How a New Jersey hotel turned honey into a guest experience

When Nick Vashishta started as a night audit agent more than ten years ago, he could not have imagined that his career at Highgate Hotels would one day lead him to honeybees.

Today, as General Manager of The Westin Governor Morris Hotel in New Jersey, Nick is showing how sustainability can go beyond LED lightbulbs and recycling bins. It can become part of the guest experience itself.

Asking the right question

When Nick took over the property in October 2024, the hotel did not have any certification, and five months later, it had achieved a Four Green Keys certification. That was a strong start.

But Nick wanted more.

The question was: how do you take sustainability to the next level in a way that makes sense for both the business and the guest?

The answer came from an unexpected place: honey.

“Looking at our food and beverage costs and the amount of honey we purchase,” Nick explains, “producing our own honey could make a real impact. Guests see that and think, wow, this hotel is serving cocktails and menu items with honey we actually harvest on-site.”

Building the business case

Nick approached urban beekeeping as more than a feel-good idea. By analyzing the hotel’s honey usage and projected return, he showed that installing hives could reduce purchasing costs while also adding marketing and guest experience value.

Guests would get a story worth sharing, and the hotel could proudly say: “We produce our own honey, organically, right here on-site.”

From idea to experience

At first, Nick thought about placing the hives on the roof. But then he realized something. Why hide them?

Instead, the hotel created a space at ground level. It has fencing, flowers, and plans for interactive honey-harvesting demonstrations.

“We wanted to make this an interactive process,” Nick says. “Most guests have never seen how honey is harvested, and that’s an unforgettable story to bring home.”

Sweet ripple effects

The beehives quickly became more than a cost-saving measure.

They sparked new ideas. The team is now planning a hotel herb garden to pair with the hives. Honey already shows up in cocktails, menu items, and guest gifts.

At the front desk, jars of honey catch every visitor’s eye. VIP guests receive them as a gift. And on social media, the story of the bees connects with travelers before they even walk through the door.

“Not everyone follows us on social media,” Nick says, “but when guests check in and see the jars, it sparks conversations.”

“We can proudly say this is home-produced, organically harvested, and part of how we want this hotel remembered,” he adds.

Inspiring other Highgate hotels

The ripple effect is real. Other Highgate properties are exploring similar initiatives, opening the door for group pricing, shared events, and a wider culture of sustainability across the portfolio.

More than honey

For Nick, the beekeeping project is about more than honey.

It is about standing out in a crowded market. It is about creating authentic moments that guests take home with them. And it is about proving that sustainability can be financially smart and emotionally powerful at the same time.

As Nick puts it: “Once you take part in such an initiative, you have to genuinely get involved. There’s a bigger picture.”

The bigger picture? An industry moving from generic amenities to meaningful, locally rooted guest experiences that benefit everyone: the hotel, the guests, and yes, even the bees.

Why hotels choose Alvéole's beekeeping programs

The Westin Governor Morris Hotel worked with Alvéole to bring this project to life. Our programs are designed for hotels that want sustainability to be both meaningful and easy.

Financial impact: Reduce food and beverage costs while creating premium guest offerings.

Guest experience: Give visitors authentic, shareable moments.

Brand value: Strengthen ESG reporting and showcase sustainability leadership.

Operational ease: We manage everything, from hive installation to honey harvest.

Environmental benefit: Support biodiversity and attract eco-conscious travelers.

The result? A program that pays for itself while creating lasting value for the hotel, the guests, and the community.