COMMERCE, CALIF.—Decorative accessories that create unique visual effects in hospitality, residential and commercial installations are now offered on Nora Lighting’s modular Iolite LED Downlight Series (patent pending). Iolite is available as a 1” downlight or 2” and 4” adjustable. With an easy-to-assemble design, Iolite Modular LEDs can be installed on site with square or round trims in a variety of finishes. Decorative accessories are added between the module and die-cast trim. The decorative elements include translucent Deco Collars in blue, frost, amber and red, which can be fitted around the LED module to color the aperture. The LED continues to produce...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International Inc. announced it has signed a letter of intent with a joint venture between The Bernstein Companies and Boston Properties to develop its new corporate headquarters and hotel project in downtown Bethesda. The selected site is located at 7750 Wisconsin Avenue, at the corner of Wisconsin and Norfolk Avenues and spans two blocks to the south and one block west to Woodmont Avenue, just a short walk from the Bethesda Metro station. The $600 million urban campus will include a 22-story build-to-suit office building and a 230+ room flagship Marriott hotel, which are anticipated to open in...

TORRANCE, CALIF.—LEDtronics announces its new UL-listed filament-style LED bulbs—a product line that recreates the attractive filament look while providing energy-saving, clean lighting for various applications. The FIL series is a higher-efficacy, lower-power lighting option for creating a vintage lighting experience. The LEDtronics FIL series filament-style bulbs are available in a wide variety of types: chandelier, standard A19, globe, décor and tube bulbs, and are ideal for omni-directional lighting projects, being both decorative pieces and functional tools. By directly replacing incandescent lights with these filament-style LED bulbs, users can achieve up to 90 percent energy savings. The chandelier bulbs only consume 2...

JASPER, IND.—Indiana Furniture reaffirmed their commitment to the environment, and to the community, last month with a comprehensive audit, recertifying all Indiana Furniture products with level®, the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association’s sustainability certification program for furniture. Based on the ANSI/BIFMA e-3 Furniture Sustainability Standard, level recognizes products that maintain the highest standards for materials, energy usage, health and social impact—and show continuous improvement. Indiana Furniture first certified product lines with level in 2010, shortly after the program launched, and all casegoods, tables and seating have achieved level 2, third-party certified by Intertek, since 2012. “Our achievement with level is...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—USGBC announced the Top 10 States for LEED, an annual ranking that highlights states throughout the United States that made significant strides in sustainable building design, construction and transformation over the past year. LEED is the world’s most widely used and recognized green building rating system. Topping the list is Massachusetts, which moved from third to first place, with a total of 136 LEED-certified projects representing 3.73 square feet of certified space per resident. “LEED guides our buildings, cities, communities and neighborhoods to become more resource- and energy-efficient, healthier for occupants and more competitive in the marketplace,” said Mahesh Ramanujam,...

MIAMI BEACH, FLA.—The 1 Hotel South Beach in Miami Beach, Fla. announced that it was awarded LEED Silver. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes, and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated for improved environmental and human health performance. As a new brand and hospitality concept, the 1 Hotel South Beach was conceived by Starwood Capital to be South Beach’s leading lifestyle eco-brand destination hotel. The project consisted of renovating every aspect of 240 guestrooms, corridors, and 87 multi-room guest...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International has launched its first pop-up hotel innovation lab, creating an interactive model hotel experience in downtown Los Angeles to crowdsource real-time feedback from the public. Underscoring Marriott’s goal of continuously innovating the guest experience with an eye on design and technology, the lab will let industry professionals, hotel guests, associates and the general public see, touch, taste and hear some of the enhancements being considered for the future of the company’s innovation incubator brand Aloft, and eco-conscious, extended-stay brand Element. Among them: With business and leisure travelers looking for more unique spaces, Element is piloting a new...

RALEIGH, N.C.—Thirty-two years after its founding in 1985, Concord Hospitality has staked its claim as one of the lodging industry’s leading proponents of green building and design. The Raleigh, N.C.-based company manages 41 of its owned hotels and also manages 47 additional properties. Fourteen of its hotels are LEED certified and there are 15 more in the pipeline that will also obtain LEED certification. All new construction projects are designed, constructed, operated and maintained to meet LEED guidelines. Concord Hospitality’s commitment to LEED makes good business and environmental sense. According to Carl Hren, Vice President of Architecture & Construction for...

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO—After a soft opening in November, Grand Velas Los Cabos officially opened its doors on December 20. The $150 million resort on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula is the fifth property of Velas Resorts with over 20 years of tradition in hospitality. The beachfront property has enhanced signature facilities and services of Grand Velas resorts including duplex wellness suites with juice bars, wine-based features inspired by the proximity to the region producing Mexico’s fine wines, and dramatic ocean views and unique spaces infusing every area of the resort. Grand Velas Los Cabos has been meticulously designed to exist harmoniously...

SAN FRANCISCO—Pioneering bamboo interior finishes manufacturer Smith & Fong announced the launch of Brushed Tusk, the latest in its growing range of palm floor offerings, according to company founder and CEO Dan Smith. “Brushed Tusk is the first in a series of product designs inspired by the culture and landscapes of India,” Smith said. “Our materials come from the rural regions of India where the palm grows natively, and it’s very much a part of daily life there. By tapping into existing palm supply chains we are able to select colors and grains for our new designs.” Brushed Tusk is ideal...