HUNTSVILLE, ALA.—The Element by Westin Huntsville is now open on the top floors of the hotel complex of the AAA Four Diamond Westin Huntsville. Both hotels are managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts, a nationally recognized elite operator of hotels, resorts and conference centers throughout the United States and Canada, based in Fairfax, Va. As one of Marriott’s luxury extended stay lifestyle hotels, Element by Westin offers a modern upscale extended stay experience. The Element by Westin Huntsville boasts 150 suites including 68 with full kitchens. Guests will enjoy the brand’s signature Rise: Breakfast bar, a complimentary breakfast served daily;...

T2 Site Amenities Site Furnishing Collections T2 Site Amenities supplies coordinating collections of towel valets, planters, receptacles, and benches for your lobby, public spaces, meeting rooms and pool areas. Our most popular line of Towel Valets are constructed from recycled plastic to ensure durability without the worry of corrosion, rust, splintering, fading, or rot. Achieve a cohesive design by coordinating our other products, including trash/recycling bins, storage boxes, portable bars, planters, benches and more. For more information, complete this form and our customer service manager will be in contact with you shortly. For more information, call (847) 579-9003. T2 Site Amenities » Email...

NATIONAL REPORT—Extending the life of a hotel asset typically results in both cost and environmental savings. Perhaps in no other instance is that more true than with furniture. Refinishing, reupholstering or repurposing furniture keeps it out of the landfill and extends the return on the original investment. “It is a huge savings environmentally,” says Bob Stephens, owner of Northern Lights Restoration, Spencer, N.Y., adding that cost savings can range from 70 percent to 95 percent compared to the cost of replacement. On its website, The Refinishing Touch, Alpharetta, Ga., cites a project in Charleston, S.C. where the property spent...

KUALA LUMPUR—Marriott International, Inc. announces the debut of the Element Hotels brand to Southeast Asia, with the opening of Element Kuala Lumpur. The hotel was designed by globally-acclaimed architects Foster+Partners. In collaboration with owners IB Hotel Management Sdn Bhd, the hotel is housed within Ilham Tower, making it the tallest eco-conscious hotel, raising the city’s standards in sustainable hospitality. Element Kuala Lumpur is Green Building Index (GBI) certified with eco-friendly design and best practices including a rainwater harvesting system, indoor air quality CO2 monitor and energy-efficient LED lighting. Built green from the ground up, Element Hotels incorporates sustainable design and...

LAS VEGAS—HD Expo 2017 wrapped up in Las Vegas on May 5 after attracting more than 800 exhibitors and more than 10,000 attendees. The reconfigured show floor allowed for 275,000 square feet of show floor space. The annual event was an opportunity for suppliers to display their latest innovations and that they did. Many of the new products and technologies on hand have a green story behind them—whether having to do with the material they are made of or the energy or water they conserve. It would be impossible in this space to include all of the green news...

SEATTLE—The Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) announced that it has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance. LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings; certification is established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USBGC) and verified by the Green Building Institute. LEED certification takes into account the use of energy, lighting, water, and materials, as well as the incorporation of a variety of other sustainable strategies, and is awarded based on the square footage of space divided by the kilowatt-hours of...

LAS VEGAS—Interface Hospitality, part of Interface, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of modular carpet and a worldwide leader in the design and production of modular flooring products, showcased its custom process for innovative design services in the hospitality industry at this year’s HD Expo. The event was held last week in Las Vegas. Interface Hospitality has a holistic approach to flooring, which positively shapes the guest experience, delivers value to hotel owners and enables its customers to achieve their design intent. “Our hope is to show people how we engage with a hotel brand and give them a full understanding of...

NEW CASTLE, DEL.—Speakman has introduced the Kubos Collection, an assortment of hospitality exclusive bathroom fixtures inspired by pure, modern design. Each item in this collection features a crisp, square frame that is both clean and refined. “At Speakman, we’ve always had an obsession with simplicity,” says Jeff Harwanko, Lead Designer of Product & Packaging at Speakman. “And with Kubos, we stripped away every unnecessary detail to create a collection that is completely absent of clutter.” The Kubos Collection marks one of Speakman’s most substantial product launches to date. Featuring over 15 unique items, including shower heads, faucets, and a significant variety...

NATIONAL REPORT—During a hotel stay, guests expect their bathrooms to have a fresh and modern look.  Old, dated or damaged bathtubs, wall surrounds, vanities or toilets reflect poorly on the hotel’s brand. As such, many hotels regularly replace bathroom components to maintain customer satisfaction and earn positive reviews and loyalty in return. Fortunately, for the lodging industry the bathroom is also an area with the most opportunity for a “green” remodel. In addition to water and energy saving possibilities, selecting eco-friendly construction materials that are recyclable should also be on every owner or manager’s list of requirements. According to Environmental Protection...

ATLANTA—Shaw Contract has relaunched A Walk in the Garden, a fresh take on a collection which helped pioneer the Cradle to Cradle Product Standard. In collaboration with visionary William McDonough, the collection features four styles in a 9 x 36 in (23 x 91 cm) format and a refreshed color palette of 10 core colors. The collection was inspired by William McDonough’s visit to a garden in China, where he was struck by the harmony of manmade weathered surfaces in nature. “Every time I saw a new landscape below my feet, I would photograph it because I found this incredible variety...