Miscellaneous

💪 Loews Hotels & Co launched "Active Stays" on September 9, offering flexible fitness and wellness options across its 18 properties in the U.S. and Canada. The initiative, created with trainer Makena Rae, includes in-room workouts and locally inspired movement experiences. A March 2026 Peloton survey found that 60% of travelers prioritize fitness amenities. Loews properties, including in New York and Chicago, provide curated running maps and special packages, aligning with the growing guest demand for inclusive wellness options.

🖼 Jonny Trunk, a notable archivist and record label owner, showcases retro graphic design in his volume "Holiday Exotica," published by Fuel Publishing. The book, priced at £26.95, highlights vintage holiday brochures from the 1950s to 1980s, capturing the allure and simplicity of graphic design from that era. Trunk's collection offers a nostalgic view of travel marketing, appealing to those interested in visual art and history. Available through Fuel Publishing and Amazon.

🎧 Danish design brand Fritz Hansen collaborated with Technics at the London Design Festival, transforming its Farringdon showroom into four domestic listening scenes. Featuring a 90th-anniversary edition of the Kaiser Idell Luxus lamp and Technics' SL 40CBT turntable, the installation invites guests to explore how sound influences interior experiences until 20 September. The event highlights include a study area with Arne Jacobsen's Ant Chair and a living room featuring Poul Kjærholm's PK31 sofa.

🧖‍♀️ Aman Kyoto offers a 180-minute Purifying Journey in Japan. Ananda in the Himalayas provides a 45-minute Abhyanga massage in India. Lanserhof Sylt features a seven-day wellness programme in Germany. NIHI Sumba in Indonesia delivers a full-day Spa Safari. Pendry Newport Beach offers a two-hour Ultimate Facial in the USA. The Peninsula Paris provides a 60-90 minute Expert Cellulaire Treatment in France. Royal Mansour Marrakech presents a full-day hammam in Morocco. Sensei Lanai offers a personal spa retreat in the USA. SHA Mexico introduces stem-cell treatments in Mexico.

💡 Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) World 2026, occurring from September 29 to October 1 in Dubai, emphasizes wellness in hospitality. Hotels with major wellness offerings doubled Total Revenue per Available Room compared to others in 2024. Experts discuss wellness as a growing asset class, highlighting increased expectations from travelers for personalized wellness experiences. Wellness tourism is set to grow 9.1% annually, with longevity travel reaching $44 billion by 2030. Longevity and wellness are driving shifts towards integrated lifestyle and hospitality models.

🗺️ Auroville, a unique township in south-east India, spans the Villupuram district across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, with a vision by Sri Aurobindo and a master plan by Roger Anger, it houses around 3,500 residents. The Matrimandir, completed in 2008, is a significant landmark. Auroville's architecture includes the 1998 Visitor Centre and 1996 Water Tower. The Solar Kitchen, serving 1,000 meals daily, demonstrates solar technology, and debates continue over the Crown's development.

🌍 Icelandair's marketing director, Gísli Brynjolfsson, emphasizes that brand recognition is crucial for AI-driven travel searches. Icelandair's campaigns address the challenge of fake online content by highlighting authentic experiences. The 'Really Bad Photographer' campaign invited amateurs to showcase Iceland's natural beauty, proving its appeal without perfect shots. Technology, including search behavior and social listening, plays a key role in targeting audiences and maintaining a human connection in marketing strategies.

🏠 Jet2Villas is adding 1,000 villas from Awaze's NOVASOL portfolio to its holiday rentals across the Mediterranean, including Croatia, France, Italy, Spain, and the Balearic Islands. Awaze, the largest holiday rental provider in Europe, gains a new distribution channel through Jet2's UK network of 14 airport bases. This four-star and five-star expansion allows Jet2 to package villas with flights, offering customers more choice and convenience, with future expansion plans anticipated.