPLTRkUabq9k6nNuRRZUFL31aGe1sodytEHfvjKd7jukFvGf7f0V8zsIjwl1lZLTIpR3Bmy3Q6_G113sv1ywwDtvfBLhoSEF_nOb28lT6NcBIK5rc3-MvkZRrHktcJQf7vEe4" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="389" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjX4cHGeA3S38HdNVMWiylejCqXfm3KNOepHzV9JZ2xbYENQxaMCbjAPLTRkUabq9k6nNuRRZUFL31aGe1sodytEHfvjKd7jukFvGf7f0V8zsIjwl1lZLTIpR3Bmy3Q6_G113sv1ywwDtvfBLhoSEF_nOb28lT6NcBIK5rc3-MvkZRrHktcJQf7vEe4" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">An example of <a href="http://pocket-neighborhoods.net">pocket neighborhood </a>design</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Let’s point out that this concept of intergenerational housing goes beyond brick and mortar. There’s an overall ethos involved, in which a community is intentionally designed so that people of all ages have multiple opportunities for connection, collaboration and friendship. To meet this objective, a community must allow people of different ages to live side by side as good neighbors, so that they can share their talents and resources, develop relationships and provide mutual support. </i></span></p><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e3b0396d-7fff-e818-8f3b-abede0e1e834"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.53272; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 8.47095pt; margin-top: 7.49701pt; text-indent: 0.981003pt;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhL2a191B5ROprV6EBR4HRBygEs1sDREVpbFOl7XpUOXH3oVNOG-cEE0Lvhz0ceehPE7FYU-UJn0FU6-z5grwRSooHynRxfiGz3T21t_SQzmRq_IPRDgmcgfr5WQi9eMJuK5QCwXzq9CWSff2NeEoab1PK8RmzrhjZM6NPZVJ6sLxDEQss4qtdeJIhd" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhL2a191B5ROprV6EBR4HRBygEs1sDREVpbFOl7XpUOXH3oVNOG-cEE0Lvhz0ceehPE7FYU-UJn0FU6-z5grwRSooHynRxfiGz3T21t_SQzmRq_IPRDgmcgfr5WQi9eMJuK5QCwXzq9CWSff2NeEoab1PK8RmzrhjZM6NPZVJ6sLxDEQss4qtdeJIhd" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.53272; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 8.47095pt; margin-top: 7.49701pt; text-indent: 0.981003pt;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Trend Introduction:</b> They say that everything old becomes new again and so it seems to be going with the concept of so called “senior living” (a term that, frankly, we would like to see retired). </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.4994; margin: 9.50159pt 8.44702pt 0pt 0.198006pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.584999pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In days of yore, neighborhoods and communities were organically intergenerational. People rarely moved away from the community in which they spent their adulthood. Every kid on the block knew each other and grandparents often lived with their descendants. This idea of intergenerational intersectionality still exists in the world’s Blue Zones, </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">places like Okinawa, Japan, and Sardinia, Italy, which also happen to be among the places where people live the longest. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.4994; margin: 9.7515pt 8.45599pt 0pt 0.213005pt; text-indent: 0.503998pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, in many industrialized countries, the days of yore ended with the rise of suburbia. Cue developer Del Webb, who introduced the now stereotypical version of a retirement community back in 1960. Webb pioneered the active adult concept, a self-sustaining ecosystem filled with amenities like pools, parks and dining areas, with </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.0270081pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">the opening of Sun City in Arizona. Its success led Webb to replicate the concept in warm weather destinations across the US throughout the next few decades. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.4994; margin: 9.7515pt 8.45599pt 0pt 0.213005pt; text-indent: 0.503998pt;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.0270081pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw9ZLmmI7G2wb9631Hrwjw0A3ifNQ3vGrxfe20D2PCDfxOfa2rtCvGaKQTSVgszjTfG_NRiY2tKvoav9vPZhDNY9fM_7l3na4F32Lm_kC6ZeAJmkFcTonFD8UIeBTOSBni9KzznX2bBCmB1fQG6M4Yw1k4euNklnHX77dfFcrjByTPC8rW9ikR3jnz" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="153" data-original-width="329" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw9ZLmmI7G2wb9631Hrwjw0A3ifNQ3vGrxfe20D2PCDfxOfa2rtCvGaKQTSVgszjTfG_NRiY2tKvoav9vPZhDNY9fM_7l3na4F32Lm_kC6ZeAJmkFcTonFD8UIeBTOSBni9KzznX2bBCmB1fQG6M4Yw1k4euNklnHX77dfFcrjByTPC8rW9ikR3jnz" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is senior living at Del Webb<br /> (image courtesy Del Webb)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.4994; margin: 9.7515pt 8.45599pt 0pt 0.213005pt; text-indent: 0.503998pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 0.512024pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Due to the popularity of Webb’s projects, standard home builders started getting into the act by the mid-1970s. They began designing active adult com munities, age-segregated developments that included amenities like fitness centers, walking trails, swimming pools and social clubs.</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 0.512024pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 0.512024pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not only were these places age-segregated, but they were usually geographically segregated as well. To live in this type of community, people often had to move far away from where they spent most of their adult life. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.4994; margin: 9.7515pt 8.45599pt 0pt 0.213005pt; text-indent: 0.503998pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNrFhk3fBEPoU5bItb8N9A1tflnFA4ZWTF3e9RkTJGvkxE6_QAB4HTgr2VK6JiYl8CnOZ-YfFBsim7exAhNYsp9ksPhMd1ADysqPOm6k00vmywDF8U5BbXJBCSCnkn4EsXp2umQ_KG7ssCXqR6Ji2g9Xmtw6vkeGzVz3TSQQ6FYiJNnoHipjh0ohsP" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNrFhk3fBEPoU5bItb8N9A1tflnFA4ZWTF3e9RkTJGvkxE6_QAB4HTgr2VK6JiYl8CnOZ-YfFBsim7exAhNYsp9ksPhMd1ADysqPOm6k00vmywDF8U5BbXJBCSCnkn4EsXp2umQ_KG7ssCXqR6Ji2g9Xmtw6vkeGzVz3TSQQ6FYiJNnoHipjh0ohsP" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Credit: lifeover50.net</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 0.512024pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, though, this old-school Active Adult concept </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.0960287px; white-space: pre-wrap;">isn’t cutting it with younger Baby Boomers and Gen Xers who don’t believe in the concept of being put out to pasture upon retirement. The generation that invented youth culture is now reinventing what it means to grow old. They are retiring later, aging younger and focusing on being active and engaged with self-care and personal growth. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.4994; margin: 9.7515pt 8.45599pt 0pt 0.213005pt; text-indent: 0.503998pt;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.0720215pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p></span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.503998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div><span style="text-indent: 0.503998pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>That is why the concept of intentionally-designed, intergenerational real estate development may be on the cusp of altering the direction of the senior living </span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.4994; margin: 9.7515pt 8.45599pt 0pt 0.213005pt; text-indent: 0.503998pt;">To read the entire trend, <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/19geDGcYNuIemWgE02-dcSOxd2KAqIy6g/view?usp=sharing">click here</a>. </p></span></span><div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-39498269541406884492021-12-12T21:30:00.001-05:002021-12-13T11:09:06.918-05:00Glamping Offers New Investment Opportunities for Hospitality Operators<p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin: 15px 0px; text-align: justify;">As reported in the RLA Global <a href="https://rlaglobal.com/en/industry-reports" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #f2b14b; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: inherit; transition: color 0.5s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Wellness Real Estate Report,</a> which I co-wrote, glamping has been one of the beneficiaries of the social distancing, back-to-nature trends brought on by COVID. During 2020 and 2021, the trend for glamping sites accelerated and popped up everywhere, from the most remote countryside locations to urban backyards.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin: 15px 0px; text-align: justify;">Glamping is a portmanteau combining “camping” and “glamour”. Aside from safari camps in Africa, the concept has largely developed as a one-off Mom and Pop conceit, with individual owners setting up shop on small plots of land. Oftentimes, the latter has had little to do with glamour.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin: 15px 0px; text-align: justify;">However, within the past couple of years, glamping has become a more serious business, as facilities are becoming more sophisticated, outfitted with the services and amenities experienced at four or five-star hotels. Aside from amenities, what sets the next wave of glamping resorts apart is their focus on landscape, architectural design and development of a unique creation story set in the local environment.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin: 15px 0px; text-align: justify;">Glamping-style properties have witnessed explosive demand during the COVID era due to their ability to combine socially distant, stress-free and secluded sojourns with immersion in nature. The pandemic has not only helped glamping leap from niche to more mainstream, but it has created a growing demand for a more upscale, sophisticated product. Thus, for developers looking to diversify their lodging portfolios, glamping may offer a solution for a reasonable price.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin: 15px 0px; text-align: justify;">While the exponential growth of the past two years may slow a bit after COVID, glamping is a phenomenon that is not going away. With the glamping proposition gaining traction among the investment community thanks to high EBITDA margins and low upfront development costs, and among consumers for its back-to-nature, experiential mentality, glamping will continue an impressive forecast to expand at an <a href="https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/glamping-market" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #f2b14b; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: inherit; transition: color 0.5s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">annual growth rate of 16.7 through 2028</a>.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin: 15px 0px; text-align: justify;">Beyond making investments in midscale, multi-unit operators like Under Canvas, Hipcamp and Collective Retreats (all of which have secured multi-million dollar deals from the investment community), there’s even more opportunity for investors ahead.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin: 15px 0px; text-align: justify;">After all, as the glamping consumer becomes more sophisticated, it will take much more than merely “pitching a tent” to attract them.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin: 15px 0px; text-align: justify;">There is great potential for development in a number of areas.</p><ol style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Glamping Sites in Rural Areas</em></li></ol><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin: 15px 0px; text-align: justify;">Locations within a three-hour driving radius of major urban centers may proliferate, particularly if those rural areas feature natural assets like lakes, mountains, or national and state parks. There is a great deal of unexploited potential in this realm, particularly in the American Midwest, which is currently somewhat bereft of glamping opportunities.</p><ol start="2" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Year-Round Glamping</em></li></ol><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin: 15px 0px; text-align: justify;">Part of the reason we mainly see glamping facilities in places like California and Florida has been the nature of the glamping structures. But as glamping structures evolve beyond tents and treehouses to more four-season constructs (tiny houses, cabins or A-frame structures), this drawback may be allayed to a certain degree, thereby opening the glamping market to a broader array of destinations.</p><ol start="3" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Resorts Add Glamping to the Mix</em></li></ol><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin: 15px 0px; text-align: justify;">Instead of adding new rooms, some established resorts started added glamping units to their offerings during the pandemic. <a href="https://www.eastwindny.com/rooms">Eastwind Hotel in New York’s Catskills region </a>added 10 glamping cabins to its resort mix this summer, and they regularly sold out.</p><ol start="4" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Dedicated Glamping Resorts</em></li></ol><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin: 15px 0px; text-align: justify;">A glamping site typically costs 33 to 50 percent less to develop than a standard brick and mortar resort. That’s part of the reason we see a future for dedicated glamping resorts made up of glamping-style units complemented by resort-like features including a spa, F & B outlets, and recreational facilities like a pool or tennis courts. Developer risk can be reduced by locating such facilities in traditional resort areas where the consumer may be looking for something a bit different. Additionally, by building glamping resorts with some permanent infrastructure attached, resale possibilities grow exponentially.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #464f59; font-family: Oxygen, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; margin: 15px 0px; text-align: justify;">For developers looking for opportunities with limited financial risk, glamping can be the right way to go. But as in any kind of real estate, location, location, location will be vital. The best options for success sit within a three-hour radius of a major urban area, and will be directly sited by an attractive natural asset. But as the glamping consumer becomes more sophisticated, location will not be enough. The glamping schemes that will stand out in an increasingly crowded market with be those they add quality service and value-added facilities (such as spas and restaurants) to the product mix.</p>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-4719499398739709132021-10-23T09:34:00.021-04:002021-10-24T09:46:47.411-04:00Why the Trend-Seeking Luxury Consumer Loves the Branded Residence Sector<p><a href="https://www.hospitalityinsights.com/content/why-luxury-consumer-brands-love-branded-residence-sector"> This article first appeared in Hospitality Insights in mid-October.</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Aston Martin. Baccarat. Porsche. Versace. Aside from being ultra-luxury brands, what do these companies have in common? All have lent their names to branded residences.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Branded residences emerged as a real estate market segment about 20 years ago, when hotel brands started creating mixed-use developments. Adding a residential element to hospitality projects made it easier for developers to get financing and more immediate return on investment while simultaneously benefiting from a long-term revenue stream on the hotel side. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">For hotel companies, branded residences were a natural brand extension for luxury groups like Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, trading on a tradition of hospitality, service and high-end amenities. After all, who wouldn’t enjoy living in a place that shared concierges, housekeepers, celebrity chefs and spas with the most discerning hotel guest? Riyan Itani, head of Savills International Development Consultancy, put it simply: “The concept of branded residences, from its inception, has been based on the provision of services and facilities that one would typically find in a hotel.”</p><div id="omeda-promo-article-inline-after-p3" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px;"></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">The synergies between high-end hotel brands and branded residential developments, then, are somewhat obvious. But what value does an automotive brand, or a jewelry brand, or a fashion brand bring to the dining room table?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEv2RD9mdXAaTe3KWnue0j0ePOE1JBuLu5aruMBez-roRN42xnIDCsJ79x1J03uaB5UIgjlP43LUxE_UBr1mTwsf9JHVM6mbrSmeusyIW692siV68ZlYVs5fsCq0YgA6WzHcIU3ohcZ6c/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEv2RD9mdXAaTe3KWnue0j0ePOE1JBuLu5aruMBez-roRN42xnIDCsJ79x1J03uaB5UIgjlP43LUxE_UBr1mTwsf9JHVM6mbrSmeusyIW692siV68ZlYVs5fsCq0YgA6WzHcIU3ohcZ6c/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Porsche Design Tower in Miami</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://www.savills.com/research_articles/255800/306439-0">According to Savills</a>, during the last ten years, the number of branded residences increased by 170 percent, adding more than 52,000 units across 370 projects. In the beginning, branded residences were almost exclusively the domain of luxury hospitality brands, but that is changing. as more and more non-hospitality luxury brands enter the fray. Part of the reason for the shift is that some markets have reached capacity in terms of luxury hospitality branded offerings, while in places more driven by trends, developers are looking for sexy points of product differentiation.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXkINnXaPCzaD2bn1x2d_wxWePwL4JRM1sBj8fa0wbgffucJarZQe9fHFV8NAOqbUPkfI8mWh-o6muh7SEPDUa-K6PV2GDFs0Xu4TGDnpqowmb_1eCUTkR1qsReAXHQPBnG465S-u4NE/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="337" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXkINnXaPCzaD2bn1x2d_wxWePwL4JRM1sBj8fa0wbgffucJarZQe9fHFV8NAOqbUPkfI8mWh-o6muh7SEPDUa-K6PV2GDFs0Xu4TGDnpqowmb_1eCUTkR1qsReAXHQPBnG465S-u4NE/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palazzo Versace, Australia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">While a few such non-hospitality brands were prescient early on (Palazzo Versace on Australia’s Gold Coast was actually quite revolutionary when it opened in 2000), most of the newer players have come on the scene during the last five years. The Porsche Design Tower opened in Miami in 2017. Aston Martin will add more automotive cachet to the <a href="https://www.astonmartinresidences.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ff5a5a; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">Miami residential scene in 2022</a>, and <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/emmareynolds/2021/04/08/bentley-residences-the-first-bentley-branded-luxury-residential-tower-will-arrive-in-miami-in-2026/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ff5a5a; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">Bentley will enter the mix there by 2026</a>. Lamborghini is shifting into high gear in Dubai with an immense project (8,000 residential units) to be opened by 2024. Italian car design firm Pininfarina is growing its presence through branded residences in Brazil and Guatemala. High-end consumer goods brands like Baccarat, Roberto Cavalli and Armani are also players, although most of these branded developments are one-offs, mostly located in hot branded residential real estate markets like Dubai and Miami.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasFV-QHgPulFdBjgWnKxdesqDWydC_0MJQBF6mcf3D-UMyEl5CR1bdkpkV1mSXWYKs49rX-HSwxuAQ6-45TuOppRxNABXavj5iDDe8PBdMYgtJLKUJ4GhRW1SvhSLAsFk9BBgC__KxNc/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="227" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasFV-QHgPulFdBjgWnKxdesqDWydC_0MJQBF6mcf3D-UMyEl5CR1bdkpkV1mSXWYKs49rX-HSwxuAQ6-45TuOppRxNABXavj5iDDe8PBdMYgtJLKUJ4GhRW1SvhSLAsFk9BBgC__KxNc/" width="245" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cyrela by Pininfarina, Sao Paolo, Brazil </td></tr></tbody></table></p><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Appeal For Companies, Developers and the Consumer</span></h2><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">There are three stakeholders in every branded residential scheme. There’s the brand, the developer and the consumer. In theory, the branded residences sector offers an opportunity for high-end products to expand their brand profile and diversify their business model, while giving developers a unique selling proposition and providing consumers with bragging rights. For non-hospitality brands to succeed, says Chris Graham, author of <a href="https://gagms.com/branded-residences/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ff5a5a; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">The Branded Residence Repor</a>t, an understanding of local markets and developers, careful buyer targeting and brand alignment are all essential. