NEWS 1: SM Hotels & Conventions Wins Top Global Award for Sustainable Circular Economy Effort
SM Hotels & Conventions has been honored as the World’s Leading Sustainable Circular Economy Initiative 2025 at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards. This recognition celebrates their “Plate for the Planet” program, a key sustainability effort that focuses on transforming food waste into compost to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruits used in their hotel restaurants. The program is part of SMHCC’s broader commitment to a circular economy, aiming to reduce waste and lower greenhouse gas emissions in the food service industry.
The company’s sustainability journey is guided by its Seven Green Goals, based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These goals cover areas such as gender equality, water and energy conservation, sustainable tourism, and waste reduction. SM Hotels & Conventions integrates these principles across all its properties, promoting local sourcing, composting, eco-labeling, and substituting single-use plastics with eco-friendly alternatives. Their efforts not only protect the environment but also foster local employment and improve operational efficiency, making SMHCC a leader in sustainable hospitality in the Philippines and beyond.
NEWS 2: The Ritz-Carlton Maldives Launches Celestial Festive Holiday Celebration for 2025-2026
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, is presenting Celestial Festive, a special holiday program running from December 22, 2025, to January 9, 2026. This seasonal event is inspired by the natural beauty of the Maldivian skies, sea, and horizon, offering guests a unique blend of astronomy-themed activities, wellness sessions, culinary events, and family-friendly fun.
Visitors can enjoy wellness programs such as sunrise rituals and fitness classes held in open-air settings across the island. Families and children can take part in creative workshops and games like Astronaut Helmet Workshops and Galactic Treasure Hunts, while adults have access to cosmic-themed fitness and art sessions. The celebration connects guests with the vibrant starry skies and ocean views unique to the Maldives’ location on the equator.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will feature special activities including nature workshops and festive dining experiences reflecting Maldivian traditions and seascapes. A highlight during the holidays is a pop-up by MINIMAL Gelato, the world’s first Michelin-starred ice cream shop, which offers ice cream flavors made with local botanicals and herbs.
The festive season ends with a Galactic New Year Countdown on December 31, 2025, including fine dining, live music, artistic light shows, and a fireworks display. On New Year’s Day, guests can join sunrise wellness activities to welcome 2026 with peaceful rituals and exercises.
NEWS 3: Auberge Collection Sets New Standard in Luxury Wellbeing with “The Joy of Wellbeing” Program
Auberge Collection is redefining luxury wellness with its new program, “The Joy of Wellbeing,” which focuses on lasting health and happiness by combining emotional wellbeing with science-backed methods. This approach addresses the growing wellness travel market, valued at over $650 billion, by offering personalized experiences at its global properties that emphasize joy as a pathway to longevity.
The program is built around four core principles: Awe, Connect, Excel, and Nurture. Awe encourages appreciation of beauty and nature; Connect fosters meaningful relationships with others and the world; Excel inspires physical energy and personal growth; and Nurture supports intentional self-care. Guests enjoy tailored activities like yoga, meditation, creative workshops, and movement classes that integrate these values.
Auberge collaborates with wellness leaders such as author Gabby Bernstein, offering unique retreats and experiences designed to reduce stress and enhance joy. The program includes rituals, guided meditations, and emotional healing to create a holistic wellness journey that extends beyond typical treatments.
This innovative wellness philosophy invites guests to reconnect deeply with themselves and their surroundings, making wellbeing an integral part of luxury travel. Through “The Joy of Wellbeing,” Auberge Collection sets a new standard in hospitality by emphasizing joy, presence, and meaningful connection as essential elements of a healthy, fulfilling life.
