A new kind of hotel certification: Wellness
A hotel in San Diego called the Inn at Moonlight Beach has become the first 'WELL hotel' in the world. A distinction created by the International Well Building Institute (IWBI), the WELL Building Standard is a performance-based system that measures, monitors, and certifies features of buildings that affect the well- being of the people who visit them. The certification rests upon 10 categories: air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind, and community. The platinum- certified Inn at Moonlight Beach features several such examples: An abundance of natural light in all suites, an on-site garden that produces over 50 types of fruit and vegetable, and a whole-house water filtration system that provides purified water.
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Conserve a camp, inspire a generation
A positive change is underway in East Africa Asilia''s Dunia Camp Project in Tanzania is run by general manager Angel Vendeline Namshali, who leads an all-female team that represents the next generation of African leadership in the hospitality industry. A newly launched programme, Twende Porini, brings young children from nearby communities to Asilia''s camps, where they can experience national parks and enjoy being guests. The idea is to inspire young people by widening their worldview beyond their local village, and showcasing potential career pathways. Today, Asilia employs more than 900 people across camps and lodges in Kenya and Tanzania.
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Sleep rooms: Restore, recover, and regenerate
The first of its kind on the African continent, Cape Town's Ellerman House offers a range of new 'Sleep Rooms'. Designed in collaboration with wellness consultant Harry Jameson, these rooms have been completely stripped of electronics and outfitted instead with air purifiers set to an optimal sleep temperature, as well as a sleep pack that includes sleep-enhancing bath salts, body butters, lavender and linen mist, soothing eye masks, and CBD chamomile tea. All guests have access to an advisor from the hotel's wellness team to guide them towards an optimal sleep ritual designed to help the body increase melatonin, manage stress, reduce inflammation, and encourage deep sleep.
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Alchemist 2.0: The most ambitious restaurant in the world?
Located in the former Royal Danish Theatre, Alchemist aims to merge food and theatre via a four-plus-hour, 50-course meal. The head chef, Rasmus Munk, is determined to use the restaurant to raise awareness about social issues. A dish he has made famous is the lamb heart; it is presented with a full transfusion bag and doused with what looks like blood. The gruesome-seeming accompaniment is actually cherry juice, however, and the course is served complete with an organ donation card. Alchemist has already attracted comparisons to other ambitious restaurants such as Albert Adria's Enigma, Paul Pairet's Ultraviolet, and Jordan Kahn's Vespertine.
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The neighbourly zero-waste natural wine bar
Neighbourhood restraunteur Henry Rich has opened a zero-waste natural wine bar, Rhodora, in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Rhodora collaborates with suppliers to ditch single-use plastic and styrofoam packaging, and instead opts for re- usable and washable containers. A composter sits at the heart of the kitchen, along with a dishwashing machine that electrocutes salt into soap. Even more interesting is its unique staffing model. No traditional division between front- of- and back-of-house staff for Rhodora, nor are there specialized sommeliers, waiters, or cooks; everyone is cross-trained to perform every role, shares a tip pool, and splits the profits equitably.
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