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Having branded residences allows the Bulgaris, Versaces, Armanis and Baccarats of this word to attach an experience to their products, according to luxury branding expert Piers Schmidt, while at the same time, says Graham, offering a big WOW factor that will result in extensive PR. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">“Brands can create a theater of dreams; a temple to the brand at which the consumer can come and worship,” said Schmidt. Theoretically, this can lead to a deeper relationship with the brand’s consumer. But that prospect comes at great risk to these brands, according to Barry Landsberg, a long-time veteran of the branded residence world. “The service culture is inherent in the DNA of hospitality brands. Non-hospitality brands do not bring the advantage, so that to be successful competitors in the high-end residential space, they will need to invest in the hospitality ingredients that have been a mainstay of the industry, or potentially risk tarnishing their brand equity. If they don’t get the service component right, that’s the biggest risk if they don’t deliver.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">For the developer, a non-hospitality luxury brand may offer more flexibility in terms of design and required levels of service. That’s because non-hospitality brand deals may not come laden with extensive royalty fees, license fees and service charges, along with strict requirements to ensure the development meets brand service standards, according to Landsberg. Furthermore, developers are always looking for an edge, and adding a seductive brand label to a building, particularly in saturated, status-savvy markets, can increase the allure and the price of the product. That said, Savills notes that while luxury hospitality brands add an average of a 31 percent price premium to branded residences, non-hospitality luxury brands bring in a price premium average of 25 percent.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">So, it appears that some consumers are still willing to pay a premium for their non-hospitality branded residences. But the experts say there are caveats, especially given that there is not an automatic assurance of consistent quality service that is baked into hospitality brands.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">For a non-hospitality branded residence to sell, a consumer must really buy into the brand at hand. But is that enough? After all, while there are natural synergies between luxury hotels and luxury real estate, one may wonder what value crystal or car brand brings to a potential homeowner. How do you translate the brand essence of a dress or a piece of jewelry or an automobile into where you live? After all, “new car smell” doesn’t really translate in a home environment. But automotive brands, for example, in trying to bring the brand aesthetic home, are doing everything from adding automotive elevator systems which enables residents to store their vehicles in their very own “sky garage” (a multi-car glass display case situated right next to their living room), to sweetening the purchase of a multi-million dollar condo with a “throw-in” of a car, to adding design elements borrowed from the car itself. There may be more relevant synergies in terms of design with fashion houses, particularly those that have homeware or interior design in their portfolios, but in all cases, the service factor is still an unknown. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfnqgjE4k8lPsG8HGmhtKBbHkyrooAMhUOA4jKX3vxzrfxKQSMf4U3mCceS-S1DcwB6w28IlaKd2e3i9Xb-NXkcVFkeQ9C4mKYTDUB386tU6nE03k3D9jcTwTqgrvWbvUbXnyMmvyKBI/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfnqgjE4k8lPsG8HGmhtKBbHkyrooAMhUOA4jKX3vxzrfxKQSMf4U3mCceS-S1DcwB6w28IlaKd2e3i9Xb-NXkcVFkeQ9C4mKYTDUB386tU6nE03k3D9jcTwTqgrvWbvUbXnyMmvyKBI/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A "sky garage" in the Porsche Design Tower<br />cnn.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What the Future of Non-Hospitality Luxury Residences May Look Like</span></h2><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">What kind of competition will these schemes offer vis-a-vis hospitality projects?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">For a while, it looked like non-hospitality branded residences were merely the new shiny object. But, according to Landsberg, certain projects have proven that "if a brand has the ability to draw from a dedicated affinity group; if it works with a developer who understands the local market and the branded residence space; and it brings on designers to incorporate elements of product integration," he said, "in other words, there is a managed process through architecture, design and service, it can be a success, especially in places like Miami and Dubai, which are dynamic, design-forward markets, and developers there understand their markets well and are looking for ways to differentiate in those crowded markets." </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">In fact, the success of the schemes may be more dependent on market than on brand, according to Graham. In his Branded Residence Report, he writes, “The non-hotelier segment is typically more focused in emerging markets than the branded residence sector as a whole. Demand for high-end properties has risen quickly in emerging markets in parallel to wealth creation. The nouveau riche buyer may be more attracted to unique products and these lifestyle orientated brands resonate well amongst brand-friendly and knowledgeable purchasers.” Such buyers, he added, are quite prevalent in places like Dubai, Miami and Brazil, where “bling and design appeals.” </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Because of their success in those places, Graham says “the viability question of non-hospitality brands has been put to bed. Look at brands like Versace and Armani, which all decided to license their names and design as a brand extension and way to get additional revenues. They took a leap of faith that the product would extend into residential and people would pay a premium and it came to be. Subsequently, the sector has taken on a life of its own.” </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Piers Schmidt, however, is not quite as bullish on the sector. “I am pretty negative about it, given that many schemes have not worked and those that have haven’t grown beyond one or two brand residence properties," he said.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Unlike hotel brands, which seem to be able to plant their flags anywhere, non-hospitality brands will be limited, to those specific markets that may be more prone to be susceptible to the label factor of a brand. In that respect, non-hospitality luxury branded residences may end up being more of a one-off novelty than a replicable international model.</p>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-6016331583306057952021-10-03T11:07:00.016-04:002021-10-10T09:48:46.959-04:00Graduate Hotels Studies Opportunities in the United Kingdom<p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 20px;">Graduate Hotels is a brand that is quickly becoming quite familiar in the United States, at least in university towns. Created and owned by AJ Capital Partners (the AJ is short for Adventurous Journeys), Graduate curates its American hotels to match the atmosphere of the college campus by which it exists. </span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 20px;">Every property celebrates the heady optimism of the good old school days and cultivates the spirit of each community through cultural and athletic nods to a university’s heritage and history. </span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.25rem;">Since its beginnings in 2014, Graduate has opened 30 hotels across the country, in such notable college towns as Columbus, Ohio (Ohio State University); Ann Arbor, Michigan (the University of Michigan); Berkeley, California (University of California, Berkeley) and Providence, Rhode Island (Brown University). </span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-size: 1.25rem;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03F5O7V0ucf5r3DsbbX5qMi28SgF2nbH1K0tCzV24oIigeZN_nBo1zC3mGmqnU-jjqbyaalYOcPF08vduW3z5IV0alAPnZtNWPhYUsZ6ahMqvp3h6bzUwU78jHSB2bti0GEGQsn9ejVA/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03F5O7V0ucf5r3DsbbX5qMi28SgF2nbH1K0tCzV24oIigeZN_nBo1zC3mGmqnU-jjqbyaalYOcPF08vduW3z5IV0alAPnZtNWPhYUsZ6ahMqvp3h6bzUwU78jHSB2bti0GEGQsn9ejVA/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graduate Hotel Columbus</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-size: 1.25rem;">According to Phillip Allen, Chief Development Officer, International Markets for AJ Capital Partners, Graduate was developed because the company discovered a wide-open niche in the market. It appeared that many sizable college towns lacked lodging options in terms of high-quality, boutique hotels. </span><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-size: 1.25rem;">“Supply had traditionally been constrained, and focused on lower quality products,” said Allen.</span></span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.25rem;">University towns were particularly attractive because typically in the United States, new businesses and research facilities locate themselves near major campuses in order to take advantage of the academic talent pool Plus, there are those alumni who are always coming back for special events. </span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.25rem;">Of course, the American approach to university life (think football, tailgating and fraternities and sororities) is very different from most college experiences outside of the United States. So can a brand based, in part, on all-American rah-rah nostalgia, translate to other countries?</span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-size: 1.25rem;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoa7bqaEsZFNbrU5cvEnGo9hQ6HSjIdE-ApdPQi8R7MjZwsquLDxCCCbMEQEOWDP4TiA2-dU3jRQH1wdZD7juASugvnrRD9VGESP8DXJl6XcUfZCalPfTgwb1NQeM1E6K-YlMr7KXsjSw/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoa7bqaEsZFNbrU5cvEnGo9hQ6HSjIdE-ApdPQi8R7MjZwsquLDxCCCbMEQEOWDP4TiA2-dU3jRQH1wdZD7juASugvnrRD9VGESP8DXJl6XcUfZCalPfTgwb1NQeM1E6K-YlMr7KXsjSw/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graduate Hotel Oxford</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.25rem;">In 2018, Allen, not yet working for AJ Capital Partners, nonetheless approached Graduate executives with the idea of expanding the brand into Europe. He discovered the company had already been considering the idea, and so he was brought on to manage the international development side of the business. </span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.25rem;">The whole Graduate concept design is based on fabulous university communities and their history. That’s why England’s Oxford and Cambridge universities were the logical places to start looking. </span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.25rem;">“We are certainly aware of the fact that U.K. campuses are not sports-focused like in America, so we take pains to stress other college-related themes at these properties,” he said. </span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.25rem;">Having chosen the site of their freshmen efforts, Davis started looking around for existing hotels that could be transitioned into Graduate’s zeitgeist. </span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.25rem;">The first acquisition was in Cambridge. Set on the River Cam, the property has been designed with nods to the university’s architecture and to on-campus discoveries like the DNA double helix. </span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.25rem;">In 2019, AJ Capital Partners purchased its property in Oxford, now called The Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels. The design also parallels the architecture found on campus, and adds in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland touches (author Lewis Carroll lived in Oxford and matriculated at Christ Church College). After a few years of renovations, both hotels opened under the Graduate banner this summer. </span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.25rem;">Once the Cambridge and Oxford properties were acquired, Allen started looking north to Scotland. There, he discovered McDonald Hotels & Resorts was looking to sell some of its assets. But the locations didn’t necessarily match the Graduate modus operandi. </span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.25rem;">“We went to the U.K. to expand Graduate and stumbled into a new concept, a golf concept,” said Allen. “It was a bit of dumb luck and a bit of strategy.”</span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.25rem;">Rusacks St Andrews, overlooking the 18th hole of the city’s famed Old Course, was just “too perfect as a golf hotel. So we kept it as a golf hotel, and then started planning to expand a golf concept (since dubbed Marine & Lawn) in the United Kingdom right away.” </span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.25rem;">The golf-focused Marine & Lawn brand now has outposts in Troon and North Berwick in Scotland. </span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.25rem;">As for what’s next after this swirl of activity, Allen said: “Throughout the last year, we pushed pause on new international acquisitions as we were launching a totally new brand and the Graduate in a new country and acquired five hotels in a relatively short period of time. </span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.25rem;">“We had a lot on the plate in the midst of the pandemic. So, we want to get everything up and running and launch both brands in the most impactful way. And then, by fall, we’ll be back in the investment market.” </span></p><p><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: arial; font-size: 1.25rem;">For Graduate Hotels, that will largely mean focusing on UK markets that are home to <a href="https://russellgroup.ac.uk/about/our-universities/">Russell Group universities</a>. For Marine & Lawn, that means looking around the British Isles for existing golf hotels that are operating below par under current ownership.</span></p><div class="article" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1rem;"><div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-article-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item" property="schema:articleBody" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.25rem; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://www.hospitalityinsights.com/content/aj-capital-partners-studies-graduate-hotels-opportunities-uk"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <i>This article originally appeared in Hospitality Insights.</i></span></a></p></div></div>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-73866769290717208602021-09-15T09:07:00.002-04:002021-09-15T11:42:33.033-04:00The Biggest Hotel Brand You Never Heard Of: Israel's Brown Hotels Expands into Europe<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Brown Hotels sometimes calls itself the biggest hotel brand you’ve never heard of. The Israel-based hospitality company, founded in 2010, is a power player in its home country, and is now making moves in southern Europe. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">The company’s expansion strategy is based on brand growth through opportunity. In the micro sense, that means looking around for deals in terms of individual properties for sale. But on the macro scale, it’s a matter of considering destinations that may be suffering from hospitality real estate hits due to Covid-19 or other economic and political factors.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeQerkcjabNTjCrdolR7NBBUJ4k4F-jpmImaBuA7Adwiu04H0odyTGgTDQ2THXJDv9Z2uwuK0_2ol-ejIg-CKwQNC47s45rnRrvJs6ykh8esPgnGdbxljlkGbzJb9Gp6MddXjLoQ-X44/s2048/Brown+Acropol1548+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1374" data-original-width="2048" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeQerkcjabNTjCrdolR7NBBUJ4k4F-jpmImaBuA7Adwiu04H0odyTGgTDQ2THXJDv9Z2uwuK0_2ol-ejIg-CKwQNC47s45rnRrvJs6ykh8esPgnGdbxljlkGbzJb9Gp6MddXjLoQ-X44/s320/Brown+Acropol1548+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Hotels is undergoing a major expansion <br />in Greece</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Brown Hotels evolved out of the desire to create dwellings that not only showed visitors the real culture and creativity of the city's youthful population, but also to expand the nightlife and neighborhood hangouts for locals. During its decade in existence, the Tel Aviv-based company has opened more than 16 hotels around Israel. The properties operate under five different brands, each encapsulated by a female icon. For example, Brown Beach Houses, sporting a 1950s vibe, according to founder Leon Avigad, pays homage to Brigitte Bardot while Lighthouse, the modern “Work Hard, Play Hard” brand, uses Paris Hilton as inspiration. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">In 2016, the company opened its first property outside of Israel, the Brown Beach House in Trogir, Croatia. Avigad said the destination made sense, given its proximity to headquarters and its Mediterranean climate. The success of that resort spurred further investigation of expansion in southern Europe.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPizSlbTEF12ijAC7nnZ6Mc2lfnVXYaSqE9NbEMokVK1oy5dXuUatHlU6jrniwuk8N0JriLBDCW0LRqAldQfnKBrPFDakEWS36WIkYSZe5w137SNqb8K0SOYYhMSEeKCGLoHRTkzimzc/s2048/Brown+Beach+House+Croatia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPizSlbTEF12ijAC7nnZ6Mc2lfnVXYaSqE9NbEMokVK1oy5dXuUatHlU6jrniwuk8N0JriLBDCW0LRqAldQfnKBrPFDakEWS36WIkYSZe5w137SNqb8K0SOYYhMSEeKCGLoHRTkzimzc/s320/Brown+Beach+House+Croatia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Beach House, Croatia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">“For us, it was very clear that when expanding into Europe, it was more natural to start in places that look and feel like Tel Aviv,” according to Avigad. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">After Croatia, he started looking into Greece, deciding to earmark the country as its next destination for heavy investment. Brown purchased its first two hotels there in 2018. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">“Greece seems even more dynamic than Croatia, and I think Athens is poised to be the next Berlin,” said Avigad. “Plus, Greece has much more to offer than just islands. The mainland is so rich with culture and experiences.” </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Seeing an underdeveloped market on the mainland, and an economy ripe for investment, Brown decided to go all in.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">“When we started looking, the real estate market was not very strong, but at the same time, the destination was strong and demand steady,” noted Avigad. At the same time, he said “the Greek government was becoming very receptive to new businesses and new investment.” </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">While the government was not offering financial incentives per se, “they were more <a href="https://www.hospitalityinsights.com/content/identifying-and-proposing-investment-opportunities-greece" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ff5a5a; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">open to foreigners</a> and trying to make it easier for everyone to invest.” </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWmAySevqilfj9cvvN71KO5wnFWkbfxCyXmbynSuoXVTHSU0FRI_JymVJG97nvnlALVuFOsTyKL87dLul_0UO5R205QeaQ8hqZZL5NGi2NMM2_zkmIstfAuAXlIs5JXgLfTr1tLZSpuE/s2048/Brown+Acropol48111+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1537" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWmAySevqilfj9cvvN71KO5wnFWkbfxCyXmbynSuoXVTHSU0FRI_JymVJG97nvnlALVuFOsTyKL87dLul_0UO5R205QeaQ8hqZZL5NGi2NMM2_zkmIstfAuAXlIs5JXgLfTr1tLZSpuE/s320/Brown+Acropol48111+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Acropol Athens</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">All of the legwork in Greece started paying dividends in July, when Brown Hotels announced the opening of its first three properties in Athens. The Brown Acropol, DAVE Red Athens and Villa Brown Ermou all represent individual design concepts, and are the first of seven new properties by Brown Hotels set to open in Greece by the end of 2021. Brown Hotels will subsequently expand to Thessaloniki, Cyprus and Corfu, and then by 2023, will have a total of 50 properties in Greece. