VEGAN-FRIENDLY HOTELS: A NEW PHENOMENON GATHERING PACE
By TesterJan 01, 2019
On the whole, travelling as a vegan can be tricky. Some countries don't offer much in terms of plant-based options on a menu, while certain hotels don't have anything vegan-friendly whatsoever. Thankfully, though, as awareness spreads, the accommodation options for vegan travellers are beginning to increase with it. In fact, in recent times, vegan-friendly hotels have been popping up all over America.
Whether you're in New York or California, a number of vegan-friendly hotels are providing fantastic experiences for vegans. Some venues offer animal-free bedding, furniture and cleaning products, while other hotels might not go to such lengths but at least appreciate that vegans need to eat and therefore tailor their menus accordingly.
This new phenomenon is certainly encouraging for vegans who perhaps don't feel comfortable staying in a place that doesn't cater for them and their beliefs. Usually, vegans might have to use their powerful smartphone devices not only for entertainment purposes like having a YouTube binge or playing the Thai Paradise online slot game, but also to turn to apps like HappyCow for mealtimes as they venture out of the hotel to find suitable places to eat. It can certainly make a hotel stay feel like more of a hassle than a relaxing break away.
As vegan-friendly hotels continue to be established all over the country, here is a look at some of the best options that will help every vegan sleep a little more soundly.
Stanford Inn by the Sea - Mendocino, CA
With stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, Stanford Inn by the Sea is a fantastic option without its vegan offering, but the fact it's a pet and eco-friendly place to stay makes it even more impressive. The Stanford Inn not only has a fantastic vegan restaurant called The Ravens, but it also offers a range of wellness classes championing vegan products. With a vegan fine-dining experience on offer and numerous rescued animals to bond with during your stay, Stanford Inn by the Sea is a great option.
The Bel Air Treehouse - Los Angeles, CA
A truly unique hotel to enjoy, The Bel Air Treehouse is run by a vegan couple who know exactly what vegans want. An eco-chic boutique hotel promoting the benefits of kindness, sustainability, and zero waste, guests can access a range of vegan treats and enjoy petting the resident cat. Offering an extensive range of organic, biodynamic, and fair-trade products, The Bel Air Treehouse is a must-stay location for all vegans. It even offers yoga sessions, massage therapy, and numerology reading too.
A hugely popular place at the moment, Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile goes above and beyond to satisfy all vegans. All rooms are pet-friendly, bathroom amenities are animal and cruelty-free, the large-scale photograph of a sanctuary animal in each room is a lovely touch, and they offer a range of vegan-friendly treats and snacks. The only downside is that there isn't an on-site restaurant, but a number of vegan establishments are nearby.
Park Lane Guest House - Austin, TX
The Park Lane Guest House is a truly green venue to stay at in what is one of the greenest cities in the country. All of the cottages on offer are not only cosy and beautifully designed, but they are also solar-powered. On top of this, the coffee they serve is fair-trade, they refuse to use chemical cleaners, and the breakfast menu is packed full of vegan options.
Other vegan-friendly hotels worth staying at are The Gray Barn at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary - High Falls, NY and Dreamers Welcome - Wilmington, NC.
Most Americans value moments with loved ones, according to a Hyatt survey.
62 percent view travel as quality time.
42 percent would take a dream family trip if money were no object.
MOST AMERICANS DEFINE quality time as moments spent with those they care about and want more of it, according to a Hyatt Inclusive Collection survey. However, 82 percent say they do not get enough time with loved ones.
The Hyatt Time Rich Report, a national survey on how people perceive and manage time, examines the link between definitions of “quality time” and perceptions of travel, with 62 percent considering travel to be quality time.
“Our first-ever Time Rich Report shows that travel is about more than getting away—it’s about shared experiences,” said Ana Tomicevic, Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection vice president and global brand leader. “For the travel industry, these findings highlight the need for strategies and services that maximize quality time, reduce planning headaches and allow connections and personal time to flourish. This approach is central to Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection and our more than 140 all-inclusive resorts and we will amplify our mission with new programs and a partnership with global mindfulness pioneer Deepak Chopra.”
