CROSSVILLE, TENN.—Inspired by the natural stone from which it derives its name, the new Bluestone by Crossville features a field of soft earthen tones, enhanced by fossil-like impressions and the subtle pearlescence of embedded shells. Bluestone Porcelain Stone tile is available in both natural and honed finishes. Designed for both commercial and residential installations, Bluestone contains a minimum of 20 percent recycled content and is manufactured in Crossville using processes that have been certified by Scientific Certification Systems. It’s available in four colorways—Colorado Buff, Arizona Brown, Pennsylvania Blue and Vermont Black—and a variety of sizes: 24" x 24", 12" x...

WESTBURY, N.Y.—When Westbury, New York’s Viana Hotel & Spa was in its design stage, it was shortly after Hurricane Katrina pummeled the Gulf Coast. Oil prices shot up and the United States’ dependence on foreign oil was in the spotlight. It was within this climate of energy uncertainty that Alan Mindel and his team at Samar Hospitality decided to build the most energy-efficient hotel possible. Designed to achieve LEED-NC Silver certification, the 116-room Viana Hotel & Spa on Long Island features a closed-loop water-source heat pump system for heating and cooling as well as an 11-kilowatt photovoltaic system on...

NEW DELHI—All of ITC’s luxury hotels have been accorded the highest rating: LEED Platinum (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), making ITC arguably one of the greenest luxury hotel chains in the world. This distinction is a reflection of ITC’s credo of “Responsible Luxury”—an ethos that integrates world class green best practices with contemporary design elements to deliver the best of luxury in the greenest possible manner. The Responsible Luxury commitment of ITC Hotels blends elements of nature to deliver a unique value proposition to discerning guests, conscious of their responsibility to be planet positive. In addition to the wide...

ATLANTA –ASHRAE has published its first ever eBook for use on the Apple iPad. The third and latest edition of “ASHRAE GreenGuide: The Design, Construction and Operation of Sustainable Buildings” is now available in an eBook format to allow iPad users convenient access to the book’s guidance, which covers each stage of the building process, from planning to operation and maintenance of a facility, with emphasis on teamwork and close coordination among interested parties. The eBook follows ASHRAE’s latest mobile apps on duct fitting databases and Standard 62.1, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. The GreenGuide eBook includes embedded links...

MINNEAPOLIS—AmericInn, a leading midscale hotel company, announced that construction has begun on a new brand prototype featuring a contemporary new design that represents the future hospitality concept for this expanding national brand. The new prototype is located in Fairfield, Iowa, and is being developed by long-term AmericInn franchisee Apollo Development, LLC of Minnetonka, Minn. Apollo has previously developed five AmericInn properties located in Illinois, Nebraska and Iowa. The new hotel is expected to open in March 2012 and will be managed by Three Rivers Hospitality, the hotel property management arm of AmericInn, headquartered in Chanhassen, Minn. “We are very pleased...

MARIETTA, GA.—Lee Blair, senior vice president of Durkan—the hospitality brand of Mohawk—has been named the company’s global leader of hospitality. In his dual role, Blair continues to drive Durkan’s domestic business as senior vice president with the increased responsibility of leading Mohawk’s worldwide hospitality outreach. “At Mohawk we are committed to ensuring cohesive access to all of our product offerings, as well as unparalleled service to customers domestic and abroad,” said Michel Vermette, senior vice president, commercial and international business. “Lee has an innate understanding of the hospitality market and international architecture and design industry. I am confident his knowledge...

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF.—Montage Deer Valley, which opened in Park City, Utah in December 2010, has been awarded Silver Certification as part of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for New Construction V2.2. This third-party rating system has been designed to encourage the design, construction and operation of more sustainable buildings. Montage Deer Valley, the first certified hotel in the state of Utah, is a newly constructed mixed-use hotel and residential project which has been LEED certified as a single development, denoting it as a high performance building that is a responsible, efficient and healthy...

BETHESDA, MD.—Leaders in the recently launched Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium welcome its newest member, Contract Decor International, a source for high-quality, custom-manufactured window treatments and bedcovers. The Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium, led by MindClick SGM, is working collaboratively to develop an industry-wide Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Index (HSPI). HSPI will help hotel owners purchase products that both reduce their properties’ environmental impact, and contribute to guest comfort, health and well-being.“We recognize and fully support the Consortium’s commitment to greening the hotel industry through purchasing,” said Michael Handler, CEO of Contract Decor. “Working closely with designers, brands, purchasing firms and owners...

SILVER SPRING, MD.—Choice Hotels International, Inc. announced it has executed a lease for a new corporate headquarters in Rockville, Md. The news follows the October 25, 2010, announcement by Governor Martin O’Malley, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and City of Rockville Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio that Choice Hotels had signed a letter of intent to move to Rockville when the lease on the company’s current building expires in 2013. The new headquarters, which will pursue LEED certification, will be located at a building being completed at 121 Rockville Pike in Rockville Town Center, where the company will occupy more than...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The International Code Council recently announced that Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed into law legislation passed by the state’s General Assembly adopting the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) as an optional requirement for new construction. Maryland’s adoption of the IGCC, effective in March 2012, will apply to all commercial buildings as well as residential properties more than three stories high. The IGCC is a tool designed for jurisdictions to adopt into laws reducing the environmental impact of construction projects while keeping construction safety measures intact and enforceable. “We applaud Maryland’s leadership in adopting an adaptable, affordable and enforceable code...