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hdZDK50fzYCYYHJLaPZcpBCNkgngqUOEPLeqAPU7N8mml-Axrz08eT78AvFoa2xkh0OMKbg-f0cBr5RUmlxTwEO4SSp7q10IHcn52AAA_ggIKvpDBbldf60Sm4pzYjNyr6cr9kjUHng/s1200/Villa-Brown-Ermou-Athens-Deluxe+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hdZDK50fzYCYYHJLaPZcpBCNkgngqUOEPLeqAPU7N8mml-Axrz08eT78AvFoa2xkh0OMKbg-f0cBr5RUmlxTwEO4SSp7q10IHcn52AAA_ggIKvpDBbldf60Sm4pzYjNyr6cr9kjUHng/s320/Villa-Brown-Ermou-Athens-Deluxe+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Villa Brown Ermou, Athens</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Next up is Hungary. The company has identified a quartet of hotels in Budapest for redevelopment. The first of them is slated to open in 2023. The company is also scouting “happening cities” like Berlin, that fit with the company’s hip urban brands, and looking in Italy for both resort and city hotel opportunities. However, Avigad says the brand will not enter any new market unless it can develop at least four properties concurrently, with a minimum total of 400 rooms. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">In the meantime, Brown Hotels continues to expand in its home country. Six hotels, two in Jerusalem and four in Tel Aviv, are opening in Israel this year, and another three are slated to open in Tel Aviv by the end of 2022.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://www.hospitalityinsights.com/content/how-israel-s-brown-hotels-expanding-westwards-across-europe">The original version of this article appeared in Hospitality Insights.</a></p>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-37723627848221114942021-09-03T08:53:00.000-04:002021-09-03T08:53:02.110-04:00<div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>During 2020, glamping went from trendy to mainstream. I have spoken about the topic at several travel industry conferences, and recently wrote this trends piece for the 2021 <a href="https://rlaglobal.com/en/industry-reports/wellness-real-estate-report-2021">Wellness Hospitality Real Estate Report.</a></i></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Glamping is defined as an elevated form of camping that allows travelers to stay in unique accommodations (tents, treehouses, tiny houses) with services and amenities more often experienced at four or five-star resorts. Certainly, the pandemic helped glamping leap from niche to more mainstream. Glamping-style resorts have witnessed explosive demand due to their ability to provide socially distant, stress-free and secluded sojourns with immersion in nature.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfh7JcVuM3u4jA3v9KndJIVOUuXCq20HDkXIpYK2oC6qGq4tW38EQBSAAEC4gv1ohzS941_2R9Yo3X_WJ1UoQfBAlw48HFatv7XzGaHxXIcgjTPhZylYT1p2dQikZcOOjtOlmyYhhrjY/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfh7JcVuM3u4jA3v9KndJIVOUuXCq20HDkXIpYK2oC6qGq4tW38EQBSAAEC4gv1ohzS941_2R9Yo3X_WJ1UoQfBAlw48HFatv7XzGaHxXIcgjTPhZylYT1p2dQikZcOOjtOlmyYhhrjY/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glamping in the bush in Australia<br />australia.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br />During the past year, numerous scientific studies have highlighted the inherent mental and physical benefits of being outside. At the same time, the use of outdoor wellbeing experiences to improve the quality of life has been increasing exponentially. In a forecast released prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the global glamping market size, valued at $1.8 billion, was predicted to expand to $5.41 billion by 2028. <a href="https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-glamping-market#:~:text=Glamping%20Market%20Growth%20%26%20Trends,14.1%25%20from%202021%20to%202028.&text=Many%20glamping%20service%20providers%20offer%20customized%20packages%20to%20suit%20consumer%20demand.">Grandview Research’s Glamping: Market Size & Trends</a> also forecasts an annual growth rate of 14.1 percent from 2021 through 2028. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimS0CLE529lgthLCS1wXUqeByiwR0aHf2k36YOZKgrqg4-4_uP6Xh_MBCT-s43P5c6cub7EvVI_-h0RZ2q8qkGSstTQCnvqdXzUCxXtktv75SH8jzUOv7V1eyjaGrYJ9uylQ81Q9FfyLA/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="267" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimS0CLE529lgthLCS1wXUqeByiwR0aHf2k36YOZKgrqg4-4_uP6Xh_MBCT-s43P5c6cub7EvVI_-h0RZ2q8qkGSstTQCnvqdXzUCxXtktv75SH8jzUOv7V1eyjaGrYJ9uylQ81Q9FfyLA/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glamping in Istra, Croatia<br />campng-adriatic.com<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div></span><div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Given the boost the sector has received during the Covid era (one of the few hospitality sectors that actually benefited from the pandemic), those forecasts may now be on the low side. In fact, glamping, a high-end form of camping that appeals to a broad range of travelers looking to spend more time outdoors, appears to be the right product for the right time. While the type of safari tents often used by glamping developments were once solely associated with trips into the wilds of Africa, today, we see glamping resorts popping up throughout Europe and North America.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oL6EFCmj6usW4SGwhIWrPz0DVOE9urIe0Iy2vEb35O9Ks6JiSoRPm71K9Ld7L2PZhICliOzaolg7Kq-5qtHZGDz9Y8WRIulk-WVBDdQKqUlnD2oqX4RLUIHX3fW84WTFgAF29nxC04o/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oL6EFCmj6usW4SGwhIWrPz0DVOE9urIe0Iy2vEb35O9Ks6JiSoRPm71K9Ld7L2PZhICliOzaolg7Kq-5qtHZGDz9Y8WRIulk-WVBDdQKqUlnD2oqX4RLUIHX3fW84WTFgAF29nxC04o/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some U.S. resorts, like Eastwinds in New York's<br />Catskills, are adding glamping units to their offerings.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Europe has the biggest current revenue share (34.9 percent) of the global glamping market, but the North American glamping market is predicted to expand at a faster annual growth rate (16.7 percent) through 2028. Non-Covid factors fueling the growth of the sector included easier access to exotic, unconventional landscapes; the ability of social media to promote small, remote glamping sites at a low cost; and greater interest in outdoor adventure among luxury travelers. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span>The glamping proposition is gaining traction among the investment community thanks to high EBITDA margins and low upfront development costs. Hospitality operators who invest in tented projects can expect to generate a quicker return than their bricks and mortar counterparts. As a result of such attractive numbers, and the growth of interest in glamping among travelers writ large, industry players have been able to secure multi-million dollar deals from the investment communi</span>ty</span>.
</div></div>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-58609908270824926582021-08-08T12:59:00.021-04:002021-08-22T13:08:41.943-04:00The Evolution of Wellness Real Estate Post-COVID<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Covid-19 era ushered in with it the realization that home is where the health is. Post-pandemic, interest in buying
healthy homes and real estate in wellness communities is likely to grow as more people take greater consideration of
how their living environments impact their physical, mental and emotional well-being. As a result, low-density communities designed to cater to wellness needs will become increasingly desirable.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">However, given the novelty of this
interest, current development statistics don’t reflect reaction to this potential demand.
An<a href="https://www.americanlives.com/studies-and-reports.html"> American LIVES survey</a> of U.S. households with incomes over $75,000 found more than 25 percent of respondents would want to live
in a wellness community, while 38 percent were at least inclined to visit a wellness community and consider living there at
least part time. </span><p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAbK5LyMRyG29oBjvF7Wt1hx3gvehBkHcbf1AYlx9x4O68qsjaKWH4xEFdJgTP72mVWMak-Jgyi4Fb5HCuVDET0ebIBf1AW_m7oFlaRYD3pI-2TZ3x_rWSfqSdrhxqsRgmRT5hRkszHM/s480/blogger-image--1829642407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAbK5LyMRyG29oBjvF7Wt1hx3gvehBkHcbf1AYlx9x4O68qsjaKWH4xEFdJgTP72mVWMak-Jgyi4Fb5HCuVDET0ebIBf1AW_m7oFlaRYD3pI-2TZ3x_rWSfqSdrhxqsRgmRT5hRkszHM/s320/blogger-image--1829642407.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Access to nature is an important<br />feature of wellness real estate communities</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Currently, most of the traction in the wellness residential community space is coming out of the upper-upscale end
of the market and from the active agers (55+) sector. The latter provides a potential model for age-agnostic wellness
communities. In the United States, the active adult (55+) community market size was valued at $523.4 billion in 2019 and
is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of around 4.3 percent from 2020 to 2027. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Newly or soon-to-be retired generations have different perspectives on aging than previous generations. Instead of
looking for retirement homes that focus on health care, many are increasingly attracted to active adult (55+) communities,
where the focus is on a wellness lifestyle. Those communities are filled with single-family homes or condominiums
designed with wellbeing features. Often located near a nature asset, these developments place a strong emphasis on
community spaces, programming and activities. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSBxzoWlTe-A2j8jucPr6N7F9D9joqgeHiVXo0aVkG4WRexOuj9fUN3yzHvQ9r_HIkWSDm2yEn4PtoEfj1v-0EqtNTcLGyGDYyu457rM8ItG2CgeDLcA1KCDzV4vKH31sJcSe-uiFkyE/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSBxzoWlTe-A2j8jucPr6N7F9D9joqgeHiVXo0aVkG4WRexOuj9fUN3yzHvQ9r_HIkWSDm2yEn4PtoEfj1v-0EqtNTcLGyGDYyu457rM8ItG2CgeDLcA1KCDzV4vKH31sJcSe-uiFkyE/w400-h249/image.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Carillon Miami Wellness Resort<br />lhw.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The main movement in the development of under-55 wellness communities sits at the highest end of the market.
Right now, most high-end wellness communities are located in mixed-use residential/resort complexes, such as Carillon
Miami Wellness Resort and Canyon Ranch Residences. In this arena, there’s a great deal of overlap with the second
home sector. In terms of dedicated wellness communities largely serving full-time residents, right now, there are but a few. However, given the likelihood of heightened concern about wellbeing post-pandemic, the concept of dedicated
wellness residential communities is a real estate trend whose time has come. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>*This post is adapted from a Wellness Hospitality Real Estate report I wrote for RLA Global.</i></span></p>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-24171491236672909932021-07-11T13:38:00.001-04:002021-07-11T13:38:27.360-04:00European Luxury Investors Seek Out Open Spaces and Affordable Places<p><a href="https://www.hospitalityinsights.com/content/luxury-investors-seek-out-open-spaces-and-affordable-places"> <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">My most recent piece, which appeared in Hospitality Insights in June</span></a>. <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Given that the publication is based in England, British English is used throughout. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">The pandemic may have slowed investment in the European luxury hospitality sector for a spell, but most experts say the market is coming back quickly, albeit in areas with a few key set of characteristics.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">By following the money, it’s evident that luxury investors have been showing interest in places that meet the new Covid-era demand for wide-open spaces in natural settings. On the other hand, they are also looking at risk-proofing investments by opting for areas that can have strong appeal to the intra-European luxury market. Right now, leisure destinations that typically attract the long-haul high-end crowd are not so attractive, nor are cities that receive a large share of their hotel nights from convention-goers. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhpYoAu644S0Pr9LBtpS1gPbXv-7DJgW8v68vVLkXt6qhKb96Lwa7xvHzd9C_N85wosujYKk7DtXg0M0nBaDXa-NlWeiSGMpEJpwkC7oj4x2U5xTtMOKZEfwhHLEQ0DvQFRP2bTwN69E/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhpYoAu644S0Pr9LBtpS1gPbXv-7DJgW8v68vVLkXt6qhKb96Lwa7xvHzd9C_N85wosujYKk7DtXg0M0nBaDXa-NlWeiSGMpEJpwkC7oj4x2U5xTtMOKZEfwhHLEQ0DvQFRP2bTwN69E/w400-h266/image.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One&Only's property in Montenegro</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Another factor that is driving this push toward investment in high-end leisure actually precedes the pandemic: With the spectre of overtourism hovering, countries including The Netherlands, Spain and Greece had already started shifting focus away from the mass market to “high-quality, high-spend” tourism. “We are moving from a model of ‘the more tourists, the better’ to one of higher expenditures, more nights and premium tourists,” Reyes Maroto, Spain’s tourism minister, recently <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/5f3328f4-b12e-4e5b-8dd2-bacfb73d40a6" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ff5a5a; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">told the Financial Times</a>.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Post-Covid, it may be easier for EU member countries to move further in this direction, spurred by resources from the organization’s massive €750 billion coronavirus recovery fund. Several countries have announced plans to use the money to modernise tourism infrastructure and otherwise improve destinations in ways that will attract high-end travelers. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">That demand for this market segment is growing is partly confirmed by what is happening in Accor’s development pipeline. According to Davinia Cisier, Accor’s Director Development Luxury Europe, “Over the last five years, Accor has transformed its brand portfolio, moving from 16 brands to 40 with a concentration on high-value segments.” Forty percent of Accor’s current global development pipeline is made up of projects in the ultra-luxury, luxury, premium and collection brands. </p><div class="embedded-entity" data-embed-button="media_image" data-entity-embed-display="entity_reference:media_thumbnail" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="ca924451-90df-4641-9849-f9531da0d1ee" data-langcode="en" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px;"><img alt="high-end tourism hotspots" height="1002" src="https://qtxasset.com/ihif/image/2021-06/58LUW-new-high-end-tourism-hotspots.png?491._EQyHadXAbRFzpAaO9atLB5aw3pH" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" typeof="foaf:Image" width="1140" /></div><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;">The Money Trail</h2><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Taking a look at a map of continental Europe, analysts are seeing some notable trends. According to Cushman & Wakefield, a commercial real estate brokerage firm, one-third of transaction volume in 2020 were outside urban locations. However, when focusing solely on deals committed after the virus outbreak, the share of non-urban locations increased to more than 41 percent. According to the company’s analysts, this implies an investor expectation of better long-term prospects for non-urban hotels driven by leisure demand.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">The map also shows investment taking place in the mountains. “Nature tourism has boomed during the past year, and more Europeans are getting into the habit of seeing traditional ski areas like Courchevel and Zermatt as four-season destinations,” according to Alex Sogno, the CEO of Global Assets Solutions. Employing ski areas as year-round destinations is likely to become a long-term shift in Europe, the prospects of which have great appeal to investors and developers alike.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh391SGDDOGYMBep4U_hGS470NVk7nmXPMnMd1L38dGLWumuHBGU-urwX6bcO5wig7fBj0Z2rg7jZBJ_4DdCTSn7MmEI2HymHOkNxk0G8xIFYtnznvV-_GouMHZV1DrTd0WmsMPSoCLApM/s2048/DSCN5823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh391SGDDOGYMBep4U_hGS470NVk7nmXPMnMd1L38dGLWumuHBGU-urwX6bcO5wig7fBj0Z2rg7jZBJ_4DdCTSn7MmEI2HymHOkNxk0G8xIFYtnznvV-_GouMHZV1DrTd0WmsMPSoCLApM/w300-h400/DSCN5823.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zermatt, Switzerland is one of the European mountain regions<br />of interest to luxury hospitality developers</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Accor’s Cisier also sees growth in mountain destinations, along with traditional resort areas, including Baden-Baden and Ticino. Additionally, she notes that the Balkans region is a prime target for luxury projects, due to factors like, relatively, inexpensive development costs, increased airlift and diverse natural assets. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Greece is leading the way. Notable recent transactions agreed to after the start of the pandemic, according to Cushman & Wakefield, include a resort portfolio comprising 1,094-rooms across five seafront hotels on Crete and the 990-room Porto Carras resort on the Halkidiki central peninsula.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Also being further developed is Costa Navarino, located in Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese. Already home to two five-star deluxe hotels, the developers are looking to add a high-end hotel, villas and a new golf course. And One&Only is bullish on the Balkans, opening its <a href="https://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/kea-island" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ff5a5a; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">Kéa Island property in Greece</a> this year and another resort on the Athenian Riviera next year. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">The Kerzner International company also opened an outpost in Montenegro in 2021. In recent years, Montenegro has benefited from its Adriatic coastline and the UNESCO-listed Bay of Kotor; an emphasis on facilitating investments and offering significant tax exemptions to overseas investors; and a focus on attracting high-end tourism and the yachting community. </p><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;">Over to Iberia</h2><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Portugal shares many of the investment advantages of the Balkans, including cheap land, transportation access, diverse natural assets and mild weather. In recent years, according to Nuno Miguel Alves, director of investment at Turismo de Portugal, the bulk of the luxury development in that country had been taking place near Lisbon, thanks in large part to the significant upswing in both American and Brazilian luxury travelers since 2016. But during the past year, Alves notes, luxury developers have been eyeing rural areas and coastal areas near Porto, three hours north of Lisbon, and Comporta, located about one hour south of the city. As a tourism destination, Portugal is also looking to broaden the market in Algarve, relying less on the mass market and more on the affluent. This strategy will help attract more visitors to the resort destination during the off-season.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Our advantage to investors is that Portugal, while in the EU, is more affordable than other countries in Europe. Plus, there has been a growth in overseas airlift (albeit halted by the pandemic) to Lisbon and Porto. In the long term, there is a lot of potential to grow,” he said. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 2.25rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">“Even during this trying time, the desire to invest in luxury hospitality in Portugal didn’t go away. And in the last six months, investors have been willing to take action.” That said, so far, according to Alves, most of the new investments have been distressed assets, and, no surprise, nature resort developments.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> </p><div class="row bottom" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin-left: -15px; margin-right: -15px; margin-top: 2rem;"></div>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-3065842973758729202021-06-20T13:00:00.000-04:002021-06-24T15:00:26.897-04:00Springing into Wellness<p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Apologies for being relatively silent on this blog recently, but May and June have been abuzz with activity. I am currently developing a Wellness University curriculum for travel advisors, and penning a 2021 Wellness Hospitality Real Estate Report. Stay tuned for more.