Between the carbon emissions and the glass-and-steel transit-hub experience, travel can be tough for those who thrive on natural beauty. With studies indicating that interactions with nature can boost health and wellbeing, one Oregon hotel is launching an on-demand plant service, allowing those without a green thumb to try out a plant risk- and responsibility-free – and providing those longing for their own greenery with a temporary fix.
Beginning this month, guests at Portland’s Woodlark can order a potted plant to their room – surcharge-free – for the duration of their stay, courtesy of the hotel’s new Bedside Botanical menu. Developed in conjunction with local floral studio Solabee, the menu features four different plant genera that guests can request “based on the mood or feeling of wellbeing they’d like to channel,” says general manager Sean Castady.
The prayer plant radiates peace and tranquility, potentially easing tensions from a stressful travel day, while the Monstera deliciosa might help with a run of bad luck – in the art of feng shui, it symbolizes prosperity, growth, and success. To clear the air, Sansevieria cylindrica and aloe vera are NASA-recommended natural purifiers (and aloe offers a plethora of skincare applications too).
Tapping into the biophilic design trend – that practice of bringing natural elements into a building’s design – the new amenity took inspiration from Woodlark’s “existing ‘green’ touches,” like the plant-filled lobby and the in-room decor, with custom wallpaper patterned with greenery from the city’s Forest Park. “The benefits of biophilic design are undeniable,” Castady says. “It’s intended create a calming environment and to deepen the connection with the natural world around us, which is exactly what we want our guests to feel while staying with us.”
For more information, visit woodlarkhotel.com.
