PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Hotel Group announced LEED certifiable, new construction prototypes for its two largest and most well-known brands, Days Inn and Super 8. The announcement builds on efforts by the company over the last two years to refine its prototypical offerings, which now span a total of six brands, and provide U.S. owners and developers with complete, turn-key, design-forward solutions.Announced at the 37th Annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, the two prototypes—which focus on style, performance and efficiency—are complemented by updated offerings for the company’s Baymont Inn & Suites, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, Microtel Inn & Suites by...

READING, PA.—Ambius, a global leader in interior landscaping, announced that Hilton San Francisco—Financial District has installed its innovative sustainable plant system, LivePicture, as part of the interior décor for the recently renovated property at the gateway to the world famous San Francisco Chinatown. The Hilton is using LivePicture for enhancing its meeting room and executive lobby areas.LivePicture, the latest offering in unique interior plant designs from Ambius, is designed to bridge the gap between plants and art. It is a living work of art that is created using a mix of textural foliage. Framed, it can be sized to...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Wyndham Vacation Ownership (WVO), the world’s largest vacation ownership company and a member of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies received LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program for the company’s Wyndham Branson Preview Center at 240 Terrace Boulevard in Branson, Mo. LEED is a third-party certification program and premier benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.Formerly a vacant medical facility, the three-story, 33,000-square-foot facility underwent renovations last year that included environmentally conscious construction and design, an energy-efficient HVAC system and lighting, and new landscaping....

BOULDER, COLO.—Sustainable Materials, LLC announced the introduction of Organic Blocks to the U.S. market. A wall décor alternative fashioned in molded cork, Organic Blocks bring dimension, depth and distinctive visual appeal to interior surfaces. Imported from Portugal, Organic Blocks convey a contemporary European design aesthetic in five high relief, geometric shapes, each pre-finished, infused with a selection of 10 vibrant, fashion-forward colors.“Designers and decorators mix and match Organic Blocks, experimenting with the shapes and colors, to craft captivating mosaic patterns,” said Pete Nichols, President, Sustainable Materials, LLC. “With Organic Blocks, they create unique wall designs that make a definitive...

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF.—Native Trails, the eco-chic California company known for its luxury, artisan-made kitchen and bath products, is expanding its NativeStone Collection for 2015 with four new sinks and vanity tops. The new products—available in June—include: Palomar Vanity Top with Integral Sink, Olivos Bar & Prep Sink, Malibu Bar Sink and Cabrillo Bath Sink. The entire NativeStone collection, which includes sustainable concrete kitchen, bar/prep and bathroom sinks, made its debut in 2014. It is the company’s most affordable kitchen and bath product line to date. Handmade by artisans in Vietnam, NativeStone is a very strong blend of cement...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The world’s top-performing companies are prioritizing sustainability as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts, and a majority of them are using LEED, the world’s premier green building program, to achieve their goals, according to a new survey released by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The study looked at Fortune 200 companies, most of them users of LEED and members of USGBC. “We launched LEED 15 years ago so that the world’s leading businesses would have a tool that would deliver the immediate, measureable results they need to prove that what is good for the environment is also...

BETHLEHEM, PA.—AltusGroup, a North American network of 19 precast concrete manufacturers, several International Affiliates and select Innovation Partners has published a technical brief outlining how insulated precast wall systems provide a sustainable exterior envelope solution by allowing buildings to reduce energy usage and costs.The brief also discusses the resiliency benefits of the concrete enclosure systems. Precast concrete—and specifically CarbonCast technology featuring carbon fiber grid wythe connectors—is designed to withstand harsh weather and remain durable over time to extend the product’s lifespan. This, along with sustainable manufacturing practices, can reduce a building’s carbon footprint while enhancing long-term cost effectiveness.The five-page...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Designing and maintaining the systems that keep a hotel property running smoothly and efficiently is an important job, but one that may not even be noticed unless they stop functioning. The new, fourth edition of Hospitality Facilities Management and Design, was written by David M. Stipanuk, Professor Emeritus, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, and published by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI). It provides readers with a solid foundation in planning, operating, and maintaining the equipment and systems needed by every property.The book takes a systems approach to hospitality facilities issues, while also providing a...

JEKYLL ISLAND, GA.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced the opening of The Westin Jekyll Island, a 200-room, convention-class, beachfront hotel on Georgia’s acclaimed barrier island. It is one of six new Westin hotels opening in North America this year and follows the brand’s 200th opening worldwide in 2014. “The Westin Jekyll Island is a terrific new addition to the Westin brand’s growing portfolio and provides a restful retreat for travelers on one of the most beautiful barrier islands in the United States,” said Bob Jacobs, Vice President of Brand Management for Sheraton and Westin. “This spectacular new Westin hotel...

OMAHA, NEB.—International planning, architecture, engineering, interior design, and program management firm LEO A DALY announced that it celebrated Earth Day 2015 with a worldwide day of volunteerism on April 25. An estimated 625 employees and family members in 31 offices spent the Saturday after Earth Day in a variety of community-focused cleanup activities.The Earth Day event, which mobilized volunteers in the United States and China, was coordinated by The Futures Council, a group of LEO A DALY company leaders who take on special initiatives to push forward the firm’s vision of “enhancing the quality of the human experience, and...