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">In between, it's back on Zoom. I recently shared my thoughts on growing and promoting wellness tourism during the Eco Hotel Restart Summit.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://restart.ecohotelsummit.com/talks/wellness-hospitality-what-do-guests-want-now/">Here's the link</a>. My main sections are 11-22 minutes and 52-56 minutes into the video. There's also a pithy wrap-up 1 hour in. Forgive the slight time delay and the technical difficulties. Enjoy. </span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4owH3ijqwbbqvOcoG0G-EGz1caFwu9lNNd0Lqbeomq8BR6TI_eEqCEphUCjFLTbADh6hQFAZ0CLx59A0IEqAJMv88sH1-cnYm7QyFC6tsnR3NNAD1dQ9hetden2u8ZJHAciLHlYj-rf4/s1080/Speakers+Eco+Hotel+Restart+Summit+%25285%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4owH3ijqwbbqvOcoG0G-EGz1caFwu9lNNd0Lqbeomq8BR6TI_eEqCEphUCjFLTbADh6hQFAZ0CLx59A0IEqAJMv88sH1-cnYm7QyFC6tsnR3NNAD1dQ9hetden2u8ZJHAciLHlYj-rf4/w400-h400/Speakers+Eco+Hotel+Restart+Summit+%25285%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-65780704906194879512021-04-18T15:59:00.032-04:002021-05-06T16:21:19.807-04:00Why Wellness is the Next Big Thing in Real Estate<p><br /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-557bd0ae-7fff-5974-4daa-41a39f9eff99"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ask people what wellness real estate means and you get a variety of misinformed answers, due to misperceptions about what wellness itself actually entails. Wellness is more than simply a physical construct. True wellness incorporates physical wellness, yes, but also mental wellness, environmental wellness, social wellness and access to nature, the latter of which plays a part in all the other aspects of wellness. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rKayOEw6wLyFAVTiV9TkU6MHZekcnUfWbZ3bH1OLRxXlj7Lg4UZwzOhN0F09D8KIO6VnlrfVj541MJb12WIUV6KT8Wm3nog2DWuue8LqXZXTD9KyaoyWk3EXFUf7jaWwpt6aBqUawck/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="277" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rKayOEw6wLyFAVTiV9TkU6MHZekcnUfWbZ3bH1OLRxXlj7Lg4UZwzOhN0F09D8KIO6VnlrfVj541MJb12WIUV6KT8Wm3nog2DWuue8LqXZXTD9KyaoyWk3EXFUf7jaWwpt6aBqUawck/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">greenmountainfarm.org</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s face it. Most of us spend the vast majority of our lives inside. In normal times, we shuttle between home and office, with stops at stores, gyms or restaurants. Even when we are on vacation, we spend a lot of time inside, whether we are stuck at the airport or luxuriating inside a resort room. As a result, our indoor spaces have an outsized impact on every aspect of our lives. By ensuring that the places in which we dwell are well, our built environments can be transformed into vehicles for health and well-being. </span></div></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, wellness is having its moment. Perhaps for the first time, people have paused and reflected how the environment around them, whether built by man or Mother Nature, impacts their feelings of well-being.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-dQUrF5lMlSphewqOH05FE7TwRKeiVo-EyTCU00LuixUsS19tdxkFMHhIx-vIzU4GSHvdtC8wfcHKsR0MnVu6ZUzEMoF6tZagdPVJO4tvmROHHvE4AejYReAaiq4Cjb5hOgrSPbxfFo/s2048/DSCN4048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-dQUrF5lMlSphewqOH05FE7TwRKeiVo-EyTCU00LuixUsS19tdxkFMHhIx-vIzU4GSHvdtC8wfcHKsR0MnVu6ZUzEMoF6tZagdPVJO4tvmROHHvE4AejYReAaiq4Cjb5hOgrSPbxfFo/w320-h240/DSCN4048.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Real estate should reflect nature</td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the same time, scientists are sounding the alarm about how our environment, both outdoor and indoor, impacts our overall health. </span><a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/determinants-of-health" style="text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">According to the World Health Organization</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, “Whether people are healthy or not is determined by their circumstances and environment. To a large extent, factors such as where we live, the state of our environment, genetics, our income and education level, and our relationships with friends and family all have considerable impacts on health.” </span></span></p></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The real estate industry is taking note of both the science and the wellness awakening that has evolved during the COVID era. In the past, when the term “wellness real estate” was bandied about (if it was bandied about at all), it usually referred to the building of a spa, a fitness center, or maybe even a healthcare facility. But now, developers in almost every key sector of the real estate business, including hospitality, residential, retail or commercial, are paying heed to how health and wellness ingredients can be baked into a project. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi144Qxeh0zEPTNVJWu5Qe__Va6zcy5ZAM1Z3-PX63D4RQ2i5YHfnC3eu-gFVnIK0EALiL2_cOenEfUpWWRHM6lcpKO7uYa3q3qKZEtGRmhdmOThXSl46N9O-_lUr9mNhiPzEAPdhYbZpc/s2048/DSCN5829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi144Qxeh0zEPTNVJWu5Qe__Va6zcy5ZAM1Z3-PX63D4RQ2i5YHfnC3eu-gFVnIK0EALiL2_cOenEfUpWWRHM6lcpKO7uYa3q3qKZEtGRmhdmOThXSl46N9O-_lUr9mNhiPzEAPdhYbZpc/s320/DSCN5829.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding glass panels to ceilings helps bring nature inside</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">While those ingredients may vary depending upon the type of developments, among the ones that should be considered universal are:</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Access to Nature</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Air Quality </span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Acoustic Insulation</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Biophilic Design</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Energy-Efficient Lighting/Light Sensors</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Fitness/Relaxation/Recharging Areas</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Indoor and Outdoor Green Spaces</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Indoor and Outdoor Water Elements</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Natural/Non-Toxic Building Materials</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Preservation of Green Spaces</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Sustainability (including energy-saving technologies)</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Temperature Control</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Third Spaces for Social Interaction</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Use of Natural Light</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Ventilation/Air Filtration Systems</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Water Filtration Systems</span></span></p></li></ul><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">All of these ingredients contribute to wellness, in at least one of its forms. And while, in the past, some of these elements were overlooked or omitted due to budgetary concerns, given the interest in wellness, today, most are no longer optional.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-13838400597172054632021-03-19T09:03:00.003-04:002021-03-19T09:03:56.026-04:00The Relationship Between Third Places and Social Wellness<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Having been stuck in one place for more than a year, I have been thinking a lot about the concept of “third places” and their role in social wellness.</span></span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-690e4fcd-7fff-39ca-e72d-86b3b69c7d04"><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvK81WB8uIoXLpEo1N_J88TAelAokLt4dunZKMizwXbX3sephFAn43vTnvkXAKltXKs_gxfKAzDZaLlPDtwII_ZKjTNWVc6SbktgJmND44oWKSI0Iqw2ndUteIzC-bnHjzo4JL7rVsqY/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvK81WB8uIoXLpEo1N_J88TAelAokLt4dunZKMizwXbX3sephFAn43vTnvkXAKltXKs_gxfKAzDZaLlPDtwII_ZKjTNWVc6SbktgJmND44oWKSI0Iqw2ndUteIzC-bnHjzo4JL7rVsqY/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ChicagoParkDistrict.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Third places, as defined by Ray Oldenburg in his 1999 book </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Great-Good-Place-Bookstores-Community/dp/1569246815" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Great Good Place (and its follow-up called Celebrating the Third Place</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">), are neutral territory; public places where people gather, exchange ideas and have a good time. Third places, writes Oldenburg, "host the regular, voluntary, informal, and happily anticipated gatherings of individuals beyond the realms of home and work." Such places, he argues, are crucial for building community vitality, democracy and civil society. In my own less lofty terms, third places promote the types of interactions that have the potential to sprout friendships and meaningful social relationships.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1448008/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to the National Institutes of Health</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, there is growing evidence showing that social networks and community involvement, the building blocks of social wellness, have positive health consequences. Persons who are socially engaged with others and actively involved in their communities tend to live longer and be healthier physically and mentally. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIKzQddlKltC7ikOUsnYmCk7t1Vd1Ifal6K8SHMEuDXO-QestplX2znRy17TEHQaZPvVbK7v76pI8CpcuaD5js1uaZXsC2tJpOXu_W5CvTtxSfu2jACBCrvh0zzmNzHkIaiOTMPDIbj0/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIKzQddlKltC7ikOUsnYmCk7t1Vd1Ifal6K8SHMEuDXO-QestplX2znRy17TEHQaZPvVbK7v76pI8CpcuaD5js1uaZXsC2tJpOXu_W5CvTtxSfu2jACBCrvh0zzmNzHkIaiOTMPDIbj0/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cambridge.org</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So clearly, there’s a need to create structures to enhance social wellness. Enter third places, where people can regularly socialize in unprogrammed and informal ways. Those places might be community gardens and parks, neighborhood pubs, or for the fortunate few, country clubs. Whatever form they take, third places should serve as forums for social interaction. The most popular third places tend to be easy to get to, either close to home (your first place) or to work (your second place). The quality of propinquity encourages both spontaneity and regularity.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In recent years, Starbucks has bastardized the concept of the third place. Theoretically, a local coffee shop could be a third place. But the key to being an authentic third place is social interaction. What I see when I enter a Starbucks (flashing back to 2019) is a bunch of cappuccino-sipping cosmopolites who are basically alone together. They are all ensconced in their own little worlds, typing away at keyboards while further cutting themselves off from the world with their earbuds.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOjoHZtYXzbzSe0cvULnOym4dvPPjfLvw4FomUBIi_-Vu3mrOxND6McDg8GNBuA5pOd5o0SiEHQrAHfoaf-Lv-CbAHShzfi0M0lyof1E5BvZQpM9X_XC7mDYshO35rWiD_ukNXyqbYR8/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOjoHZtYXzbzSe0cvULnOym4dvPPjfLvw4FomUBIi_-Vu3mrOxND6McDg8GNBuA5pOd5o0SiEHQrAHfoaf-Lv-CbAHShzfi0M0lyof1E5BvZQpM9X_XC7mDYshO35rWiD_ukNXyqbYR8/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alone together<br />starbucksreserve.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This scene is diametrically opposed to the social construct of a third space. </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alone together</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> does not cut it. A true third place encourages informal conversation and shared experiences on a frequent basis, thereby building a sense of social cohesion. After all, it is only by repetition that we build up relationships.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our pandemic year forced our first place to become our second and third place as well, and we know how that’s been. Our homes have been converted into places of total retreat from the outside world. With second and third places largely confined to virtual realms, we have quickly discovered that the online world is no substitute for in-person interactions, particularly when it comes to building social relationships.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjliOeNRbTbCSS-o2BFpXLpZcwE0hLOez7evQAysOQBGfiF0UCyUuEfbdbT14dMDGV1MnpwtaRu1q4XeUdo3lc9Jwt3RE2dzxlgD299y9p6DMo7ikc0EBKnsVALrGS0FlfH-2p4JXIyCw/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjliOeNRbTbCSS-o2BFpXLpZcwE0hLOez7evQAysOQBGfiF0UCyUuEfbdbT14dMDGV1MnpwtaRu1q4XeUdo3lc9Jwt3RE2dzxlgD299y9p6DMo7ikc0EBKnsVALrGS0FlfH-2p4JXIyCw/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">offset.com</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There’s a pent-up desire for IRL human interaction. When things get back to whatever normal is going to be, people will be seeking out third places where they can reconnect with others. That’s why, in a post-COVID world, there is a real opportunity for those in the real estate realm, whether working in retail, residential or office space, to build third places into their development or retrofit plans.</span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Look, after a year of being conditioned to work and shop at home, businesses are going to be struggling to convince consumers and employees to do their things away from home. Meanwhile, people are reconsidering where they live, as more jobs become virtual and the value of knowing your neighbors comes back into vogue. Knowing that demand for third places is strengthening, architects, developers and urban planners will all have to start factoring in third places that encourage social wellness. In upcoming posts, I will examine these ideas in greater depth. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-15364939812071743402021-02-08T16:50:00.001-05:002021-02-13T11:27:30.869-05:00Of Biophilia, Friluftsliv and Mother Nature<p><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">I recently penned a 5,000-word</span><a href="http://www.trendhawk2021.com/hipr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"> opus on behalf of Hawkins International</a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that envisages the lexicon that will dominate the headlines in 2021. The list includes seven words that have come to the fore due to the effects of the pandemic. Here’s another sneak preview. </span></i></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-66b55d89-7fff-51b1-b555-6e024f7cf799"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mother Nature’s power to soothe was rediscovered during the pandemic. We craved outdoor spaces for exercise, dining and chatting from safe social distances. We fled cities for the countryside, mountains or beaches. This yearning for the great outdoors will last, manifesting over the next decade with increased emphasis on architecture that encompasses both indoor and outdoor spaces – think spas, shopping malls, and office buildings dotted with courtyards, open-air atria and rooftop gardens.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Nf3qEM0c2zl3of-dIQp2uoscbdv-p4FaHGF3t-qGBqpLvdQvlXeAoyV46g4-DuCXgJaV0T0h3pvDKK27x7FbYdvirUCkv7Y-3jsSKc1MQGhjH2xyoI-YNg-i7qduBMp_gnDZqb5eS_c/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="317" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Nf3qEM0c2zl3of-dIQp2uoscbdv-p4FaHGF3t-qGBqpLvdQvlXeAoyV46g4-DuCXgJaV0T0h3pvDKK27x7FbYdvirUCkv7Y-3jsSKc1MQGhjH2xyoI-YNg-i7qduBMp_gnDZqb5eS_c/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gardendesign.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">All of that will mean</span><a href="https://skift.com/2019/10/15/rethinking-luxury-hotel-design-to-connect-guests-with-nature/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">greater use of biophilic design</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">. The discipline emphasizes natural light, natural materials and patterns evoking nature. It’s also about reflecting</span><a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/what-covid-19-will-mean-for-design-trends-in-2021#intcid=recommendations_architectural-digest-verso-hp-trending_44b5f35e-c42e-4258-8c7e-3fe2b0df660d_popular4-1" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">nature in color palettes</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> and creating areas of protective refuge. (See more in this</span><a href="https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/14-patterns/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">brief bible of biophilic design</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> from environmental consultant Terrapin Bright Green.) </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJAlkyf7ryh3J8f2On33g_BNTH_k2FT87fnymrlOU9dnuTpfgoEUZi8NT0f5D5riuOkMetSx_wNa7HG_o_Tn083Bl2ed_cGQP6R36DkG6-ON2lG8Vpvo1uhW1nsd3ApIUnhNJw1Y3cGY/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJAlkyf7ryh3J8f2On33g_BNTH_k2FT87fnymrlOU9dnuTpfgoEUZi8NT0f5D5riuOkMetSx_wNa7HG_o_Tn083Bl2ed_cGQP6R36DkG6-ON2lG8Vpvo1uhW1nsd3ApIUnhNJw1Y3cGY/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">caanddesign.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To heighten access to nature, more hotels will likely be driven to add balconies or verandas to guest rooms, or at very least windows that actually open. Public spaces will also go alfresco, as we saw during the pandemic with F&B offered in outdoor spaces to enable social distancing, and spas using rooftops for exercise classes and open-air cabanas for treatments. Both trends will likely continue into the future. More meeting areas will likely be designed for indoor/outdoor flow, with</span><a href="https://www.gettys.com/work/projects/branding/the-hotel-of-tomorrow-project/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Gettys Group</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> already envisioning the redesign of boardrooms and event areas with plants enhanced by digital projection to simulate nature in places where outdoor access is limited. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW13mmnwAafUopLh5ovZuFAgQjCBoFeMkCXUQ-8O0_EYj6cpASu5BPj_s6gGEAR-2ls-WAhtx9HC0KUjGB4BlEgiVPpVOVuQ7ttSB8q6LSFAKjuJQ8mm0LkqJWJp3b6NhpbPw7m60jK6Q/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="273" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW13mmnwAafUopLh5ovZuFAgQjCBoFeMkCXUQ-8O0_EYj6cpASu5BPj_s6gGEAR-2ls-WAhtx9HC0KUjGB4BlEgiVPpVOVuQ7ttSB8q6LSFAKjuJQ8mm0LkqJWJp3b6NhpbPw7m60jK6Q/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blog.interface.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7he9UQnsRDLXDrPPWaS_9lNMVhSUsNijbl1Xt4wifmwlG32gYQaMSHyDYt6V2N_isN-rH8R5RANbPBbuq48OeC_gJLwSiBdaYtTcLQVA_KkHmC_EG4kJ6j9EJlKjZsqhzw8ZQPhozbs/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="290" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7he9UQnsRDLXDrPPWaS_9lNMVhSUsNijbl1Xt4wifmwlG32gYQaMSHyDYt6V2N_isN-rH8R5RANbPBbuq48OeC_gJLwSiBdaYtTcLQVA_KkHmC_EG4kJ6j9EJlKjZsqhzw8ZQPhozbs/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collective Retreats </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love of nature was reflected in our travel choices in 2020, which saw a huge rise in demand for</span><a href="https://skift.com/2021/01/07/hipcamp-raises-57-million-for-campsite-bookings-as-outdoor-travel-trend-booms-report/?utm_campaign=Daily%20Newsletter&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=105725648&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9aNSStn5TJF2A3VVDS-vn5_YpttWonGx-xG08PBk88MCJhdUFJEpGNRbG-MHvNwo8P80KBIDuHzzPDT7gDfhb4mOMNRA&utm_content=105725648&utm_source=hs_email" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">camping</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, glamping and RV rentals.