Approximately 42 percent of respondents would take a dream trip with their family if money were no object, the survey found. Among couples, 31 percent say they don’t get enough time together, while 84 percent report that time away has a positive effect even after returning home. Half of respondents say planning a trip boosts their mood and one in four would travel alone or with friends.
Wakefield Research conducted the survey of 2,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older from June 11 to 17, Hyatt said.
New campaign
Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection, which operates resorts in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe, is using the Time Rich Report findings in a new campaign, “Time Here Is Worth More.” The campaign highlights services and experiences designed to help guests focus on their journeys and build connections with others.
The Inclusive Collection is collaborating with Deepak Chopra, a member of Hyatt’s Wellbeing Collective Advisory Board, to enhance its in-resort experiences. Chopra helped create “Mindful Moments,” a series of offerings with tools like DeepakChopra.ai, designed to help guests stay grounded and reflective.
“Time is more than a measure; it reflects what we value,” Chopra said. “Through this collaboration with Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection, we’re offering travelers tools to be more intentional, equipping them with practices that leave a positive impact long after their vacation ends.”
A 2024 Expedia study found that 53 percent of Americans plan not to use all 12 of their annual vacation days. Vacation deprivation in the U.S.—the feeling of not having enough time off—reached an 11-year high of 65 percent last year, even as rates declined in other parts of the world.
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The H-2B visa program protects U.S. jobs and wages, according to AHLA citing a study.
It allows hotels and resorts to meet travelers’ needs while supporting the economy.
It provides foreign workers for seasonal jobs when domestic workers are unavailable.
THE H-2B VISA program does not harm U.S. jobs or wages but increases pay and supports the labor force, according to an Edgeworth Economics study. Citing that study, the American Hotel & Lodging Association said the program enables hotels and resorts to meet travelers’ needs while supporting the workforce and economy.
The Edgeworth study for the H-2B Workforce Coalition found the program allows businesses to hire foreign workers for seasonal jobs when domestic workers are unavailable. It showed no evidence that increases in H-2B visas reduce U.S. employment or wages. Instead, each H-2B worker supports three to five local jobs and areas with more H-2B workers saw wages grow 1.6 percent faster.
“Areas that hired more H-2B workers under the higher visa cap saw greater job and wage growth among U.S. workers,” said Steve Bronars, partner at Edgeworth Economics, citing findings consistent with an earlier analysis by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
Ashley McNeil, AHLA’s vice president of federal government affairs and chair of the H-2B Workforce Coalition, said the new analysis underscores the H-2B program’s clear value to local communities.
“The hotel industry, which is still 200,000 workers short compared to pre-pandemic levels, relies on legal guest worker programs to augment our workforce, particularly to address seasonal demands,” McNeil said. “Access to the H-2B visa program has been critical in allowing hotels and resorts of all sizes to meet travelers’ needs, while supporting the local workforce and economy.”
The program has also helped businesses manage peak-season labor shortages, easing the workload for full-time employees. Landscaping accounts for nearly 40 percent of certified H-2B workers. Hotels and motels account for 8.67 percent, support activities for forestry 6.3 percent and seafood processing and packaging 5.65 percent.
“This study reaffirms what our members have long recognized: despite extensive recruitment efforts, there remains a critical shortage of U.S. workers willing or available to fill temporary positions that are currently being filled by H-2B workers,” said Arnulfo Hinojosa, COO of the Federation of Workers and Employers of America and vice chair of the H-2B Workforce Coalition. “H-2B workers allow seasonal businesses to operate at a higher capacity and create more U.S. jobs.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump recently signed a proclamation raising the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 annually, a move that could affect Indian professionals in the U.S.
AHLA’s survey finds reduced hotel development and renovation plans.
Only 8 percent of property owners are moving forward with new investments.
Survey participants included 387 property owners and operators.
ABOUT 32 PERCENT of U.S. hotel owners and operators are delaying development projects and 24 percent are scaling back plans, according to a recent survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. About 8 percent have canceled projects entirely.
“Hotels are eager to invest in their properties and communities but rising costs and uncertain demand are forcing many to put projects on hold,” said AHLA President and CEO Rosanna Maietta. “It’s been a tough year for hotel operators, especially our small business owners. As Congress gets back to work, we’ll focus on advancing policies to spur travel, ease operational pressures and provide our industry the certainty it needs to grow, create jobs and strengthen local economies nationwide.”
