CROSSVILLE, TENN.—Crossville has enhanced its Empire Porcelain Stone line, which echoes the grandeur of 19th-century France with the look and feel of natural marble. Empire now boasts 20 percent SCS-certified recycled content, has an updated color palette (including a stunning new Alabaster white), and is offered in a range of sizes and shapes, from newly designed mosaics to 21" x 21" large format to popular plank shapes. A choice of polished and unpolished finishes increases Empire’s versatility. Designed by renowned color forecaster, Barbara Schirmeister, ASID, DC, CAUS, for both commercial and residential installations, Empire’s Porcelain Stone is durable,...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIF.—Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, a popular year-round lodging destination in the heart of Yosemite Village, unveiled today two prototype guest rooms on the cutting edge of environmentally-friendly interior architecture and design. The two rooms at The Lodge are the first of their kind in Yosemite National Park. Reflective of Delaware North Companies’ award-winning GreenPath environmental stewardship platform, the two eco-friendly guestrooms were designed with an eye toward an eventual rollout throughout the Lodge’s 245 rooms. Every design selection, from insulation and paint to textiles and light fixtures, was evaluated based on its proximity, sustainability, recycled...

NEW YORK CITY—The arrival of the InterContinental New York Times Square as New York City’s newest and largest new-build hotel has created an active media buzz from highly respected media outlets in travel and hospitality to design to environmental publications. Situated on 44th Street just west of Times Square, the 607-room hotel is in the heart of the Broadway Theatre district, and a short stroll from Fifth Avenue shopping and Central Park. Articles have appeared in major publications such as The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune. The InterContinental New York Times Square is committed to the environment...

NEW YORK—The new Everywhere pattern, from the All Spaces collection by Sina Pearson Textiles, is made of 100 percent polyurethane, is available in a wide variety of colors, and offers enhanced durability, germ resistance and easy cleanability. Everywhere’s 20 solid colors, ranging from cool neutrals, earth tones to vivid brights, won’t fade in sunlight, and stay cool to the touch even in the hottest temperatures. The polyurethane incorporates Cleangene technology and is easily cleanable. It offers anti-microbial, anti-bacterial and mildew resistant properties. And, with an abrasion resistance test result of one million double rubs, and the most stringent standards for...

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y.— Andrew Morgan introduces Gestrum. Retaining his innovative use of color, pattern and texture that he has become so known for with his luxury knitted textiles, Gestrum by Andrew Morgan will bring these same qualities to a collection of throws, quilts, pillows and bed skirts in custom woven fabrics. This new collection will make its debut at the 2010 Hospitality Design Expo Conference in Las Vegas scheduled from May 18 to 20, 2010. The event will be held at the Sands Convention & Expo Center. “So many luxury brands have grown to love Andrew Morgan Collection and...

DALTON, GA.—Shaw Industries Group, Inc. has launched Eco Impacts, an environmental product label for the company’s commercially branded carpet tile and broadloom products. Detailing each product’s ingredient materials, recyclability, environmental certifications and environmental impact, the Eco Impacts label is available through the Patcraft and Shaw Contract Group websites as part of each brand’s product specifications. “In the same way a food label provides consumers with at-a-glance nutrition information to help them make informed purchase decisions, the Eco Impacts label provides our customers with details about the specific environmental attributes of each of our products—all in one place,” said...

VERO BEACH, FLA.—David Francis will introduce new eco-chic lounge chairs at HD Expo. The event will be held May 19 to 21 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas. As an environmentally responsible furniture designer, David Francis has been using natural materials to create luxurious furniture for more than 25 years. The most eye-catching and contemporary is the Fairmont Lounge Chair, constructed of plantation-grown mahogany and featuring an intricate rattan grid on all three sides. Pure whimsy, the Wilshire Lounge Chair mixes cane and rattan and features circular rattan accents on each side. For more traditional...

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA.—The Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) announced that the Virginia Beach Convention Center is the first convention center in the country to achieve LEED Gold certification for Existing Buildings. This achievement also signifies the facility as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s largest building (over 515,000 square feet) to achieve LEED Gold certification for Existing Buildings. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings, which was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). There are several types...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—For the second year in a row, Broward County has selected Valley Forge Fabrics to receive one of the County’s 2009 Emerald Awards in the Green Product and Practices/Innovation category for environmental excellence. The Emerald Award is given annually by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners and Environmental Protection Department to honor businesses for exceptional commitment to protecting the environment. Valley Forge Fabrics, a leader in sustainable textiles and the largest producer of decorative fabrics for hospitality, launched its FRESH initiative more than four years ago. FRESH is an acronym for Fabrics Redefining Environmental Standards for Hospitality....

NATIONAL REPORT—Hotel companies are extending their environmental commitment to what their employees wear and sacrificing absolutely nothing when it comes to good design and durability. Large companies such as Hilton Worldwide and Wyndham Worldwide have made commitments to eco-friendly uniforms. Other companies and individual properties are also choosing “green” when it comes to apparel. At least two companies—Cintas Corp. and Superior Uniform Group—are offering collections that include recycled polyester made from soda bottles or recycled polyester made from post-industrial textile scraps. In some cases, recycled polyester makes up 100 percent of the material used in a product; more often...