</span><a href="http://www.rvshare.com" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">RVshare</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, a recreational vehicle-sharing marketplace,</span><a href="https://skift.com/2020/05/29/rv-and-outdoor-recreation-companies-see-a-boom-in-bookings/" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">booked record numbers last year</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, fueled by the desire of cooped-up pods to get out on the open road. Thanks in part to the RV boom, many</span><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2020/09/06/camping-rises-popularity-amid-covid-19-travel-concerns-south-dakota/5702412002/" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">camping sites,</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">including several national parks, experienced record numbers. Already</span><a href="https://skift.com/2019/07/30/luxury-accommodations-head-outdoors-in-creative-ways/" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">trending up</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, glamping became mainstream, with</span><a href="http://www.glamping-lushna.com/Eastwind-Hotel-NY" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">resorts adding glamping-style units</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and companies like Collective Retreats and Under Canvas experiencing rapid growth.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-family: Arial; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LdDeD6qz3A_7BTCRETT37Pq0KoVlsiHUCLGWd2bHzwc8A6fPyNiEX2xb50LiY-xrCCgFGaDHgAkBfvk5tprXQjH9EYkk_nvdoyCa7JjOvUuek2P1uj3FVQwhA9zjE4j20G0NXKSeSlo/s2048/Wicelandredhouse.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LdDeD6qz3A_7BTCRETT37Pq0KoVlsiHUCLGWd2bHzwc8A6fPyNiEX2xb50LiY-xrCCgFGaDHgAkBfvk5tprXQjH9EYkk_nvdoyCa7JjOvUuek2P1uj3FVQwhA9zjE4j20G0NXKSeSlo/s320/Wicelandredhouse.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Framing Friluftsliv</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then there is the Scandinavian import </span><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2021/01/03/2021-lifestyle-and-wellness-trends-impact-pandemic/3992657001/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friluftsliv, Norwegian</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for “free air life.” "It’s really putting nature at the forefront of everything that you’re doing in your life,” said Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy’s trend expert. “In 2020 I think it was the first time a lot of us really gave a sense of more appreciation and connection to the outdoors, and so I think for 2021 that sensibility is going to continue to increase.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><br /></span>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-58719936441961151652021-02-04T11:10:00.005-05:002021-02-04T11:10:57.663-05:00A New Lexicon for 2021: So Long Pivot, Pods and Social Distancing. Hello, Comfort, Flexibility and Biophilia<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>I recently penned a 5,000-word opus on behalf of <a href="https://trendhawk2021.com/hipr">Hawkins International</a> that envisages the lexicon that will dominate the headlines in 2021. The list includes seven words that have come to the fore due to the effects of the pandemic. Here’s a peek. </i></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e5616619-7fff-fa97-7a9d-19df53a92dce"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Comfort</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is comfort post-COVID? It’s about feeling good mentally and physically. Consumers will be looking for products and practices that produce good vibrations and extend a sense of safety and security as well. The desire for comfort spans all sectors, from growth in athleisure wear, to increased sales of residential wellness equipment, to getting “back to basics” with crafting, home cooking, and</span><a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2020-the-year-of-the-comfort-food-comeback-301135720.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">comfort food</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to soothe the soul.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5Hm8iWS3y98z3TapR5Y-ebrePBvBOpB-LALpvE3HsssKz9UkWZUp1xz1B88b0otfLCz-zvpmnFAufypRrc68pvCPQT0iAlT1FEg_sDFhyphenhyphenWpmdkTAPAsoDT6wkn_tzWDmnWHimc5vKZQ/s2048/DSCN1322.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5Hm8iWS3y98z3TapR5Y-ebrePBvBOpB-LALpvE3HsssKz9UkWZUp1xz1B88b0otfLCz-zvpmnFAufypRrc68pvCPQT0iAlT1FEg_sDFhyphenhyphenWpmdkTAPAsoDT6wkn_tzWDmnWHimc5vKZQ/s320/DSCN1322.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> COVID Ushered in a Crafting Craze </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cue Cottagecore is a lifestyle aesthetic</span><a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/what-exactly-is-cottagecore" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">centered on everything warm, fuzzy and nostalgic. </span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Introduced on social media channels a couple years ago, Cottagecore absolutely boomed in 2020. As Gemma Riberti, head of interiors at</span><a href="https://www.wgsn.com/en/products/lifestyle-interiors/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WGSN Lifestyle & Interiors</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> explained, nostalgia “has an incredibly reassuring power. In times of uncertainty, a well-known past is looked at with fondness and longing.” That’s why so many people locked down at home turned to arts and crafts and home cooking, harkening back to simpler times. Even Taylor Swift got in on the act, ushering the comeback of cable knit cardigans and American folk music with the release of the</span><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-folklore-2020-biggest-album-1102709/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">best-selling album of 2020</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijcPDZBucMwCbK3mGIZ0lpP7IvNBDmrq_GzxZMhciaBInjMZFQy1bxwDlihY6mc7vebfjjuQlz89_KHSFJcwFIFqdxgTD75ax-4_llkuxXknixinWImJYvtTgY-b-7ZC-R0M5stFCSeY/s2048/Wicelandredhouse.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijcPDZBucMwCbK3mGIZ0lpP7IvNBDmrq_GzxZMhciaBInjMZFQy1bxwDlihY6mc7vebfjjuQlz89_KHSFJcwFIFqdxgTD75ax-4_llkuxXknixinWImJYvtTgY-b-7ZC-R0M5stFCSeY/w320-h240/Wicelandredhouse.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cozy cottage on the coast of Norway</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Cottagecore extended to our “cottages.” As Etsy trend expert</span><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2021/01/03/2021-lifestyle-and-wellness-trends-impact-pandemic/3992657001/?utm_source=Global+Wellness+Summit&utm_campaign=454cf26952-TRENDIUM_2021_1_6&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8952e3a77f-454cf26952-52723215" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dayna Isom Johnson noted,</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> “From calming, nature-inspired hues to dreamy, cozy shapes to the simplicity of bygone eras, we’re all looking to our domestic spaces to bring that sense of comfort, stability, and solace we can’t find elsewhere in the world.”</span></span></p></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The meaning of comfort has expanded during COVID, with privacy and space becoming huge factors in comfort expectations. Many are seeking out wide-open expanses in nature, private villas or glamping-style suites for vacations, second homes in less-populated areas, and transportation via private jet. Even mass carrier</span><a href="https://news.delta.com/more-space-holiday-travel-delta-extends-middle-seat-blocks-january-2021" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Delta won big during the pandemic with its promise to keep middle seats empty.</span></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the hospitality space, we saw increased interest in self-catering accommodations, and hotels rejiggering public areas to create more private nooks. Many also utilized suites as private dining rooms:</span><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-10/restaurants-turn-empty-hotel-suites-into-private-dining-rooms" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bloomberg News cited</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> several hotels that adopted this strategy, including the</span><a href="https://www.eliothotel.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eliot Hotel</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in Boston, where in-house dining spot</span><a href="https://uni-boston.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Uni</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> employed a handful of rooms to serve ramen and sushi accompanied by piped-in music.</span><a href="https://www.montagehotels.com/kapaluabay/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Montage Kapalua Bay</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> moved its traditional beachside luau into residential-style guestrooms, offering safe places for guests to experience Polynesian food, dance and music.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMqRt1v_ZGHcIb-fwe5l0STT4ZvFU73fW5T2b-I5maW0WqRGR3BXrcmpmDlo-7AG9dd0Fqy7dyGDS2f4pxHjSEq7_xlb3M8Ajfay7TkCf8x24AzdSE2KemPtaANl9tErm4pKs3oNKJPs/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMqRt1v_ZGHcIb-fwe5l0STT4ZvFU73fW5T2b-I5maW0WqRGR3BXrcmpmDlo-7AG9dd0Fqy7dyGDS2f4pxHjSEq7_xlb3M8Ajfay7TkCf8x24AzdSE2KemPtaANl9tErm4pKs3oNKJPs/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In-room Dining at The Peninsula</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Comfort post-COVID will also entail enhancing feelings of safety and security, largely through perceived hygiene. Retail, restaurants and hospitality will need to make their cleaning protocols front and center. For example, since last spring,</span><a href="https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/united-cleanplus.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">United has been publicizing its CleanPlus program, a partnership with Clorox and the Cleveland Clinic.</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Hyatt was among the hotel companies</span><a href="https://www.hyatt.com/info/global-care-and-cleanliness-commitment" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">setting up programs with rigorous safety</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and cleanliness protocols. Other hotels are working to build consumer trust and comfort with </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">verified health security systems </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">such as</span><a href="https://www.forbestravelguide.com/landing/health-security-verified" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sharecare Health Security VERIFIED® with Forbes Travel Guide</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, a tech-enabled verification system that establishes a consistent global baseline for health security across more than 360 expert-validated standards.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many new cleanliness protocols are bound to stick at airports, just as post-9/11 security enhancements did. Kevin Burke, president and CEO of Airports Council International – North America</span><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/business/travel/most-changes-travel-will-likely-continue-beyond-covid-19-experts-n1250777" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">recently told NBC News</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that “those technologies and protocols include sanitizing robots, restrooms that alert maintenance crews when cleaning is needed [and] contactless check-in, bag check and credential authentication.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8yLT1TBJLcSM9ElS3-hsuhFje6GlSN1O8MomBKKJJNEFSC3i6ooffUUM1l74R7zUMe9hAl3Ejl4BR5TTZylfsxSVdV_P4TV0M5an2G-z-TWZG0tr81_GOzxjQlorhyJs5nHH0u8YDCo/s2048/DSCN4048.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8yLT1TBJLcSM9ElS3-hsuhFje6GlSN1O8MomBKKJJNEFSC3i6ooffUUM1l74R7zUMe9hAl3Ejl4BR5TTZylfsxSVdV_P4TV0M5an2G-z-TWZG0tr81_GOzxjQlorhyJs5nHH0u8YDCo/s320/DSCN4048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The relationship between comfort and nature </span>was never stronger than during the pandemic and it will continue far into the future, which is why it's the next lexeme on our list. The word “biophilia” stems from the Greek for “life” and “love,” suggesting humanity’s innate biological connection with nature. It’s why we find a walk in the woods so soothing and natural light so stimulating. Basically, biophilia is why nature makes us feel better.</span></p><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More on that in the next blog post.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-17045482841479155362020-11-29T10:38:00.001-05:002020-12-03T11:33:43.965-05:00The Hot Springs Movement in the United States Gains Steam<p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>The ancient Greeks did it. So did the ancient and not-so-ancient Romans, Japanese, and Chinese. Heck, even some of the founding fathers of the United States did it too. But despite its illustrious past, the idea of taking the waters has never really caught on in the United States, until now. Hot springs could be on the verge of a major wellness moment.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">For centuries, many European and Asian cultures have viewed mineral-fed hot springs as a source of health, wellness, and healing. But according to the Global Wellness Institute, the sector is quite underdeveloped in North America, due to a lack of a historic bathing culture that is preva</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">lent elsewhere. The times are changing, however, as more Americans are looking to nature for its power to calm and rejuvenate, especially</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> i</span><span style="font-family: arial;">n these COVID times.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span>In the United States, hot springs are seen </span><span>in recreational terms rather than as a wellness endeavor, according to Vicky Nash,</span><span> </span><a href="http://resorttrends.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">a tourism consultant</a><span> </span><span>who is dedicated to professionalizing the hot springs industry. Thanks to the efforts of Nash and a former U.S. senator, among others, hot springs are suddenly being reframed as wellness destinations across the country.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPGcdhSrGxZPn1hcTuJ4atbig_RmWKwkMjYyhzdur9O_coVFlpc0xhdKw82HZJ58ATmuu_obtz9sRGHNhnmLv1Daz2_l934xmdur1-dC6AsEr8Rd56sQFSU9SomPrbIcpYMvDLIQx9g0/s2048/pexels-life-of-wu-3381008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1639" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPGcdhSrGxZPn1hcTuJ4atbig_RmWKwkMjYyhzdur9O_coVFlpc0xhdKw82HZJ58ATmuu_obtz9sRGHNhnmLv1Daz2_l934xmdur1-dC6AsEr8Rd56sQFSU9SomPrbIcpYMvDLIQx9g0/s320/pexels-life-of-wu-3381008.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; margin: 30px 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">MOM-AND-POP OPERATIONS IN TRANSITION</span></h3><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">According to Nash, about 28 states have hot springs in one form or another, although the majority are in the West and Southwest. Many of these waters are on public land, and a few are contained within fancy resort complexes. But for the most part, hot springs facilities are rustic mom-and-pop operations, solely offering a soak in the forms of mineral bathing and swimming. Some are a little more tricked-out, with extras like massage rooms and dining outlets.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Many of these smaller operations, long in need of a facelift, are in the process of changing hands. According to Nash, “A lot of the smaller hot springs facilities were established in the 1970s. Now those owners are selling, and new owners, including investment groups, are coming in with an interest of revamping them and getting them up to speed” for the growing wellness market.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUTALXELeH-aLeouoovuYNS02EsIrfSdy4Zhf-h_UbPIggDJgZ1rr2eQE1C95s9WMNxiqAnXcmMoLqVWmsWwd-hSliRNkQZqNjC-E60TpsJwFFBTLGR1cfIqvRiIqX7YBXWLVCK7pfRc/s1024/180619jjw-0129-1024x688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="1024" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUTALXELeH-aLeouoovuYNS02EsIrfSdy4Zhf-h_UbPIggDJgZ1rr2eQE1C95s9WMNxiqAnXcmMoLqVWmsWwd-hSliRNkQZqNjC-E60TpsJwFFBTLGR1cfIqvRiIqX7YBXWLVCK7pfRc/w400-h269/180619jjw-0129-1024x688.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natural Hot Springs in Idaho<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">That’s why many facilities, shuttered for years, are reopening, some with multimillion dollar investments. For example, a Phoenix-based couple, Mike and Cindy Watts, purchased the ailing<a href="https://www.castlehotsprings.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"> Arizona Castle Hot Springs</a> in 2014. The original facility was built at the end of the 19th century, but it was abandoned during the 1970s. Earlier this year, it reopened as a luxury healing center for the well-heeled. Some of the bungalows, complete with private outdoor tubs, list at $1,600 per night.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Mark Begich is another person betting on the business. The Alaskan businessman purchased <a href="https://carsonhotsprings.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">Carson Hot Springs</a> in the late 1990s. His company refurbished the property’s historic buildings, located just a few miles from Nevada’s state capitol. Also added were a restaurant and brewpub, making the facility more of a destination versus a pass-through. He, along with a group of investors, also owns <a href="http://www.jemezsprings.org/attractions/hot-springs-spas/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">Jemez Hot Springs</a> and <a href="http://www.canondelrio.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">Cañon Del Rio Inn and Spa</a> in Jemez Springs, New Mexico.</span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; margin: 30px 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">BUILDING A NETWORK</span></h3><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Begich, by the by, is not just your run-of-the-mill developer. He heads up <a href="http://www.northerncompassgroup.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">Northern Compass Group</a>, a business and strategic communications consultancy. And he happens to be a former U.S. senator (D-Alaska). After leaving the swamp in 2014, he jumped back into the hot springs arena. First, he purchased those New Mexico properties and now, he’s become the force behind the development of the brand-new (as of October 2019) <a href="https://www.hotspringsassociation.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">Hot Springs Association</a>.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Begich pointed out, “In rural areas, local-level mom-and-pop businesses are critical to the economy. In remote areas, developing these facilities brings in money from outside the community and creates jobs.” But for the most part, they have been left to their own devices By creating an association, individual operators will experience strength in numbers.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“There are so many layers of the business, but no one is coordinating information,” said Begich. Having an association to bring together hot springs operators across the United States “means these small businesses can pool resources, joining together to have purchasing and marketing power.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Schawna Thoma is vice president of Begich’s Northern Compass Group. “Most hot springs are family-run, and people often feel isolated or intimidated about reaching out. We will serve as a network for these people, and offer tools and serve as an information resource.” The organization will allow small properties to band together to build awareness, while also doing less sexy things, like helping to negotiate water rights, share new technology, and develop affordable insurance programs. It will also start tracking visitor numbers and economic impact.</span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; margin: 30px 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR GROWTH</span></h3><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The latter, said Begich, will be of immense help to operators seeking loans. “Right now, hot springs are difficult to finance,” according to Begich, “because the classification is difficult. That’s why the data is critical; it’s for financiers to understand the business.” That understanding may lead to a simpler lending process.