PROVIDENCE, R.I.—NYLO Providence/Warwick has received Green Hospitality Certification from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM). In a ceremony before Rhode Island’s hospitality industry elite, the 163-room, urban loft hotel was honored for its outstanding conservation and recycling programs. NYLO Providence/Warwick is the state’s first hotel to run on 100 percent renewable energy. Through a partnership with People’s Power & Light, the property offsets its entire electricity usage with a mix of local and regional solar, wind, biomass and hydroelectric power sources. “Despite New England’s high energy costs, NYLO is deeply committed to sustainability,” says Christine Nevers, general manager,...

PORTLAND, ORE.—The Courtyard by Marriott—Portland City Center opened for guests on May 27 in Portland’s downtown urban core. Developed by Sage Hospitality and designed by Portland-based SERA, the hotel draws inspiration from both Oregon’s natural surroundings and the vibrant artistic community with subtle design details of oceans, mountains, rivers and deserts incorporated into the original artwork, custom designed carpeting and fabric and wall coverings. As part of the ongoing revitalization of downtown, the Courtyard by Marriott—Portland City Center, located in the former Toronto National Building, went through a complete exterior and interior renovation of the derelict space. This major renovation...

MIAMI—Cradle to Cradle, the highly regarded design paradigm that qualifies products by their eco-effectiveness, has bestowed Bio-Glass with its Silver Certification. “Coverings ETC has developed a valuable, ecologically-intelligent product made from 100 percent recycled content that can easily be recycled by the final customer as well. Bio-Glass has no colorants or other additives. Following its use, Bio-Glass can be placed into the same recycling containers as drink bottles,” said Steve Bolton, senior consultant of MBDC, the environmental consulting and design firm that developed Cradle to Cradle design. Bio-Glass surface material is at the heart of Coverings ETC’s mission to...

CHICAGO—Cubellis, an international architecture, interior design and engineering firm, announced that the firm has completed work on Hotel Felix, Chicago’s first hotel designed to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. Originally designed in 1926, the former Hotel Wacker has given way to the redeveloped Hotel Felix, suitably positioned in one of the nation’s leading “green” cities. The property now boasts an innovative, eco-friendly boutique hotel with efficiencies and key design elements inspired by natural elements, while lessening environmental impact. Additionally, the 12-story eco-friendly boutique hotel features a lobby bar...

ROCKVILLE, MD.—Jonathan Nehmer + Associates (JN+A), an international hospitality Architecture and Project Management firm, and HVScompass, a global hospitality Interior Design firm, announced that their custom-designed corporate headquarters has been designated LEED Silver by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council). The companies moved to 7361 Calhoun Place, Suite 310 in Rockville, Md., in July 2008. The firms’ staff designed the new 12,500-square-foot space. Some of the sustainable design elements and activities include: • Savings in lighting power 35 percent below the required standard through high-efficiency light fixtures, without compromise to lighting integrity.• Maximized energy performance in new mechanical systems.• During...

LAS VEGAS—Approximately 125 people attended Hospitality Design’s Green Day here at the Sands Expo and Convention Center on Wednesday, May 13. Attendance was down more than 50 percent when compared to last year’s turnout of 270. Those hoteliers, architects, designers and others who did attend were treated to a strong group of presentations by some of the lodging industry’s leading experts on green design, operations and product certification. Specific projects in focus ranged from MGM MIRAGE’s CityCenter to Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ recently opened Element hotels. The day kicked off with a presentation by Jake Kheel, environmental director...

BETHESDA, MD.—In support of its environmental strategy to address climate change, Marriott International has announced that its global headquarters building and more than 30 of its hotels in design, development or under construction are expected to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Marriott was the first major hotel company in the United States with a LEED certified hotel—The Inn and Conference Center by Marriott at the University of Maryland in College Park. “LEED certification gives these hotels a ‘green’ stamp of approval that our customers recognize and look for,” says...

SAN DIEGO—Koni Kim, designer of luxurious fabrics and soft goods for the hospitality industry for more than 30 years and CEO of Koni Corp., has partnered with American of Martinsville to create her first hospitality case goods collection. Selections from the three new collections will be showcased at the upcoming 2009 HD Expo, taking place at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas, May 14 to 16. Koni’s collections for American of Martinsville complement a range of design styles and have at their core Koni Kim’s primary inspiration, nature. From hand-chiseled panels reminiscent of mahogany carvings to flowing wood grain...

NATIONAL REPORT—Alternatives to the traditional 100 percent cotton or cotton/polyester blend towels are becoming more common in the lodging industry—especially at luxury and boutique properties. In fact, many suppliers now offer organic cotton towels, organic cotton towels with a blend of bamboo fibers, or 100 percent bamboo towels. One can also find 100 percent cotton towels with super-fine, Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton. Each of these new towel styles are more environmentally friendly in their own way when compared to the towels the lodging industry has been using for so long. There is a cost premium to buying “green” alternatives—sometimes a...

LAS VEGAS—Northland Furniture Co. will introduce the Linea Modulara line of furniture at this year’s HD Expo. Linea Modulara has a clean, sophisticated look and a smart, functional design that makes the traveler’s experience simpler and easier while offering hoteliers a resilient, easy-to-maintain design in an efficient package. “We believe this line breaks new ground, offering innovative solutions never seen in this industry—from improved luggage management to better privacy,” explains Jim Hughes, president & CEO of Northland Furniture. “We have thought about the traveler’s experience coming into the room and staying in the room as well as the hotel...