What does biophilic design look like? What does it feel like? Where is biophilic design most prevalent, how is it deployed, and what are the potential benefits of a well-executed biophilic design scheme? Jasmine St. Clair, Vice President of Design and Construction for Prism Hotels and Resorts discusses the growing popularity and prevalence of biophilic design principles rooted deeply in our past, how we have lost the organic connection to design with a modernized approach and what the growing future of biophilic design looks like. She outlines how successful hotels are utilizing the age-old design style to incorporate beautiful multisensory, immersive and soothing spaces guests can enjoy.

Iberostar Group leads with purpose in its pursuit to set the standard for responsible tourism. Its commitment to preserving the environment and protecting the oceans surrounding its properties is consolidated through Wave of Change, Iberostar's pioneering initiative to move beyond plastics, promote the responsible consumption of seafood and improve coastal health. This year, the company opened a land-based coral lab in Dominican Republic to help protect essential ocean life from rising global temperatures in the future-and defend against a new fast-moving coral pandemic. Iberostar Group is a 100% family-owned Spanish multinational company with more than 60 years of history.

Hotel property managers are tasked with ensuring that the ROI goals for their portfolio of properties are met. As part of that responsibility they are an integral to the budgeting process. Budget season is the perfect time to evaluate the efficacy of existing group sources of business to determine if they will continue to produce the same level of return going forward. As we approach economic uncertainty, it will be important to focus on controlling the bottom line and the impact derived from group business.

Today's hoteliers face rising pressure to increase their total profitability. Hotel profit optimization through revenue management has traditionally focused on guest-room strategies alone without considering ancillary revenue streams and costs. In recent years, however, hoteliers have recognized the benefits of expanding their revenue management practices to incorporate a more holistic business view. As forward-looking hotel companies have adopted more scientific and analytical approaches to total property and portfolio-wide revenue management, they've experienced significant financial rewards. With increased scrutiny on driving total hotel profitability, what exactly does the industry need to know about profit optimization to finally do something about it?

With a recession at the helm (or perhaps in motion), President and Chief Operating Officer Shreyas "JR" Patel examines the hospitality industry at large through the lens of his company, Helix Hospitality, which he founded in 2012. In the insightful piece, he reveals his Chicago-based company's humble beginnings, growth trajectory, brand partnerships, and plans for responsible and sustainable expansion at the forefront of a potentially unstable economic downturn. Furthermore, Patel touches on broadening his unique strategy-tackling large-scale renovations versus new constructions-in addition to pursuing new acquisitions as he positions Helix Hospitality for continued growth while maintaining the company's inherent values.

In her detailed opinion article, Veronica Fregoso, Director of Sales for Seadust Cancun Family Resort, talks about the family friendly resort's offering, its current efforts to positively impact the environment and what's in store for the Cancun resort. Fregoso takes a deep dive into the ample green measures and programs the resort is implementing to contribute to the preservation of the destination's natural resources including the Waste Separation Program, an effective strategy to raise awareness and encourage hotel staff, guests and the community to recycle.

Spa trends come and go and Lantana Spa at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa knows they have to stay on trend to meet demands with the exponential growth of the spa and wellness industry. The evolution of the spa industry is an ongoing, cyclical process of trying to find the next hot trend that consumers are looking for. Arguably one of the hottest and most controversial trends in the beauty, health, and wellness market today is non-psychoactive cannabinoids (CBDs). Shane Kelly, the resort's spa director, discusses the CBD trend and how it is being implemented into nearly every segment of spa service.

The millennial generation (people born between 1981 and 1996 – now ages 23-38) is growing slightly older as its economic influence continues to increase. This story will walk you through how millennials' spending habits differ from those of Generation X'ers and Baby Boomers, how their media consumption habits influence channel preference, and how their behavioral habits influence messaging from marketers. All of this will provide hotel owners and operators a roadmap on how to find, target and win over millennials, a generation that spent approximately $200 billion in travel last year and takes an average of 2.6 trips per year.

The food industry is experiencing a revolution where diners are demanding healthier options, transparency and accountability. Consumers want to be part of the experience and better understand the story of the food they're consuming – where did the cow come from, how was the cow raised, what breed, is the ranch engaging in sustainable practices, and so on. It's this curiosity that drives me explore new opportunities with local suppliers, reinvigorate how our guests are served and challenge everyone to do what's best for the business, consumers and the environment.

As access to wellness and healthy options becomes increasingly important to travelers, hotel spas have an unprecedented opportunity to simultaneously introduce themselves to a new customer base and to grow their businesses. However, success will require innovation, adaptability and finding new ways to fit into guests' lives. Hilton has discovered new ways of integrating wellness and the spa experience by meeting guests where they are at all points of the hotel stay. Here's what the hospitality giant has learned in its journey to bring wellness into its spa and hotel concepts.