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Vicky Nash is another person bringing together resources for the hot springs community. She helped develop the Colorado <a href="https://www.colorado.com/hotspringsloop" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">Historic Hot Springs Loop</a>, which links five hot springs destinations in the western part of the state. During its five years in existence, each of the five communities has experienced an increase in tourism.She also</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span> launched the</span><span> </span><a href="https://www.hotspringsconnection.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">Hot Springs Connection</a><span> in 2019. It was </span><span>the first conference in the United States dedicated solely to the needs of hot springs operators. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Now that the industry has its own trade association, its own annual conference, and, to a certain degree, a new generation of owners, hot springs are destined to become the next hot thing in wellness tourism.</span></p>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-59503039721047004212020-10-25T11:10:00.000-04:002020-10-25T11:10:03.109-04:00Good Vibrations: Sound Healing Makes Waves in the Wellness Industry<p style="text-align: center;"> <i> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">If you have been noticing more spas offering treatments that incorporate Tibetan singing bowls, tuning forks, or gongs, you aren’t alone. Sound therapies are starting to make waves in the spa industry.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">In the ultra-competitive world of luxury wellness travel, companies need to do more than just offer gorgeous views, great-tasting food, and aromatic gardens. They need to <a href="https://skift.com/2020/02/27/how-to-get-music-right-in-luxury-lifestyle-hotels/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">think about sound</a> too.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Increasingly, properties including Hyatt’s <a href="https://www.miravalarizona.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">Miraval Arizona</a> are employing sound therapy to pull in wellness-oriented customers. The idea is that people’s ears offer a path to relaxation and healing every bit as powerful as eyeballs, nostrils, and fingertips. And companies are citing ancient wisdom known to groups as disparate as Australia’s aborigines (think didgeridoos), Tibetan monks (think singing bowls), and Native Americans (flutes, drums, and rains sticks) as part of healing practices.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">“Sound can signal the body to release its own tension and negativity, dropping the brainwave into a meditative state quickly and effectively,” said Pamela Lancaster, a widely regarded guru in the field and “master healer” at Miraval Arizona.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">What Miraval Arizona and others are realizing is that sound is a powerful tool in reducing clients’ stress levels, improving their moods, and alleviating pain. And given the hectic, anxiety-ridden world of 2020, more and more <a href="https://skift.com/2020/01/30/where-the-travel-industry-will-intersect-with-wellness-in-2020/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">travelers are seeking out such restorative treatments</a>.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHp_V-RRmSiTR-q0_XYUht5iSO7c6KxLvuXRSfPWbSmx8Dsz_-E4A5uvacrIVHMTRD_l6G-YSJvbhQBHFBp2VAYKIuS2elA1MWjv5hZwqbkDvElVaTWeR0XYd5b9mR0qDovbmLCMDFaw/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHp_V-RRmSiTR-q0_XYUht5iSO7c6KxLvuXRSfPWbSmx8Dsz_-E4A5uvacrIVHMTRD_l6G-YSJvbhQBHFBp2VAYKIuS2elA1MWjv5hZwqbkDvElVaTWeR0XYd5b9mR0qDovbmLCMDFaw/w400-h266/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 22px; margin: 30px 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">WHAT’S IN A SOUND?</h3><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Proponents of sound therapy call it “vibrational medicine,” arguing that certain systems in our bodies vibrate at different frequencies. If these frequencies get disrupted by ailments like emotional distress or illness, our well-being could be affected.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">While efforts to heal through sound therapy is as old as ancient Egypt, scientists have only recently <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871151/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">begun to explore its efficacy</a>. The wellness community, however, has been providing sound therapies for more than a decade, with some treatments growing more and more into standard offers.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">The offerings include massages that are synchronized to music, listening to the peaceful sounds of “deep nature” and taking in the beauty of Tibetan singing bowl sessions. Tuning forks of varying pitches are thought by some to be a way to “unblock” people’s “stagnant energy,” And so-called “sound baths” — an ancient form of deep meditation — create relaxing, repetitive sounds using musical bowls, cymbals, and gongs.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">“An immersion in sound frequency cleanses the soul,” said Robert Lee, a leader at <a href="https://www.eatonworkshop.com/wellness" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">Eaton DC</a>, a hotel and wellness center in Washington, D.C. “It allows for a recalibration to a deep stillness that we can all access within ourselves.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">In fact, sound can be used to create a sense of stillness that people crave, he added. “While trying to quiet the mind in a quiet room is nearly impossible, sound actually makes meditating easier.”</p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 22px; margin: 30px 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">WHERE SOUND AND TRAVEL OVERLAP</h3><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">At Miraval Arizona, Lancaster has seen firsthand how much sound can help visitors leave behind their stresses and negativity and settle into a meditative state. The resort offers Vasudhara, a water treatment combining Thai massages with pulsating sounds emanating from underwater speakers. “The body brings itself back into a place of homeostasis,” Lancaster said, about the treatment. “And things have a propensity to begin to heal.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GvDUXYmLtNERCUwSZ1Y8Le2LOOjWnLJy_HlxrUdinKWbWMJWE8bQu08uViW0S_6OK6LfyaiHA6NUe9UrAqLfh-4z0ETXJedz3phD_1LU7Eio2Au9BMtSoxFjXNQAhn4KcUqPT2YJCNM/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GvDUXYmLtNERCUwSZ1Y8Le2LOOjWnLJy_HlxrUdinKWbWMJWE8bQu08uViW0S_6OK6LfyaiHA6NUe9UrAqLfh-4z0ETXJedz3phD_1LU7Eio2Au9BMtSoxFjXNQAhn4KcUqPT2YJCNM/w400-h221/image.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vasudhara at Miraval Arizona<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Michelle Pirret, a “sonic alchemist” at the <a href="https://www.fourseasons.com/newyorkdowntown/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">Four Seasons New York Downtown</a>, suggested this type of therapy is powerful because the human body is comprised mostly of water. “When frequency is played on the body, cellular water is vibrating,” she said. “This escalates hormonal release and relaxation.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.thelodgeatwoodloch.com/explore/mindbody/mind-body-offerings/vibrational-sound-therapy/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">The Lodge at Woodloch</a> in northeastern Pennsylvania offers a vibrational treatment that uses the sound waves of singing bowls to create a relaxed, meditative state. Its “Gong with the Wind” selection combines yoga and meditation with holistic sound immersion. The acoustics come courtesy of conch shells, bronze gongs, and singing bowls.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="color: black;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_uvSsZAblkMBIMb5N7_L6FvGHaSCy4qyn_faf5Ot16TPlQ_qu3KpVvmKwNbFtFS1pr1fZKJfHUwVDL-pg1sVXvdPEBiAX35JqDE8JTI61IUWk0lchyphenhyphenS3oOe3lmKM0SBw0D1gzZPFHhQ/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_uvSsZAblkMBIMb5N7_L6FvGHaSCy4qyn_faf5Ot16TPlQ_qu3KpVvmKwNbFtFS1pr1fZKJfHUwVDL-pg1sVXvdPEBiAX35JqDE8JTI61IUWk0lchyphenhyphenS3oOe3lmKM0SBw0D1gzZPFHhQ/w400-h266/image.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sound Healing Instruments<br />at The Lodge at Woodloch</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Primordial sound meditation is also on the menu at the <a href="https://chopra.com/articles/what-is-primordial-sound-meditation" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">Chopra Center for Well-Being</a> in California. Guests receive personal mantras, specific sounds or vibrations that help them achieve quieter, more peaceful states of mind.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">In Wisconsin, Kohler Waters Spa at The American Club has wet treatment rooms featuring <a href="https://www.us.kohler.com/us/nonprdcontent/articleDetail1.jsp?contentId=CNT2400525" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">VibraAcoustic bath technology</a>. There, a big bathtub is tricked out with transducers that send vibrations through the water and aimed at opening up lymphatic pathways, said Nikki Miller, director of Kohler Waters Spas.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">For companies looking to add sound therapy to their offerings, here is one piece of counterintuitive advice. Rather than just focusing on the noise, resort operators also need to focus on designing spaces for, well, blissful silence. “Creating a soundproof space significantly enhances the effectiveness of the experience,” Lee, of Eaton in Washington, D.C., explained.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">“Silence,” he added, “must be given the honor it deserves.”</p>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-48945336062617800592020-09-01T13:00:00.002-04:002020-09-01T15:30:22.036-04:00How to Be a Better Digital Moderator<p> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">When blogging tools became available on the Internet in the 1990s, everybody “became” a writer. When smart phones with cameras became ubiquitous during the first decade of this century, everybody “became” a photographer. As we know from the subsequent explosion of bad blogs and blurred images, just because technology exists doesn’t mean everyone has the skill set to employ it effectively. </span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-70d98fce-7fff-d3c9-be69-f869b63aa461"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Next in our tale, we zoom to 2020, the year of Zoom and GoToMeetings and other online conference platforms. Today, everybody is “becoming” a presenter. But despite how easy Anderson Cooper may make it seem, being an anchor and an interviewer is no easy feat. The ability to conduct a discussion among a group of panelists and to ask key follow-up questions, all the while keeping the program engaging, is a skill that needs to be honed. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Having worked in the television industry for many years, first as a producer for CNN, next as a contributor to various TV news and chat shows, and now as a media trainer as well, I have discovered many of the keys to on-air success. The majority of these translate directly to the digital world, with a few technical tweaks.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Now, I am not here to talk to you about lighting and camera placement and the best webcasting equipment. There are plenty of YouTube tutorials on those topics. Instead, this post provides direction on how to become a better digital moderator.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A digital moderator must serve as host, interviewer and producer. Bet you didn’t consider the “producer” hat. But the fact is, any good show starts with a producer, someone who develops the outline and the flow, and then selects the elements that will create an entertaining and informative program. Even if someone else is doing some of this work behind the scenes, as the moderator, you should at the very least take on the pre-production role of pre-interviewing all panelists. Without taking this step, your session could easily lose focus and flow, or become repetitive..or all of the above.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Preferably, the pre-interview should be done via video. Speaking with each panelist in advance serves several purposes.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You can learn about the type of information each panelist can uniquely provide, which will enable you to develop relevant questions and steer the conversation.</span></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You can ensure that each panelist focuses on a different subject or angle, thereby avoiding redundancy.</span></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You can get clued into each panelist’s presentational quirks. More on that in a minute.</span></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Establishing a pre-meeting connection will give even the edgiest panelist a higher comfort level.</span></span></p></li></ol><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Now, about those quirks. The pre-interview is the time when you learn whether speakers are bores, or if they fancy themselves as witty intellectuals. Knowing these tendencies in advance will help you create a game plan to avoid ennui, ill-advised humor or tedious lectures.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It’s all in the questioning. For the long-winded panelist, it’s best to ask questions that encourage succinct answers. For example, “Diane, can you briefly sum up, in about two minutes, how technology can enable better eco-tourism practices?” Similarly, if the panelist tends to spit out technical jargon, the moderator might ask, “Joe, for those of us who are not industry experts, could you explain in simple terms how that works?” In either case, if the panelist reverts to bad habits, feel free to gently interrupt to ask for clarification or brevity. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A good moderator also makes sure that each panelist gets his or her proper face time. Balance your speakers. Don’t allow one to dominate. As the anchor, you need to be aware of who is hogging the spotlight, who’s reluctant to speak and who’s somewhere in the middle. You might have to gently cut off the palaverous ponderings of Spotlight Suzy, while drawing out the deep thoughts of Shy Simon. Another way to balance is by doing rapid-fire response rounds among all the panelists, or asking for feedback about what another person said.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As an anchor and as a moderator, you have to be able to multi-task. You have to stay aware of the time, and ensure time is available for audience questions and answers. If questions are submitted on a side panel, you, as the moderator, need to keep an eye on what’s coming in the whole time, while continuing to pay attention to what your speakers are saying.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Listening, in fact, is the most critical skill any moderator can have. Certainly, it’s important to have a prepared outline of questions. But a good moderator will toss those out on the fly should the conversation warrant. Instead of sticking to your list of questions, LISTEN to what speakers are saying and</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> follow up</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on important points they are making, even if it steers the discussion a bit off-course. That said, don’t let too many digressions take you completely off topic. As the conductor of the session, you do need to make sure the conversation ultimately stays on track. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In the next post, more on improving your presentation skills.</span></span></p><br /></span>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-86569684786083411722020-08-25T12:19:00.007-04:002020-09-01T15:29:10.381-04:00<div class="separator"><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face="" style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Five Wellness Experiences to Enjoy in Nature</span></b></span></p><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There’s nothing like a global pandemic to wake people up to the wonders of Mother Nature, whether it’s in the form of countryside, coastline or mountains. And that’s not by chance. The science behind the benefits of nature is proven, to the point where both doctors and wellness practitioners are increasingly prescribing outdoor activities that reap medicinal benefits, without the side effects. This “discovery” of the healing power of nature has pushed wellness vacations in nature to the top of health-conscious travelers’ lists. Here are five ways up your wellness quotient naturally, on your next trip.</span></p><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #6b6b6b;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Find Open Sky</b></span></p><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></p><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="426" src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/orbitz-media/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/13135117/new-mexico-night-sky.jpg" width="643" /></p></div><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are few things more awe-inspiring than gazing up at a night sky untouched by light pollution. Stars that you didn’t even know existed glimmer brightly, and constellations and the Milky Way are easily visible. Looking up at a dark sky is a stellar wellness experience, often resulting in a meditative, beta-wave state.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you want to take a star trek, head first to the<a href="https://www.darksky.org/about/" rel="noopener" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"> International Dark-Sky Association website</a>. IDSA certifies places with night sky-friendly lighting. The best of the best are called Dark Sky Sanctuaries. There are only ten of them in the entire world, and only one is in the United States. Cosmic Campground is in the Gila National Forest in the western part of New Mexico. Those with a fear of the dark need not apply. The closest source of man-made light is about 40 miles away. There aren’t a lot of hotels around here, either. So, after gazing up, you might want to plunk yourself down in <a href="https://www.orbitz.com/Silver-City-Hotels.d3306.Travel-Guide-Hotels?mcicid=blog.orbitz.article" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Silver City</a>, which is about an hour away.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Woodland Wellness</b></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6b6b6b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img height="427" src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/orbitz-media/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/13134927/forest-bathing.jpg" width="642" /></p><h1 style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 26px; line-height: 1.38462; margin: 36px 0px 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Since being developed in Japan 40 years ago, forest bathing has become somewhat of a global sensation. We’re not just talking about a walk in the woods here. A forest bath is a total immersion into the sights, sounds and smells of the woods. Several American resorts now offer guided forest bathing experiences as part of their wellness menus.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.orbitz.com/Stowe-Hotels-The-Lodge-At-Spruce-Peak.h1844843.Hotel-Information?mcicid=blog.orbitz.article" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">The Lodge at Spruce Peak</a> is a year-round resort located in Stowe, Vermont. Its guided excursion explores the Green Mountains. Don’t be surprised if the guide asks you to take off your shoes, as contact with the wet, cool ground is believed to create a stronger connection to nature. <a href="https://www.orbitz.com/Hawley-Hotels-The-Lodge-At-Woodloch.h1500839.Hotel-Information?mcicid=blog.orbitz.article" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">The Lodge at Woodloch</a> in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains brags about its certified Forest Bathing Specialists, who lead two-hour jaunts that focus on breathing and mind-clearing.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Say Hay</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6b6b6b; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img height="427" src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/orbitz-media/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/13134953/hay.jpg" width="642" /></p></h1><div><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sleeping on hot, wet hay was first popularized in Italy’s Dolomites. Farmers who cut hay used to sleep on it after a long day of work. But the new version of the practice is not just a roll in the hay. Wellness-seeking straw sleepers will instead find themselves wrapped in bales infused with fermented mountain herbs. The active substances in the herbs have a calming and anti-inflammatory action, and are said to strengthen the immune system and promote circulation.