NEW YORK—Since the iconic Virgin Megastore left Times Square in 2009, New York City has been vacant of a Virgin hub. That will soon change as Virgin Hotels has broken ground with the Lam Group on Virgin Hotels New York City. Located in the NOMAD neighborhood at 1227 Broadway between 29th and 30th, the property will serve as the brand’s flagship hotel. Virgin Hotels is aiming to achieve LEED certification.“New York City isn’t just a destination for the Virgin airlines, but a place where some of the most successful Virgin brands have been incubated, where we’ve stunned crowds with...

STAMFORD, CONN.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced the debut of its eco-wise Element brand in Bozeman with the opening of Element Bozeman, marking the first Starwood hotel in the state of Montana. Owned by a group of Bozeman investors, the newly constructed Element Hotel offers a stylish and sustainable new option for travelers with 104 light-filled rooms and an atmosphere designed to fuel a life in balance while on the road.“Our eco-wise Element brand is a terrific fit for Bozeman, a thriving hub for business and entertainment and a leading destination for outdoor recreation within the Rocky Mountain region,”...

EAGLE BEACH, ARUBA—Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort continues to expand its green initiatives with its new LEED Silver certification. Known as the Caribbean property with the most sustainability certifications, Bucuti’s new LEED designation is from the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the world’s foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), January through July 2015 was the warmest seven months in recordkeeping history and 2015 is...

DALTON, GA.—Design versatility is easily achieved through J+J Flooring Group’s newest Invision carpet products: Structure and Mineral. Structure is a simple and elegant broadloom inspired by the unique details of various architectural elements. Tweedy, rugged textures combine with uneven weights and coloring evoking the charm of aging brick, hand-woven textiles and weathered woods. Rich in undertones, seven distinctive and diffused neutrals create the ideal backdrop for any high traffic area. Developed using J+J Flooring Group’s Encore SD Ultima solution dyed nylon with recycled content, Structure can transform any space, making it warm and sophisticated. Three Quick Ship options are...

CARSON CITY, NEV.—The Governor’s Office of Energy (GOE) awarded property tax incentives to 11 Caesars Entertainment affiliated casino resorts for introducing significant energy and water savings measures in tens of millions of square feet of commercial space.The resorts received the GOE incentive after meeting State regulations and receiving a prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver or Gold equivalency from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is a rating system for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings.“Working with Caesars Casinos to make such an enormous quantity of square feet in Nevada more energy efficient...

CINCINNATI—The finalists for the 35th Gold Key Award for Excellence in Hospitality Design have been announced by HX: The Hotel Experience (formerly IHMRS). A panel of eight prominent judges considered more than 350 entries for these awards, which recognize outstanding design worldwide for hospitality projects that were completed or renovated from April 1, 2014 through May 30, 2015.“It was a thrill to set a new record for the number of entries,” says Mary Scoviak, Executive Editor of Boutique Design. “It’s a testament to the health of the hospitality industry but also to the powerful role design plays in its...

EDENTON, N.C.— LEE Industries, a manufacturer of upholstered furniture in North Carolina, has been awarded Gold Exemplary Recognition by the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) for its deep environmental commitment and exemplary implementation of a range of best practices for sustainability. The company completed the rigorous process of demonstrating compliance with SFC’s Exemplary Manufacturer Requirements, submitting audited evidence of achievements in operations, in production, and in outreach to attain recognition at the Gold level. LEE is the only Gold Exemplary upholstery company among the organization’s nearly 400 member companies.Bondi Coley, speaking for the company said, “We are thrilled to be...

NEW YORK—With open-plan layouts dominating projects of all types, Carnegie has expanded its Acoustic Textile Solutions with two new acoustically absorbent sheers by Creation Baumann and one new silk-inspired acoustically transparent panel fabric.The first generation of Carnegie’s innovative sound absorbing sheers was launched in a lustrous, techno inspired palette; however, in efforts to blend with a more natural environment, Carnegie introduces Deltacoustic & Zetacoustic window solutions that expand the sheers collection by offering matte, cotton-like textiles. Using breakthrough yarn and weaving technology, these draperies are soft lightweight sheers that have the strength and performance of an opaque sound absorbing...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International employee volunteers build a house from the ground up, and hand over the keys to an elated single mother and her children. Tens of millions of dollars are spent conducting business with minority- and women-owned enterprises, supporting the company's strategic objectives and commitment to diversity. MGM Resorts and NRG Renew partner to install one of the nation’s largest rooftop solar arrays at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, stretching a massive 20 acres.These are just a few of the powerful displays of corporate citizenship chronicled in MGM Resorts’ 2014 Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report. Themed “Inspiration...

SAN FRANCISCO—Smith & Fong Co., manufacturer of Plyboo bamboo architectural plywood and flooring products, announced the expansion of its successful Stiletto, strand flooring line with four new colors and an extended range of custom trim molding options, according to company founder Dan Smith.“The Stiletto line has been our fastest-growing floor line to date, and to embrace color trends and a growing demand for a wider range of trim molding options we are responding to the call,” Smith said. “We are excited to debut new color offerings and supply custom color trim molding needs for the entire Stiletto line.”Stiletto now...