The workforce challenges further compound pressures, with nearly half of the respondents, 49 percent, reporting understaffed properties. On the demand side, leisure travel continues to decline. Thirty percent of hotels reported declines in completed leisure stays, while 26 percent saw drops in upcoming bookings compared with the same period last year.
Business, group and government travel also showed weakness, with 15 to 17 percent of properties experiencing decreases in bookings.
The AHLA survey, conducted between Aug. 21 and 29, included responses from 387 property owners and operators across the U.S., representing all hotel segments.
In another recent survey by the Hospitality Asset Managers Association, more than 70 percent of respondents expect a 1 to 3 percent RevPAR increase in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Howard Johnson is marking its 100th anniversary with fried clam–shaped soaps.
The soaps pay homage to an iconic HoJo menu item.
Available at select hotels and for online purchase starting Oct. 3.
HOWARD JOHNSON BY Wyndham marks a century with one of its most famous menu items, the fried clam strip. The brand is introducing limited-edition HoJo’s Original Fried Clam Soap, available at select Howard Johnson hotels across the U.S. and for online purchase beginning Oct. 3.
Designed to resemble the original food item, the soaps are infused with lemon, sea salt and butter in a nod to the butter-soaked rolls that once accompanied the fried clams, according to a statement by Wyndham.
“Howard Johnson is a brand woven into America’s cultural fabric and beloved by millions for generations,” said Marissa Yoss, HoJo’s head of marketing. “As we celebrate 100 years, our limited-edition fried clam soap is a fun, nostalgic tribute to the brand’s storied past and a playful nod to the retro-modern, family-friendly spirit that continues defining our hotels today.”
For World Waffle Day celebrations, Comfort Hotels hosted a one-day Waffle Lounge in New York City on Aug. 21.
The use of AI agents hotels must rethink customer loyalty, a FAU study finds.
The paper proposes strategies as AI becomes the main booking channel.
Researchers warn of ethical and privacy issues.
HOTELS MUST RETHINK how they build and maintain loyalty as artificial intelligence systems make travel decisions and bookings for consumers, according to a study by Florida Atlantic University. The rise of artificial intelligence agents will complicate hotel customer loyalty management.
“AI agents will be the new gatekeepers of loyalty,” said Anil Bilgihan, FAU College of Business professor of hospitality management. “The question is no longer just ‘How do we win a customer’s heart?’ but ‘How do we win the trust of the algorithms advising them?’ Hotels need to prepare for a future where a guest’s preferred brand may be decided before they even open their phone.”
As consumers use AI agents to search for hotels, check availability, compare prices, analyze reviews and make bookings, decision-making will shift to the algorithm, creating loyalty to the agent or its ecosystem rather than to the brand, the report said.
Bilgihan said AI is not influenced by traditional advertising and sorts options based on algorithmic criteria.
“Imagine a traveler asking their AI agent to book a hotel in Miami within a certain budget, with a pool and strong reviews,” he said. “If your hotel doesn’t appear in that recommendation set, you may never be considered. Hotels must design loyalty programs, digital visibility and service experiences that appeal to both human guests and the AI systems filtering choices on their behalf.”
The paper proposes a framework for hotels to rethink loyalty strategies as AI agents become the main channel for travel bookings. While emotional branding still matters for humans, marketers should focus on loyalty programs that engage both humans and AI systems, using customer data to tailor experiences, improve algorithmic visibility and design programs appealing to both, the study said.
Researchers also warned of ethical and privacy concerns, including algorithmic bias, limited consumer understanding of how AI agents work and challenges in brand visibility.
“At the end of the day, technology doesn’t replace the fundamentals,” Bilgihan said. “AI may shape how guests discover and book, but the foundation of loyalty will always be the experience once they arrive.”
The paper in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management was authored by Max Ostinelli, assistant professor of marketing; Ye Zhang, associate professor of hospitality management; Melanie Lorenz, associate professor of marketing and Bilgihan.
New York University’s State of Distribution 2025 found a gap between AI potential and hotel operational readiness, as teams are still developing training, systems and workflows. In May, India’s International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) Kolkata launched ‘NamAIste – IIHM HospitalityGPT,’ the first generative AI platform for the global hospitality industry.