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">While hay bathing is offered at many resorts in the Dolomites and has also spread to some places in Eastern Europe, it’s not a wellness option easily found in North America. Right now, the best bet may be a visit to Chicago’s <a href="https://www.pivabeerspa.com/" rel="noopener" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Piva Beer Spa</a>. As its name suggests, this place offers soaking rooms with wooden tubs filled with a brew of barley, hops and brewer’s yeast. After soaking up the beer bath, guests are moved to a relaxation room, where they lie on beds of hay. For those who want to roll straight from the hay to a comfy mattress, the closest hotel is <a href="https://www.orbitz.com/Chicago-Hotels-The-Robey.h15758132.Hotel-Information?mcicid=blog.orbitz.article" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">The Robey</a>, located in trendy Wicker Park.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Hot Spring Bubbles</b></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6b6b6b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img height="428" src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/orbitz-media/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/13135021/hot-spring.jpg" width="641" /></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The healing powers of hot springs have been appreciated for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks, the ancient Romans and the Founding Fathers were all fans of natural waters warmed geothermally. Due to their high mineral contact, hot springs are reputed to have a number of therapeutic benefits, including boosting immunity and circulation, reducing stress and relieving pain.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are plentiful natural hot springs throughout the Mountain West. However, many are hard to find, and don’t have facilities nearby. To soak without roughing it, check out the Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop. If you follow the entire 720-mile route in the western part of the state, you can experience hot springs in 17 different destinations. Two of the top resort towns along the loop are <a href="https://www.orbitz.com/Pagosa-Springs-Hotels-The-Springs-Resort-Spa.h3516026.Hotel-Information?chkin=2020-09-30&chkout=2020-10-01&x_pwa=1&rfrr=HSR&pwa_ts=1596809233085&referrerUrl=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub3JiaXR6LmNvbS9Ib3RlbC1TZWFyY2g%3D&useRewards=false&rm1=a2&regionId=9397&destination=Pagosa+Springs%2C+Colorado%2C+United+States+of+America&destType=CURRENT_LOCATION&selected=3516026&sort=RECOMMENDED&top_dp=383&top_cur=USD&semdtl=&selectedRoomType=217230093&selectedRatePlan=268136801" rel="noopener" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Pagosa Springs</a> and <a href="https://www.orbitz.com/Glenwood-Springs-Hotels-Hotel-Glenwood-Springs.h1464442.Hotel-Information?chkin=2020-09-30&chkout=2020-10-01&x_pwa=1&rfrr=HSR&pwa_ts=1596809312140&referrerUrl=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub3JiaXR6LmNvbS9Ib3RlbC1TZWFyY2g%3D&useRewards=false&rm1=a2&regionId=6127019&destination=Glenwood+Hot+Springs%2C+Glenwood+Springs%2C+Colorado%2C+United+States+of+America&destType=MARKET&sort=RECOMMENDED&top_dp=107&top_cur=USD&semdtl=&selectedRoomType=200056315&selectedRatePlan=200325869" rel="noopener" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Glenwood Hot Springs</a>.</p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: white;">Knee-Deep in Kneipping</b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="273" src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/orbitz-media/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/13135052/Kneipping.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="411" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Back in the 19th century, a German priest named Sebastian Kneipp revolutionized naturopathy. He came up with an idea to develop nature trails where people would wander barefoot through hot and cold water, and over sand, pebbles and forest ground. Countless Germans swear by the practice. While kneipping courses are abundant in the old country, Kneipp knowledge hasn’t seemed to translate to North America. So, if you want to try kneipping without stepping on a plane, head to a forest dotted with glacial waters and set your own course. Give kneipping a whirl, for example, in the Adirondacks or Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.</span></div><div><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #6b6b6b; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #6b6b6b; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #6b6b6b; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A version of this article appeared<a href="https://www.orbitz.com/blog/2020/08/5-wellness-experiences-to-enjoy-in-nature/"> on the Orbitz blog.</a></span></div><div><br /></div>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-71405688903219749622020-08-14T11:44:00.000-04:002020-08-14T11:44:32.063-04:00 The Nature of Green Wellness Communities <div class="separator"><span id="docs-internal-guid-460c5b9c-7fff-c57a-58ba-4c68c114f0e2" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The COVID-19 crisis has given everyone a new perspective on the importance of integrating nature into our everyday lives. Pre-pandemic, we were busy hurtling from home to job, usually in cars or crowded public transportation, often in busy urban areas, with little time built in to experience the great outdoors.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Nature heals: Living in green neighborhoods linked with ..." height="229" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcQfxvtcME9Il0m5eGl-3V2K3w6isTBwYwQ-Fv4aPc2sQudZo3EEYMwdcWLjSd4BMFhC8ypF74RJ6dJetJyCHdwhsQ&usqp=CAU&ec=45690271" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="344" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">During the past few months, nature has provided a bit of relief to millions of people in search of physical and mental health. Breathing in fresh air, enjoying the aromas of nature, feeling a relaxing breeze, hearing birds singing and looking up at the stars have served as natural tonics for anxiety and cabin fever. Indeed, the lockdown has taught us that people need landscapes. In this digital age, the value of the IRL natural world is finally back where it should be--front and center.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This renewed appreciation of nature as a contributor to health and wellness will be one of the long-lasting outcomes of this era. Going forward, that is likely to translate into a greater desire for residential neighborhoods and public spaces that emphasize wellness components. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The way urban and community planners think about space will change following the pandemic, according to</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Pablo S. Massari, an associate principal at </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.edsaplan.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">EDSA, a Florida-based landscape architecture firm</a>.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Parks and outdoor environments will be prioritized and re-imagined. “In Victorian times,” he said, “people noticed cities getting unhealthier, so they developed parks with canopies and shade. In recent decades, those natural features have been crowded out by tennis courts and playgrounds and skating parks. (But today), most outdoor spaces today are overly programmed for recreation and sports, with very little space for canopy and trails.” Now is the time to change that, he said, by bringing back canopy and greenery, both in parks and in residential areas. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Enhancing New Urbanism through greenway design | CNU" height="491" src="https://www.cnu.org/sites/default/files/styles/public_square_feature_image/public/Greenway-tioga-fl-arendt1.jpg?itok=MqE-Pg7V" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="769" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy: Congress for the New Urbanism<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-460c5b9c-7fff-c57a-58ba-4c68c114f0e2" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In terms of community planning then, as new neighborhoods are designed, green space is key. A priority should be put on the ability to traverse the neighborhood by foot or bike. Developing neighborhood greenways, low-traffic streets where bicyclists and walkers get priority over motorists, or dedicated trails for non-motorized vehicles can help do the trick. Communal gardens and outdoor “open play” areas are other features that can add green elements and opportunities for human connection, both of which are key to wellness.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The 19th Hole</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When we discuss wellness, we are talking about it holistically. It is not solely human health that we seek to improve, but also the environment at large. That is why, when discussing wellness communities, we should reconsider the idea of homes built around a golf course. Golf courses are known water guzzlers, and the use of fertilizer and pesticides to maintain their manicured lawns are not good for the environment. Furthermore, golf courses located near protected or sensitive areas can have negative impacts on local flora and fauna. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">According to EDSA’s Massari, particularly in areas where water is scarce, extra land should be used for less impactful forms of recreation, or for agriculture, both of which serve to benefit nature and people. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p></span></div>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-33091289264662491192020-08-10T09:51:00.001-04:002020-08-14T11:03:17.883-04:00Shining the Spotlight on Wellness Real Estate<p><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">The wellness zeitgeist has been permeating our culture during the past decade. People run around the world in search of wellness practices. At home, they spend spend thousands of dollars a year on SoulCycle and smoothies. Yet, what has been largely overlooked as the movement has exploded is the wellness of one's physical home and the neighborhood that surrounds it. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-792a94aa-7fff-fb7f-481d-5410cdba8a3b"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As most of us have been spending 24/7 inside for the last few months, the realization that </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">home is where the health is</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has become a reality. Suddenly, there is an understanding that the home environment itself should be healthy and healing, from the quality of the air to the availability of sunlight to the materials used in construction. And, as we take short jaunts around our neighborhoods, we are increasingly appreciating the lure of outdoor features like tree canopy, green spaces, water and walking trails.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Wellness Community, the new lifestyle reality to life a healthy ..." height="403" src="https://www.technogym.com/wpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Wellness-community-facebook-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="768" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A running trail in Emilia-Romagna's Wellness Valley<br />Courtesy: Technogym<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's not surprising, then, that many experts predict that this pandemic will change the way people choose to live. Even before COVID, </span><a href="https://www.departures.com/art-culture/wellness-communities-taking-healthy-living-next-level" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">there were studies indicating that </span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lifestyle and environmental factors account for nearly 85 percent of one's health outcomes. It's not a coincidence that dur</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">ing the lockdown, there’s been almost a primordial urge to return to arcadia, in the form of countryside, coastline or mountains. </span><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"> At the same time, though, in isolation, people are realizing the importance of IRL connection and community.</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That is why wellness real estate is set to experience its moment. The wellness real estate sector was already in a nascent state pre-COVID. But post-pandemic, the trend toward buying healthy homes and real estate in wellness communities will grow as more people take into consideration how their living environments support their physical, mental and emotional state of being. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><a href="https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Global Wellness Institute</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has been watching this trend develop over the past decade.</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> According to </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Build Well to Live Well: Wellness Lifestyle Real Estate and Communities</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, wellness real estate was a $134 billion worldwide industry in 2017, and, at the time of the report, was expected to grow to $180 billion in 2022. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Given that pandemic, expect that number to top $200 billion. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are several important features of the communities that are actually walking the wellness walk. They include the use of natural and no-VOC materials in construction; </span><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">the <a href="http://dailysuitcase.blogspot.com/2020/08/rethinking-hotel-design-to-connect.html" target="_blank">incorporation of biophilic elements </a></span><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://dailysuitcase.blogspot.com/2020/08/rethinking-hotel-design-to-connect.html" target="_blank">in design</a>, and an</span><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"> abundance of unprogrammed outdoor spaces (that means no golf courses and concrete-covered playground areas). A focus on community-building and social connection is another vital element of a true wellness neighborhood, one that is often overlooked by companies that are trying to glom on to the trend without really understanding the importance and the nuances of a holistic approach. This could result, for example, in larger front porches, smaller front yards and more communal spaces.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p></span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over a series of blog posts, I will be exploring the key ingredients that every wellness community worth its salt must sport. Stay tuned.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-78135404052534327452020-08-04T16:37:00.000-04:002020-08-04T16:37:05.643-04:00Rethinking Hotel Design to Connect Guests to Nature<div class="separator"><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px;"><i><font color="#2b00fe">I wrote <a href="https://skift.com/2019/10/15/rethinking-luxury-hotel-design-to-connect-guests-with-nature/">this article for Skift </a>in October, 2019. If I do say so for myself, it's rather prescient. Given all of the events that have taken place to date in 2020, there is no doubt that travelers will be seeking out hotels incorporating wellness elements and green spaces inside and out.</font></i></p></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial">As luxury hotels strive to incorporate wellness into their offerings, they would be wise to attend to the principles of biophilic design.</font></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial">Any student of etymology should easily be able to define the word “biophilia.” It stems from the Greek words for life and love. As defined in English, biophilia suggests man’s innate biological connection with nature. It’s why a walk in the woods is soothing and why light is stimulating. Basically, it’s why nature makes us feel better.</font></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial">But how does one apply the principles of biophilia to indoor spaces, which are separated from nature? That’s where biophilic design comes into the equation.</font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="These hospitality spaces take biophilic design to a new level ..." src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRfieJerCotU5IBdZPP0g0Z--A_-qp9P-5r-A&usqp=CAU" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">terramai.com<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial">Much of today’s built environment lacks natural light, organic materials, and other nods to nature. Yes, the presence of plants can be therapeutic, but true biophilic environments are not achieved by way of add-on features, like a plant in every room. Instead, biophilic design means incorporating nature in every aspect of design.</font></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial">It’s the use of natural materials whenever possible. It’s incorporating the curvy patterns (or fractals) found in nature into the design of carpets and furnishings. It’s imagining how people move through the space. It’s creating areas of refuge, where guests can feel protected. In all, there are at least 14 key elements of biophilic design. These are outlined in a<a href="https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/14-patterns/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"> brief bible of biophilic design</a> produced by Terrapin Bright Green, an environmental consultancy.</font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Two New Biophilic Design Case Studies - Terrapin Bright Green" height="209" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRZGp112Ory5aDqSfnYSU5Bfw0Q5W9maQ6S_w&usqp=CAU" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="375" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">terrapinbrightgreen.com<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial">“Biophilic design can be very powerful in the hospitality industry,” according to Lorraine Francis, design principal for <a href="https://www.cadizcollaboration.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">Cadiz Collaboration</a>. She said it can be “a cost-effective way to enhance the guest experience while improving well-being and health. (Use of biophilic) principles enable us to not only create a more engaging design experience but also trigger a deeper affinity to certain brands.”</font></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial">According to Bill Browning, founding partner of <a href="https://terrapinbrightgreen.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">Terrapin Bright Green</a>, there’s room in the market for a hotel brand to own biophilic design. “Hospitality is one of the few places where designers tend to pay attention to all five senses. And since experiences are more intense when multiple senses are engaged simultaneously,” this bodes well for brand differentiation. Browning painted the picture: “The feel of the textiles; the scents of flowers, candles and food; crackling of logs in a fireplace; the splash of water in a fountain; the texture of wood grain and stone in furnishings; and birds singing in a lobby are ways of creating more memorable spaces.”</font></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial"><br /></font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="These hospitality spaces take biophilic design to a new level ..." height="224" src="https://www.terramai.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/denton-embassy-lobby.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hotel lobby with several biophilic design features<br />terramai.com</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"></p><div class="bigArticleAd" data-google-query-id="CPOq8YCvgusCFcXcwAodvygH8A" id="skiftAd2" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px auto; max-width: 640px; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><font face="arial">The key in biophilic design, though, is to not overdo it. Browning said the idea of focusing on one or two elements is the way to go: “Hoteliers should decide what they want guests to experience from the space and then provide complementary biophilic design. But they shouldn’t go crazy.” Otherwise, the cacophony of features might prove overwhelming.