Sunset Beer Yoga, Shark Scientists And Adopted Penguins: Hotel News For Spring 2023

Choosing the right hotel for your next trip is more than about maximizing loyalty points or being in the best location. Hotels often have local cultural experiences that can boost your enjoyment of a place. Many of these may be in partnership with an area small business or support local nonprofit organizations.

According to a survey for the American Express Travel’s 2023 Global Travel Trends Report, 85% of respondents want to experience local culture when traveling, especially as it pertains to cuisine and supporting the area’s economy. Sharing those experiences is key to with 75% of the survey responses saying they choose their next destination from social media posts.

Here are some of the latest experiences and updates from hotels around the world this spring.

Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel launches Coco Chanel tour

The newly opened Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, launched a Coco Chanel-themed guest experience. During the full-day “In the Footsteps of Coco Chanel” tour, guests will visit a nearby French winery that has created a bespoke cuvée blend for the hotel. Château de Cremat was the French designer’s official residence during her visit with many of her own furnishings transported from her suite at the Ritz Paris.

Its one of several tours designed by the hotel including a foodie tour through old town Nice and a drive to a medieval village in a classic Citroën 2 CV car. The hotel has a full-service spa as well as a rooftop restaurant, SEEN by Olivier, from Portuguese chef and entrepreneur Olivier da Costa. Other Anantara properties offer similar local experiences like a private tulip estate visit at the Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam or Vespa tours around major sights at Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome.

Nat Geo shark scientist comes to Ritz-Carlton Maldives

As part of the Visiting Heroes program at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, National Geographic Explorer and award-winning Kenyan shark scientist Gibbs Kuguru will be at the resort between March 27 and April 12. He will lead guided shark snorkeling experiences while also participating in a scientific project to tag sharks for conservation research focused on protecting blacktip reef sharks in the Maldives. The resort’s program, which collaborates with the oceanographic explorer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau, allows guests the chance to interact with marine naturalists global scientists to understand more about the environment during their visit.

Radisson Blu Cape Town adopts wounded penguins

The Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront in Cape Town adopted two wounded penguins from a local seabird rescue organization to fun and support their rehabilitation. The hotel is surrounded by wildlife and birds. Once, a sea otter even climbed over the rocks to take a swim in the hotel’s pool. Hotel management says that guests often ask about the numerous penguins in the area, and nature conversation quickly became an important part of the property’s community support efforts. The two penguins, named Bluey and Tobi, were released back into the ocean once they returned to good health. Guests staying at the hotel during the release received “thank-you postcards” and a penguin key chains as a sign of appreciation from the animals.

Westin partners with Abbott World Marathon Majors

The wellness-focused Westin brand, part of Marriott Bonvoy, already offers numerous activities for runners (including guided jogs with members of hotel staff and workout gear lending kits). But, its latest partnership with Abbott World Marathon Majors, a series of six top global marathons. On marathon weekends, the brand will offer Westin Marathon Zones with recovery concierges, wellness snack packs and training and recovery sessions from Hyperice and Bala instructors, and a station where fans of runners can design posters to support their loved ones. Six Star Finishers (those who have completed all six major marathons in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York) receive a welcome Hyperice Hypersphere Mini and Bala resistance band to use when staying at Westin properties during race weekends.

Small-format cocktails make their way to Hyatt

Several U.S.-based Hyatt properties are adding a menu of “small format” cocktails designed for guests to get a taste of multiple cocktails rather than deciding on just one. These small sips provide all the exotic effort of a full-fledged cocktail, but on a smaller scale. It’s an entertaining way for guests to sample different flavors and drink styles. These mini cocktails are also ideal for those that just want a quick cocktail. The brand calls them “amuse bouche cocktails,” which are part of a growing cocktail menu trend for the industry also including zero-proof drinks among others. Among the first hotels to offer these are Thompson Seattle, Thompson Central Park and Revival Baltimore with more to come.

Kimpton adds “plant pal” program

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is launching a new plant pal program just in time for Earth Day. Upon request, guests can have locally sourced plants delivered to their rooms to add a touch of Mother Nature to their surroundings. According to Kimpton, stories show that plants elevate the mood while helping to boost productivity. Each property will have its own native plant menu based on the local destination’s flora. They also come with clever names like “Morgan Treeman, Snake Gyllenhaal or Nagini (The Snake Plant),” to add that playful signature Kimpton touch.

Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel opens INEO

Meaning new beginning in Latin, the restaurant draws on Italian influences as well as Chef Heros de Agostinis’ personal experiences around the world. The multicultural neighborhood around the hotel also plays a role. The chef grew up going to the Esquilino Market in Rome’s Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, and he now uses many of those same flavors in his new menu, which launched in March. Among the dishes are a raw shrimp served with mandarin ceviche, tarragon oil and crusco bell pepper plus a deconstructed Soffritto-stuffed pasta taco.

St. Regis Maldives partners with Reefscapers

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is partnering with Reefscapers, the marine environmental consultancy, to give guests the chance to take part in educational classes and activities with a resident marine biologist. The consultancy runs the most advanced coral propagation program helping to restore degraded reefs and unproductive sandy sea beds and reef flats. The onsite biologist helps to monitor the progress while also giving guests the chance to help and learn from the project. To date, the organization that the resort is working with is known for more than 9,000 coral frames transplanted (more than half a million corals).

Sunset Beer Yoga at Aruba’s Marriott

Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino in Aruba is offering a yoga session that may appeal to more than just fitness buffs. Complimentary for guests, the Friday afternoon sessions give guests a chance to sample beers from Balashi Brewery while they participate in various beachfront yoga poses for a dual form of relaxation. This is part of a roster of other free daily activities for guests at the resort.

Wyndham Rewards becomes Minor League Baseball’s official hotel loyalty partner

The new sports and hotel loyalty partnership will allow rewards program members to redeem points for tickets to baseball games as well as make Wyndham hotel reservations via the league’s website. All 120 Minor League Baseball parks are within 25 miles of a Wyndham Rewards partner hotel making it easy for fans to stay with the brand. Other fan perks are part of the deal, too, including the ability to throw out the first pitch at a game, access to batting practice sessions and behind-the-scenes tours of the ballparks. In addition, guests who stay at least three consecutive nights at a Wyndham Rewards property this year are eligible for a $100 property credit for hotel outlets like restaurants and spa venues. Reservations must be made by June 1.