STEVENSON, WASH.—Based on the success of its first four treehouses, the Columbia River Gorge’s iconic Skamania Lodge will unveil two new treehouses in September that will provide guests the opportunity to relive the nostalgic, child-like experience of sleeping among the trees. “Our first four treehouses have been incredibly popular with our guests—90 percent occupied during summer months—the decision to add these additional treehouses made perfect sense,” said Skamania Lodge General Manager Ken Daugherty. Couples, families and groups alike will find the new treehouses, named Candy Flower and Shooting Star, elevated a bit higher—40 feet in the air—than the previous iterations, and...

WILMINGTON, DEL.—Corian Design, a leading global brand in advanced surfacing solutions for interior design and architecture, introduced Corian Endura, a high-performance porcelain made from natural minerals for ultimate durability. Suitable for residential and commercial projects, Corian Endura is highly customizable and perfect for vertical and horizontal solutions, including kitchen countertops, vanities, and design-forward interiors and exteriors. “Corian Endura delivers ultimate durability through the perfect blend of beauty and engineering know-how to enhance any residential or commercial project,” said Katie Congress, Marketing Manager, Corian Design. “The product is highly customizable and durable, promoting creative versatility both in terms of aesthetics and...

NAYARIT, MEXICO—Mexico’s coveted Riviera Nayarit welcomes a bright new era in hospitality with the official opening of Conrad Punta de Mita—Hilton’s first-ever Conrad brand resort in Mexico, and the second Conrad brand property in the country. Situated beside the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific on a two-mile-long beach, the highly anticipated opening of the 324-room property invites travelers to discover contemporary luxury. “The opening of Conrad Punta de Mita marks an important milestone for Hilton, as we bring Conrad-level style, service and experiences to the shores of Riviera Nayarit,” said Jorge Giannattasio, Hilton’s Senior Vice President and Head of Operations,...

JASPER, IND.—The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), in partnership with Conexus Indiana, announced awards totaling $2M to Hoosier businesses in Manufacturing Readiness Grants, which Indiana Governor, Eric J. Holcomb, first announced in May. Indiana Furniture, along with 19 additional Hoosier businesses, received a grant to stimulate manufacturing investments amid COVID-19. These grants are part of the Economic Activity Stabilization and Enhancement (EASE) program designed to position Hoosier operations, and the sector overall, for future growth and prosperity. “We’re honored to be a part of this program and to assist in spurring growth for Indiana manufacturing and the Hoosier workforce,” said Chad...

NATIONAL REPORT—Landscape designer and educator, Julia Watson, will be the keynote speaker on Wednesday, November 11 at the Greenbuild International Conference + Expo. She is a leading expert on indigenous technologies. Her bestselling book with Taschen, Lo-TEK: Design by Radical Indigenism has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, Monocle, Architectural Digest, and more. Regularly teaching at Harvard and Columbia University, Julia’s studio work involves landscape and urban design, along with public speaking and consulting with brands on sustainability. She has just completed the summer gardens for Rockefeller Center using a native plant palette inspired by the...

SPARTANBURG, S.C.—OTO Development, part of The Johnson Group, announces the opening of its newest hotel, Hyatt Place National Harbor. Located within the 350-acre shopping, dining and entertainment destination of National Harbor, Maryland, this seven-story, 156-room all-suite hotel has picturesque views of a lively waterfront, on-site dining, fitness center and 1,900 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. The Hyatt Place National Harbor is on track to achieve LEED certification. The on-site restaurant, Bar Harbor, offers a casual dining experience featuring artisan pizzas and exceptional tacos paired with local microbrews. With spectacular views of the Potomac River, the spacious outdoor...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Informa Connect are proud to announce that Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will headline the 2020 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. Figueres will deliver the keynote address during the opening session on Tuesday, November 10. This year’s virtual Greenbuild experience will take place November 10 to 12 with three virtual summits focused on green business, resilience and global health and wellness, taking place September 10, October 1 and October 22 as a lead up to the main event. Registration is now...

Imagine if the windows on your hotel became electricity generators for your property. Not just the windows on the south-facing side but every side. A company called SolarWindow Technologies has developed a product called SolarWindow that it says could have a payback of one year and reduce your electricity costs by 50 percent. Capable of generating current and voltage while maintaining the transparent nature of ordinary glass, the company’s recently featured nine-square-foot SolarWindow was created using the company’s patented LiquidElectricity coatings. A new video demonstrates the Solar Window. It is very cool technology. The product is still not available for...

ENCINITAS, CALIF.—A year after receiving Platinum WELL Certification for her Inn at Moonlight Beach—the first lodging establishment in the world to do so—owner Shangwen Chiu Kennedy has no regrets about the investment. Well Certification is a result of the International WELL Building Institute’s collaboration with Green Business Certification Inc. According to the Institute, there are currently 4,421 projects encompassing over 623 million square feet that are applying WELL across 63 countries. There is at least one additional Well hotel project. The boutique Inn at Moonlight Beach consists of five modern suites, 10 distinct gardens, and an owner’s quarters. The Inn...

DALTON, GA.—Shaw Industries Group Inc. (Shaw) is hosting a webinar with Sustainable Brands on September 1 at 1 p.m. Eastern. Titled, “The Great Indoors--Creating a Nurturing Habitat for People and the Planet,” the session brings together Shaw, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and the International WELL Building Institute for a discussion about creating spaces designed for people and the planet. “Spending 90 percent of our time inside, we’ve become an indoor species. That is why it’s imperative that we create a nurturing new habitat that’s designed for people and the planet. And we cannot overlook the short- and long-term...