What if investing in your building could transform not only the guest experience, but also the lives of employees?In Part 4 of our Wellness Series, host Kathy Sue McGuire speaks with Rachel Hodgdon, President & CEO of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). Rachel shares how WELL Certification helps hotels and hospitality businesses create people-first spaces that improve staff wellbeing, reduce turnover, and enhance profitability—while elevating the guest experience.Discover the 10 core concepts of the WELL Standard, from air and water to nourishment, acoustics, and community connectivity. Hear real-world examples of hotels improving employee retention, guest satisfaction, and financial performance through healthier environments. Learn why focusing on employee wellness is becoming a competitive advantage in today’s hospitality industry.About the GuestRachel Hodgdon leads IWBI’s global movement for healthier spaces, with WELL adopted across nearly 6 billion sq. ft. in 135+ countries. Previously, she founded the Center for Green Schools at USGBC, mobilizing $275B+ in LEED-certified projects worldwide.👉 Resources & Links:• Learn more about Z3 Data• Learn more about Rachel Hodgdon• Discover Sustainable Hospitality Solutions• Become a sponsor:Reach out to kathy@sustainablehospitalitysolutions.comSubscribe & FollowDon’t miss upcoming episodes of the Sustainable Hospitality Podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube to join us in shaping a more regenerative future for travel.All platforms: https://linktr.ee/sustainablehospitalitypodcast
What if hospitality could go beyond “doing less harm” and actually restore the places it touches?In Part 3 of our Wellness Series, host Kathy Sue McGuire speaks with Professor Dr. Willy Legrand to explore the concept of regenerative hospitality. Together, they examine how hotels, resorts, and destinations can learn from nature, heal ecosystems, and create guest experiences that leave people and places better than before.This episode is sponsored by Feelgoodz Hospitality, leaders in eco-friendly in-room slippers that reduce waste and turn a simple amenity into a lasting memory.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeThe difference between sustainability and regeneration in hospitalityHow lessons from nature, including photosynthesis, can inspire business models that benefit communities and ecosystemsPractical ways hotels can embed regenerative practices into guest experiences and local partnershipsWhy siloed thinking holds back progress and how whole-systems thinking changes everythingThe barriers to adoption in hospitality, from short-term mindsets to regulatory gaps, and how to address themWhy redefining luxury as connection, wellbeing, and meaning is key to the future of travelAbout the GuestProfessor Dr. Willy Legrand is a leading academic voice in sustainable and regenerative hospitality. Based in Germany, he has authored multiple books on sustainability in the industry, chairs the Hospitality Net World Panel on sustainability, and lectures internationally on ESG, regenerative tourism, and hospitality management. He is currently co-editing two forthcoming handbooks: ESG in Hospitality and Tourism and Regenerative Tourism and Hospitality.Resources & LinksLearn more about Prof. Dr. Willy Legrand: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-willy-legrand/Explore Feelgoodz Hospitality: https://feelgoodzhospitality.comDiscover Sustainable Hospitality Solutions: https://sustainablehospitalitysolutions.comSubscribe & FollowDon’t miss upcoming episodes of the Sustainable Hospitality Podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube to join us in shaping a more regenerative future for travel.
Wellness in hospitality is far more than spas and fitness centers. In this episode, Kathy Sue McGuire sits down with Oxana Spivey, VP of Wellness and Standards Development at Wellness in Travel & Tourism (WITT), to explore how hotels can embrace holistic wellness certification that goes beyond the surface.Oxana shares:• The five pillars of wellness (healthy eating, holistic healing, nature, movement, and local impact)• Why travelers are demanding authentic wellness experiences that integrate sustainability and community engagement• How hotels of all sizes — from boutique city properties to large resorts — can adopt standards that improve guest well-being, environmental health, and long-term business resilience• The role of certification in building guest trust and shaping the future of travel• If you’re in hospitality, tourism, or simply curious about how wellness is transforming travel, this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiring examples.------------🔗 Meet our online training program helping hotels get certified to Green Key:https://www.sustainablehospitalitytraining.com/🌳 Sponsor the Sustainable Hospitality Podcast:kathy@sustainablehospitalitysolutions.com🎙️ Subscribe for more insightful conversations with leaders transforming hospitality and travel through smarter, people-first practices.
In this episode of the Sustainable Hospitality Podcast, host Kathy Sue McGuire sits down with David Stephens, wellness-first event strategist, co-founder of Olympian, and advisor to the Wellness Travel & Tourism Board.David shares how he’s redefining corporate meetings and conferences by designing them around wellness from the ground up. From negotiating coffee pricing to prioritizing sleep, meals, and movement, David introduces his signature “Four M’s” framework: Mindfulness, Movement, Meaning, and Meals as a practical strategy for delivering higher-impact, more human-centric events.Topics Covered:• Why wellness-forward events lead to better business outcomes• The neuroscience behind mindful agenda design• How to create inclusive movement experiences for all bodies• Meals that meet everyone where they are, from refuel to refit• How “meaning” creates long-lasting emotional ROI• What hotels can do today to support guest wellness (hint: start with protein bars) Learn more:https://www.sustainablehospitalitytraining.com/Subscribe for more insightful conversations with leaders transforming hospitality and travel through smarter, people-first practices.
What does true sustainability look like at scale, and why is it smart business?Kathy Sue McGuire welcomes Megan Brumagim, Vice President of Upscale Brands and Chief Sustainability Officer at Choice Hotels International, for an in-depth conversation on how one of the world’s largest hotel franchisors is tackling sustainability head-on. From corporate reporting and franchise accountability to quirky innovations (hello, beehives and bamboo toilet paper), Megan shares how Choice is aligning environmental responsibility with bottom-line results.🎧 Highlights include:Why institutional investors care deeply about ESGThe four-tier “Room to Be Green” framework used globallyHow Choice Hotels supports franchises in earning eco-certificationsLeveraging guest data and utility dashboards for impactChoice’s partnerships with the American Red Cross and National Park FoundationThis is a must-listen for hoteliers, sustainability pros, and hospitality leaders looking to future-proof their business.🔗 Explore our certification training at sustainablehospitalitytraining.com