Hotel group goes full throttle on eco wellness

Wellness is a key buzzword in the travel and food/wine industries - and is being embraced by Parkroyal Collection Hotels & Resorts.

Asia-focused Parkroyal has launched and Eco-Wellness program "to inspire conscious living and personal wellness in the everyday".

“Today’s consumers are growing more aware of the importance of better health and wellbeing," says Cinn Tan, chief sales and marketing officer of Pan Pacific Hotels Group.

"It is essential that we take time to re-centre and practice greater mindfulness. Even small changes in our daily lives can have a big impact on our wellbeing and the environment."

As part of its multi-sensorial programme, Eco-Wellness "includes an iconic biophilic design, sound design that enhances biophilic atmosphere, optimising art appreciation to promote well-being" - so the press release says. I have no idea what that means.

Other highlights include St Gregory spa experience and wellness activities like yoga (top), conscious dining and mindful drinking, restful sleep and a brand signature scent.

Now Gregory is is the patron saint of musicians, singers, students, and teachers, so I'm not sure how that fits in.

An aroma of rosebush, lavender, green vetiver and warm white cedarwood - the brand’s signature scent - will soon greet all who enter Parkroyal hotels,

Restful sleep is fundamental to having optimal health and feeling recharged, and better sleep can be achieved through natural aromatic herbs that aid in improving sleep quality.

Freshly harvested from its Urban Farm, soothing herbs such as thyme, bergamot lime, mint and rosemary are offered as part of a new Sleep Ritual turndown service. I love a good turndown. 

Guests can gently rub the fresh herb leaves to release the therapeutic aroma and choose to brew the herbs in a fresh pot of tea.

As part of the Eco-Wellness program, Parkroyal hotels will also "curate" a selection of dishes as part of the dining experience from locally sourced fresh produce and farm-to-table harvests to promote sustainability and healthy consumption.

Accompanying these dishes will be cocktails and mocktails made with ingredients from the group's Urban Farms across Asia.

Visit https://www.panpacific.com/en/about/about-prc.html

Can a colouring book improve your mental wellbeing?

Here's something just a little bit different.

As Australia gets set to reopen international borders after 18 months, recent research carried out by Omnipoll on behalf of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) reveals that 90% of Australians believe taking a holiday is an important contributor to their sense of mental wellbeing.

The survey, conducted nationally in the lead up to World Mental Health Day on Sunday, also showed the way we holiday is changing, with increasing recognition for the benefits of mindfulness – including being able to clear your mind and enjoy the present moment – considered a holiday benefit by 94% of Australians who intend to travel over the next 12 months.

The same number of respondents said the excitement and sense of emotional wellbeing kicked in the moment they started to plan their holiday.

Other top-rated benefits of holidays were the ability to spend time and connect with family and loved ones (93%), feeling free to do what you want, when you want (93%), and simply feeling happier (95%).

“It’s no surprise holidays bring happiness, but this survey also reveals that the sense of joy and anticipation you feel right at the planning stages contributes positively to your overall sense of mental wellbeing,” said Ben Angell, VP and managing director NCL APAC.

"What’s more, the trend of mindful travel is clear, as restrictions force us to reconsider our perspective on travel. It’s now more of a privilege than ever before, which means when we can finally explore the world again, we will do so more meaningfully.”

While Australians await the end of travel restrictions, NCL is inviting travellers to enjoy the benefits of mindfulness from the comfort of their own home.

The line has launched its first mindful colouring book for adults - Colour Your World - tapping into the trend for colouring-in to help de-stress, re-focus and live ‘in the moment’.

The book is filled with illustrations that will, apparently, inspire both mindfulness and wanderlust, showcasing some of the destinations which will be visited by the company’s newest ship, Norwegian Prima as part of her inaugural season when she launches in 2022 - sailing from Russia to Norway, the Baltics and beyond.

Request your complimentary copy or download colouring pages of Colour Your World here