LAS VEGAS—NaturesCast, Inc. of Las Vegas, a member of the Sustainable Furniture Council, has entered the U.S. hospitality market with a line of chic and modern furniture, and décor accessories made from agro-forest waste. A Filipino-based eco-friendly master furniture and décor accessories manufacturer, NaturesCast functional and artistic décor products are unique in that they are constructed from agro-forest waste including dry leaves, dead twigs and barks from the forests around Compostela, Province of Cebu, Philippines. The collected materials are shredded through a special machine and bonded together using an odorless water-based binder and then shaped into a variety of unique...

SANTA MONICA, CALIF.—The Ambrose Collection, having pioneered environmentally responsible practices years before “green” buildings were touted by the media, has made history with the recognition of its flagship property, The Ambrose, as the first-ever U.S. hotel to earn LEED-EB certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Under the vision of its founder and president, Deirdre Wallace, The Ambrose has earned a Silver LEED-EB (existing building) award, based on measurements set forth by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System™, USGBC’s system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy-efficient, and high-performing buildings. ...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Pacific Hospitality Design, Inc. as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Pacific Hospitality Design manufactures quality custom furniture and furnishings for the hospitality and high end residential industries. Pacific Hospitality Design has made a long term commitment toward sustainable manufacturing in seating and case goods. Products are manufactured in various species of kiln-dried Forest Stewardship Council lumber. The company also offers kirei board and kirei bamboo for exposed areas as an optional design element. Other components include: foam which is a 100 percent recycled rebound material, upholstery...

LEAVENWORTH, WASH.—Sleeping Lady Mountain Retreat, long known to visitors for its sustainable and ecologically-minded practices, is now pursuing the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance certification. Guestrooms and the Kingfisher Dining Lodge will also receive soft-goods upgrades throughout 2008, including fresh paint, works of art and more luxurious furniture. “This certification will truly underscore the commitment Sleeping Lady has had to the environment since opening in 1995,” said CEO and owner Harriet Bullitt. “Everything we do here, from our sustainable cuisine, to using paints that do not off-gas, to the very buildings...

SHEFFIELD, MASS.—Cypress Hotel & Spa, a leading designer and manufacturer of luxurious bathrobes, towels, slippers, and sheets for the hospitality and spa industry for more than 25 years, announced that their exclusive MicroCotton Green Earth towel has been re-engineered to be more absorbent, durable and eco-friendly. “In today’s eco-economy, it is critical for hotels to reduce energy usage and expenditures,” stated Gene Faul, Cypress founder and CEO. “However, most hoteliers have been reluctant to implement the use of ‘green’ or organic linens because they are typically not as soft, durable or luxurious as traditional ones. Our new Green Earth...

MAUI, HAWAII—Starwood Vacation Ownership (SVO), a division of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, announced plans to expand its portfolio of resorts in Hawaii with the development of its third vacation ownership resort on Maui. The new property, expected to open fall 2011, has been designed to achieve certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, the nationally accepted benchmark for green buildings. “SVO is proud to be the first stand-alone, full-service resort in Hawaii to be developed with this coveted certification in mind,” said Matt Avril, president and managing director of operations,...

SANTA CRUZ, CALIF.—Environmentally-conscious furniture design company Maria Yee, Inc. marked its first shipment of select products made with 100 percent Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified hardwood last month. “Five years ago our China factories started looking into using hardwood that was FSC-certified,” said Maria Yee, president. “To finally have our efforts validated by such a well-respected organization is incredibly gratifying.” The FSC is an international organization that promotes responsible management of the world’s forests. Maria Yee began researching FSC certification in 2003 while the FSC was working with Chinese authorities on certification matters. During that time, Maria Yee continued to enforce...

SILVER SPRING, MD.—With its 10 brands and more than 5,000 hotels open or under development, Choice Hotels International, Inc. is one of the largest hotel franchisors on the planet. As committed as it has been to global growth, Choice has historically not taken the kinds of aggressive environmental stances that some of its competitors have taken. Granted, Choice did convert its Comfort Suites brand to a 100 percent nonsmoking one in 2007, but it has not announced any other major environment-related commitments. That is all beginning to change. As a franchisor, it is not so easy for Choice to mandate...

LEXINGTON, MASS.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. opened the eco-friendly doors of ELEMENT Lexington in Lexington, Mass. on July 1. ELEMENT is Starwood’s newest hotel concept and the first LEED-certified hotel chain in the country. ELEMENT Lexington is making its national debut, offering guests an entirely new extended stay experience that combines smart design, and nature-inspired and eco-friendly touches. Modern amenities range from complimentary WiFi to an international pantry stocked with everything from Korean kimchi soup to artisanal meats and cheeses. ELEMENT Lexington—the first ELEMENT hotel to open its doors to guests—will also serve as Starwood’s green trailblazer with...

WILLIAMSBURG, MICH.—The all new, 360,000-square-foot Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel near Traverse City, Mich., that opened June 17, 2008, is a modern architectural structure. It was designed to appeal to the senses as it evokes the natural environs with facilities and service that bring casino gaming in Northern Michigan to an entirely new level of convenience and comfort. The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians, who own and operate the new casino and hotel, financed $80 million to construct the unique facility. The tribe made a deliberate decision to create a striking modern design with many organic and...