NATIONAL REPORT—As conversations around sustainability grow across industries, hoteliers have to ask: Is this something we should be focusing on? If you’re going for a higher star rating, sustainable operations initiatives may be a lot lower on your priority list than daily room cleanings, providing hair dryers and other star requirements. However, sustainability may be more valuable for your hotel than you realize. It can reduce water and energy consumption and staff workloads, potentially saving you money. Sustainable operations initiatives can also be marketing differentiators, helping you showcase the value of your hotel beyond good star ratings. Below, we look at why sustainable tourism...

NILES, ILL.—The Mitchell Group, a major converter of coated fabrics to upholstery markets around the world, has launched five new cost-effective vinyl products to cater to evolving customer needs: Belmont, Canyon, Ridge, Tallahatchie, and Wrangler. These additions are designed to offer high-performance, stylish, and affordable solutions for all commercial interiors. Each new selection is available from the Mitchell Collection brand and reflects The Mitchell Group’s commitment to quality and innovation: Belmont has an ultra-fine crisscrossed grain pattern. The finish gives the overall appearance of a sanded or suede look. Belmont is available in twelve understated colors. Canyon features a smooth, marine grain pattern...

YUCCA VALLEY, CALIF.—Star Tile presents Kaiyo, its newest handcrafted tile, designed to bring movement, emotion, and mental clarity to interior and exterior environments. Inspired by ocean waves and informed by the principles of neuroscience, Kaiyo is a full-on sensory experience. “Our brains are wired to recognize and respond to natural patterns,” explained Andrea Keller, Co-founder of Star Tile. Rooted in the natural order of the Fibonacci sequence, Kaiyo takes fragments of the spiral it forms and places it within asymmetrical hexagon shapes, sculpted to evoke flowing water, and capture the motion and time of a growing wave in ceramic form....

SUNNYVALE, CALIF.—Treehouse Hotels has officially landed stateside with its first U.S. outpost: Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley, a happiness-inducing hotel that’s part of the playful lifestyle brand created by hospitality innovator Barry Sternlicht, Founder and Chairman of Starwood Hotels. Treehouse Hotels first took root in 2019 with a celebrated location in London’s Marylebone neighborhood and is continuing to grow—with a much-anticipated second U.K. act that just opened in Manchester and even more global locations on the horizon. Now open in Sunnyvale, Calif., the new Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley brings Treehouse Hotel’s trademark blend of whimsy and warmth to America’s innovation capital. A...

SHAWANO, WIS.—NEWH, Inc. (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality), the premier association committed to scholarships, advancing education, mentorship, and networking in the hospitality industry, announced The Beck Group as the winner of the inaugural Structures of Hospitality Excellence (SOHE) Award. The Beck Group included The Populus Hotel in Denver as one of their recent projects in their SOHE nomination. The Populus Hotel reflects The Beck Group’s abilities and collaboration with ownership to deliver this project, which redefines sustainable hospitality as the first carbon-positive hotel in the United States, setting a new standard for eco-conscious operations and pushing the boundaries of architectural...

SELFOSS, ICELAND—Opened for more than a decade, the ION Adventure Hotel is located just about as far north as one can have a hotel—about an hour outside of Reykjavik, Iceland. The ION Adventure Hotel has many sustainable features and offers front row seating for the majestic Northern Lights. Making it easy to see those lights is the property’s Northern Lights Bar with its 180-degree panoramic windows. The ION Adventure Hotel, which sits on a series of pillars that dramatically jut out of the slopes of Mount Hengill, was once the living residences for the nearby geothermal plant. In 2011, owner...

MIAMI—DecoScape, a new force in upscale outdoor furniture, introduces the Eclipse Collection, a striking new line that merges clean, abstract forms with exceptional functionality. Designed with a modern aesthetic and engineered for comfort, Eclipse offers a range of seating options, each featuring a laid-back reclined design option complemented by a matching table—perfect for creating relaxing and inviting outdoor spaces. Defined by strong geometric lines and a minimalist yet powerful presence, Eclipse balances bold structure with effortless adaptability. Crafted from a powder-coated aluminum frame and composite slats, the collection showcases a refined material composition that is both durable and visually striking. The...

WISCONSIN DELLS, WIS.—Kalahari Resorts & Conventions announced the launch of the Kalahari Adventure Collection, a new property tier defined by distinctive, experience-driven accommodations that invite guests to explore, connect and discover in unexpected ways. The first destination under this banner is now underway in Wisconsin Dells, with a bold mix of elevated treehouses, lakefront cabins and spacious villas, opening in 2026. Tucked within the woods neighboring Kalahari’s flagship resort, the new development brings an entirely fresh flavor to the Kalahari experience—one where elevated design meets natural immersion. Leading the design and build of the custom treehouses is Nelson Treehouse, the...

FAIRFIELD, N.J.—Garden on the Wall (GOTW), the award-winning leader in turnkey, maintenance-free preserved garden installations, announces the debut of its newest biophilic concept, “Slice of Nature,” at NeoCon 2025, held June 9 to 11 at The Mart in Chicago. Attendees are invited to experience this immersive exhibit at Booth #7-6021 on the 7th Floor. Designed to evoke the tranquil topography of rolling hills, “Slice of Nature” is a multidimensional garden installation sculpted over a Rhino-modeled base and brought to life with a vivid tapestry of preserved moss species. Subtle integration of a sculptural tree trunk component further deepens the narrative—illustrating the layered beauty of landscapes shaped by...

SAN DIEGO—Kirei, a provider of sustainable acoustic design materials, introduces Plaza Cloud, a part of the Carnegie Acoustic Solutions Mezzo Collection, a new suite of acoustic solutions designed to bring harmony to interior environments. Inspired by musical dynamics, the Mezzo Collection offers a balance of sound control and aesthetic refinement, allowing designers to craft spaces that are both functional and beautifully composed. A cloud and a grid in one, the Kirei Plaza Cloud reinvents ceiling design through modularity and acoustic performance. Measuring 36" x 36", each square unit can stand alone or be combined with others. The cloud’s innovative construction and beveled edges...