</font></p><h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 18px; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 18px; text-transform: uppercase;">WESTIN LOOKS TO NATURE</span></h2><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial">Westin’s claim to fame within the Marriott batch of brands is wellness. While the brand came from Starwood with some biophilic elements built in, the design was neither consistent nor ubiquitous, either throughout an individual hotel or throughout the brand. That’s why David Kepron, vice president of Marriott’s Global Design Strategy Group, thought the brand was ripe for a biophilic design makeover.</font></p><div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_363735" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px; max-width: 100%; width: 200px;"><a href="https://3rxg9qea18zhtl6s2u8jammft-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Westin-Gen5MR-Entry_Door-Open-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-363735" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><font color="#000000" face="arial"><img alt="" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-363735" class="wp-image-363735 size-medium" height="300" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" src="https://3rxg9qea18zhtl6s2u8jammft-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Westin-Gen5MR-Entry_Door-Open-1-200x300.jpg" srcset="https://3rxg9qea18zhtl6s2u8jammft-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Westin-Gen5MR-Entry_Door-Open-1-200x300.jpg 200w, https://3rxg9qea18zhtl6s2u8jammft-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Westin-Gen5MR-Entry_Door-Open-1-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://3rxg9qea18zhtl6s2u8jammft-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Westin-Gen5MR-Entry_Door-Open-1-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://3rxg9qea18zhtl6s2u8jammft-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Westin-Gen5MR-Entry_Door-Open-1-185x278.jpg 185w, https://3rxg9qea18zhtl6s2u8jammft-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Westin-Gen5MR-Entry_Door-Open-1-456x684.jpg 456w, https://3rxg9qea18zhtl6s2u8jammft-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Westin-Gen5MR-Entry_Door-Open-1-40x60.jpg 40w, https://3rxg9qea18zhtl6s2u8jammft-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Westin-Gen5MR-Entry_Door-Open-1-80x120.jpg 80w, https://3rxg9qea18zhtl6s2u8jammft-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Westin-Gen5MR-Entry_Door-Open-1.jpg 1365w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="200" /></font></a><p class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-363735" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(205, 205, 205); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 10px;"><font face="arial">A Westin model room shows the use of light in biophilic design, with light fixtures casting shadows and shapes found in nature. Photo: Westin Hotels & Resorts</font></p></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial">“Because of a better understanding of neuro-physiology, the mind-body connection to experiencing space,” said Kepron, “the design team is working on better ways to create ‘cognitive handshakes’ throughout Westin — designing rooms and public spaces that respond to an individual’s neurobiological needs.”</font></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial">While biophilic design is being considered holistically, the main element that Westin is focusing on is light. Kepron illuminated, “Westin plans to own light. We look at it in three ways. There’s the aesthetic quality. Both the light fixtures and the quality of light emanating from them need to be beautiful. We will use lighting that casts shadows or that allows for diffused light (an example would be a frosted glass wall between the bathroom and the bedroom, allowing natural light to filter in). Finally, we want light to respond to human biorhythms,” which may ultimately help guests use lighting as a tool for better sleep.</font></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial">Westin will also be adding more natural elements to its rooms. In lieu of framed art of pastoral settings, Westin is adding three-dimensional sculptural elements made from organic materials or depicting natural themes. A major feature in each room will be the wall behind the headboard, which will incorporate natural colors and materials that are reflective of the location.</font></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; line-height: 22px; margin: 30px 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><font face="arial">LUSH LIVING WALLS MEAN GREEN — IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE</font></h3><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial">An Orbitz study of millennials found that nearly one-fourth would pay $50 to $100 more for a room filled with plants. Along those lines, biophilic design can incorporate living walls. <a href="https://www.thompsonhotels.com/hotels/illinois/chicago/thompson-chicago" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">The Thompson Chicago</a>, for example, sports a two-story-high wall of foliage behind its lobby bar. In Singapore, cab drivers call the <a href="https://www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-and-resorts/pr-pickering.html" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">PARKROYAL on Pickering</a> the “jungle hotel.” That’s because it’s designed as a high-rise garden, with plants cascading from exterior and interior walls.</font></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial"><br /></font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="426" src="https://3rxg9qea18zhtl6s2u8jammft-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CHITH_P001_Lounge-1024x667.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Thompson Hotel, Chicago" width="654" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Green Wall cascades behind the lobby bar at The Thompson, Chicago<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5e5e5e; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial"></font></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial">What’s the payoff for incorporating Mother Nature in hotel design? Guests will likely feel better while hotels will make more money. <a href="https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/blog/2017/09/human-spaces-2-0-biophilic-design-in-hospitality/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: rgba(209, 67, 57, 0.8) 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">Terrapin, Interface, and Gensler</a> collaborated on a study to observe pricing trends for hotel rooms with and without a view at hotels. The study found that rooms with a view to nature, particularly to water, are consistently priced higher than rooms without one. For resort hotels there was an 18 percent difference while a natural view from a city hotel could be priced up to 12 percent more.</font></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><font face="arial">But for Kepron, biophilic design is not just about the money. “Margin is in the mood,” he said. “There’s something to be said for considering the ROI of magic and memory.”</font></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><br /></p>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063640457659081285.post-32620949348444542612020-07-23T10:49:00.000-04:002020-07-26T11:12:50.792-04:00Glamping Elevated: The New Wave of Eco-Resorts<div class="separator"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">What makes an eco-resort, well, “eco”? It’s complicated. </span></p></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-55cb4fe0-7fff-3c6e-1c04-5c28a80fd3a3"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just because a property is located in a pristine environment, engages in sustainable practices, or buys carbon offsets to compensate for its environmental impact, that doesn’t automatically put it in this increasingly sought-after category. The definition of an eco-resort is a bit more nuanced than that. Europe is leading the charge in the space, not only by showing the world what exactly it can entail, but also in creating lots of properties that fit within its parameters.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><font face="arial"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One possible definition comes from Steph Curtis-Raleigh, whose Upgrade Publishing company produces International Glamping Business Magazine, along with glamping and </span><a href="https://www.ecoresort.network/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">eco-resort trade shows</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. “Eco-resorts are largely outdoorsy hotels where there is an environmental ethos,” she said. “It can be any type of accommodation — tents, individual structures, hotel —but it’s down to the way it’s run; it’s a hotel with a conscience.” David Levanthal, founder of </span><a href="https://www.regenerativetravel.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Regenerative Resorts</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, agreed that the definition starts with intention. “It goes down to the values of the people behind the resort,” said Levanthal. “How they got to where they are and their concern for the wellness of the entire environment.”</span></font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Kimshasa Baldwin · Treehouse Suite at Playa Viva Sustainable Boutique Hotel" height="360" src="https://divisare-res.cloudinary.com/images/f_auto,q_auto,w_800/v1478754608/htmjlapgxs1ygrhoveav/kimshasa-baldwin-treehouse-suite-at-playa-viva-sustainable-boutique-hotel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Treehouse Suite at Playa Maya, Mexico<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><font face="arial"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this way, the eco-resort movement has much in common with the </span><a href="https://skift.com/2020/01/02/what-luxury-travel-looks-like-in-2020/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">transformational travel trend</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which Skift has been reporting on. The common threads are consciousness and concern about environmental and societal impacts.</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><font face="arial">Good old-fashioned marketing matters, too, according to Siniša Topalović, managing partner at Horwath HTL. “There are those resorts which are eco-friendly in terms of sustainability efforts and energy efficiency, but those initiatives are not always marketed to guests,” he said. In other words, if an environmentally conscious resort does not promote itself as such, it may not end up in the specific category of eco-resorts.</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><font face="arial">Often, eco-resorts are in the upscale and luxury tiers, he added. That’s because delivering seamless service in a calm environment often requires a place to be “individualized and small scale” — hence, toward the luxury end of the spectrum. “It’s not easy to do a three-star eco-resort,” said Topalović.</font></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.523076923076923; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 15pt 0pt 23pt 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><font face="arial" size="3">A NEW MONIKER FOR AN OLD CONCEPT</font></span></h3><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The idea of a resort located in nature and focused on sustainability started in northern Europe. It’s a particularly strong phenomenon in Scandinavia, according to Topalović, which many consider Europe’s most environmentally focused region. But that comes with a catch. Because Scandinavia is ahead of the curve, properties like Norway’s </span><a href="https://juvet.com/" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Juvet Landscape Hotel</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or </span><a href="https://panhytter.no/?lang=en" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PAN Treetop</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> may not classify as eco-resorts, said Curtis-Raleigh. For the Scandinavians, “these properties are just something set in nature — it doesn’t have to be classified, not marketed in that way.”</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://www.whitelinehotels.com/cache/images/16_architecture_pes._00a20dd517c2081469137487.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvet Landscape Hotel, Norway<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><font face="arial">In places like the Netherlands, France, and Greece, according to Curtis-Raleigh, many traditional tented camping and glamping sites are now upgrading themselves into eco-resorts, which “are more ambitious projects” often involving built structures, like cabins, treehouses, or containers. In the vast majority of cases, those projects “are accommodations providing eco- and nature-related experiences to guests, which allow guests to connect and immerse in nature,” said Levanthal. “The experience is in direct connection with nature and the environment around you.”</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><font face="arial">Both Slovenia and Croatia are leaning into the concept in a big way. These countries lost out on a lot of tourism during the war of the 1990s. When the fighting ended, “they had to get back into the game and quickly,” noted Curtis-Raleigh. “Because they had a chance to look at what was happening in the world at the time, they were able to embrace new ways of getting into the game with low environmental impact,” she said.</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><font face="arial"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Growth of eco-resorts in these countries has also followed government policy, Topalović said. </span><a href="https://skift.com/2018/12/04/destinations-push-green-credentials-to-entice-luxury-travelers/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Slovenia’s national tourism office has gone all in for nature tourism</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and the result has been an increase in specialized eco-resorts. In Croatia, the development of eco-resorts in rural areas is part of the solution to the overtourism problem along the country’s coast. For example, inland in Lovinac, the highly anticipated </span><a href="https://teslanest.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T-Nest eco-resort</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is set to open this fall. It incorporates 70 wooden villas in a scenic forest landscape. Green credentials include a natural pool with a self-cleaning system, an elevated tree canopy trail, and organic gardens and greenhouses supplying the on-site restaurants.</span></font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Slovenia Eco Resort and Glamping Olimia Adria Village among top 7 ..." height="360" src="https://www.slovenia.info/uploads/news_2018_tuji_pr/olimia.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Olimia Adria Village Eco-Resort, Slovenia" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olimia Adria Village Eco-Resort, Slovenia<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h3 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.523076923076923; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 15pt 0pt 23pt 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><font face="arial" size="3">WHAT’S COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE</font></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><font face="arial"><a href="https://yournature.be/en/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your Nature</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, situated in 700 acres of preserved forestland in western Belgium, is scheduled to open later this year. The eco-resort is designed to preserve the area’s biodiversity and natural resources. It will consist of hundreds of small lodges built from sustainable materials. There will be multiple dining and nightlife concepts and a range of recreational facilities. What’s more, the carbon footprint for getting there will be small. Your Nature is a short train ride from London, Paris, and Brussels.</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><font face="arial"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the resort is owned by Edouard de Ligne, a member of the Belgian nobility, it’s going to be branded and managed by a notable hotel company: </span><a href="http://www.dreamhotelgroup.com/default-en.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dream Hotel Group, </span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">which recently signed on as the property’s management company. CEO Jay Stein said that even though Dream Hotels hadn’t originally planned to start an eco-resort, a chance encounter with a green-leaning real estate developer offered reason enough to give it a shot. Since the world is heading this way, and the concept fit into de Ligne’s desire to be “progressive and sustainable,” the partnership made sense.</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your Nature, which will be branded under Dream’s Unscripted label, will be a pilot project, according to Stein. “We are trying to get fully immersed in the concept and are learning as we go,” said Stein. “We aren’t bringing a playbook and dropping it in there. That said, we are hoping to bring in elements from existing brands, and vice versa.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><font face="arial">Will other hotel companies follow Dream Hotels in the eco-resort movement? According to Topalović, “While eco-resorts are becoming increasingly popular, they are not mainstream. They are still perceived by investors as niche/boutique,” which, he said, may not be of interest to bigger companies — yet.</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><font face="arial"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But Curtis-Raleigh sees eco-resorts as products that will appeal both to investors specializing in social responsibility and to large hotel companies. That’s because the desire “to seek out experiential travel and discover modern, unique accommodations doesn’t seem to be going away.” Just look at </span><a href="https://autocamp.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">AutoCamp</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://skift.com/2019/12/17/luxury-tented-resorts-poised-for-a-post-glamping-era/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">UnderCanvas</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and </span><a href="https://getaway.house/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Getaway</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, all of which have </span><a href="https://skift.com/2019/02/01/autocamp-raises-115-million-for-glamping-travel-startup-funding-this-week/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">raised millions of dollars in recent years</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from venture capital funds, private equity firms, and major hospitality companies.</span></font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Our Luxury Accommodations in California | AutoCamp" height="427" src="https://autocamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GallAutoCamp-1883-2-768x512.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="An Autocamp Resort in California" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Autocamp Resort in California<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><font face="arial">As big money comes into the picture, however, there is a danger that the concept could end up getting misappropriated. There is certainly potential for greenwashing, which is when an organization falsely presents itself as environmentally responsible. According to Curtis-Raleigh, the industry “would like to come up with some standards as to what an eco-resort is to avoid greenwashing.” That said, “We don’t want to impose these standards, but we do want to ensure that eco-resorts always serve to improve the lives of the people who live around them and the environment.”</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><i style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">This article also appeared in Skift in February. </i></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><font face="arial"> </font></p><div><br /></div></span>Laura Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14459529044827006618noreply@blogger.com0