DALTON, GA.—Healthier Choice rolled out its new Double-Term Carpet Texture Retention Warranty for residential carpet cushion. The new warranty applies to all residential carpet cushions manufactured by Healthier Choice. The new cushion warranty effectively doubles the texture retention warranty of any residential carpet installed over Healthier Choice residential carpet cushion. The cushion warranty takes effect upon the expiration of the installed carpet manufacturer’s texture retention warranty and then remains in effect for an equal amount of time. “We are very excited to offer this additional warranty,” said Craig Poteet, Healthier Choice president. “Residential cushions from Healthier Choice carry the industry’s...

MEMPHIS, TENN.—Home2 Suites by Hilton, a new mid-tier, extended-stay hotel concept targeting the savvy, value-wise, extended-stay guest, has a new website with features including a sustainability page and e-tour of the future space. These expanded features were added to help consumers and developers understand the brand identity of Home2 Suites and its “Hip and Humble” approach to hospitality. “The new website features will increase the momentum for our already successful launch of Home2 Suites,” said Bill Duncan, global head, brand management. “Since launching the brand with 10 franchise applications, we have received an additional 20, with the first hotel to...

LOS ANGELES—Bentley Prince Street announced that it is collaborating with designer Clodagh on a new floor covering collection—the Tuscon Collection. Together, this world-renowned designer and carpet manufacturer have teamed up to offer the design community three new coordinated solution dyed patterns. Consistent with Clodagh’s signature environments that celebrate the “experience of living,” the Tucson Collection is inspired by the colorful topography and living elements of Arizona. From red skies to abundant cacti and vast wildlife, the intricate designs evoke the essence of the quintessential desert land and all the varied elements of nature. All three styles—Canyon Rapids, Saguaro...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Architectural Systems, Inc. (ASI) as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The company is offering VenCork™ to the lodging industry. It combines the refined style of natural wood with the benefits of a cork substrate. This ASI Flooring collection offers a real wood veneer with a protective surface layer that will meet any durability requirement. The material is offered in eight colors with custom capabilities. FSC-certified veneers are also available. In addition to flooring options such as VenCork™, ASI offers a complete collection of wood panels, decorative...

SAN FRANCISCO—The InterContinental San Francisco announced its plan to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification by early 2010. Working in conjunction with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the organization that sets the standards and categories for LEED certification, the InterContinental San Francisco is applying for certification in the “Existing Buildings: Operations & maintenance” category (EBOM) and will be evaluated on every facet of the property from construction and design elements to the types of amenities used in hotel guestrooms. The InterContinental San Francisco opened in February 2008. The 550-room hotel is set in the heart of...

TORONTO—The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has welcomed Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a worldwide hotel brand known for its industry-leading environmental efforts, as the newest member of its innovative Climate Savers Program. In recognition of this new partnership, Fairmont has agreed to a brand-wide carbon emissions reduction plan and has pledged to reduce operational CO2 emissions from its existing portfolio of hotels by 20 percent below 2006 levels by 2013, while also ensuring that new Fairmont properties strive to reduce their CO2 emissions through the implementation of the brand’s new Energy and Carbon Management program. In addition, Fairmont will: • Finalize a...

NEW YORK—With eco-friendly hotels in various stages of design and construction across the city, New York’s hotel scene is finally going “green”—and Manhattan-based Stonehill & Taylor is heavily involved. With no less than four LEED-certified hotel projects on the boards, the firm is working on a greater number of green hotels than any other in the city. Stonehill & Taylor’s specialty is incorporating state-of-the-art technologies, materials, and techniques into its fashion-forward hotel designs. Stonehill & Taylor is at work on the following LEED-seeking or LEED-certified hospitality projects in New York: • The NoMad Hotel (fall 2009); • Crosby Street Hotel (fall 2009); • The 94th Street...

GUANGZHOU, CHINA—Mayland Seaside Hotel, a five-star hotel project to be situated along the Zhujiang River, will feature an architecture style focused on sensibility to social responsiveness, energy use, urbanism and ecological awareness. The hotel is currently in the design phase and is due to be completed in 2012-2013, according to Narendra Patel, Patel Architecture, Rancho Mirage, Calif. The design provides for wind turbines on the upper portion of the tower and a massive array of photovoltaic panels covering the entire south façade. In the basement is a provision to incorporate a fuel cell power generator that would run on clean...

ST. AUGUSTIN-DE-DESMAURES, QUEBEC—Preverco, a leading manufacturer of high-end, Canadian hardwood flooring, announced that it has established a Green Policy and become FSC certified. Recognizing the importance and responsibility of doing their part to help protect the environment and conserve the Earth’s natural resources, Preverco has set forth guidelines to reduce the company’s environmental impact and ensure that the company’s activities and products are environmentally sound, from the earliest stages of product design through manufacturing, use and recycling. Although hardwood floors are by definition greener than any other floor covering, the objective of Preverco’s Green Policy is to further attain...

ATLANTA—The Emory Conference Center Hotel is in the final phase of a major renovation and expansion that was started in March 2008. The multi-million dollar expansion is expected to be completed in May of this year and includes a new five-story structure to be certified LEED Silver (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) by the U.S. Green Building Council. The new building is connected to the existing hotel by a pedestrian bridge and includes 127 new guestrooms, 6,000 square feet of additional meeting space, and a six-lane bowling alley with retro decor that includes a full bar and game...