DUBAI, U.A.E.—Shaza Hotels, the regional lifestyle hotel brand, has announced that all of its upcoming hotel developments will be certified to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards—the internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of eco-friendly buildings. The certification—the first of its kind across an entire hotel brand in the Dubai region—demonstrates the hotelier’s commitment to environmentally sustainable projects that embody a green lifestyle and embrace the values and traditions of its discerning clientele. The progressive move will ensure that Shaza’s first seven properties—Dubai, Doha, Muscat, Cairo, Bahrain, Jeddah and Marrakech—are designed to follow the internationally-recognized...

ATLANTA—Barry Hotel Partners, a division of Barry Real Estate Companies, and Starwood Capital Group will develop a 1 Hotel & Residences as part of The Streets of Buckhead, the massive mixed-use development spearheaded by Atlanta-based Ben Carter Properties. The 1 Hotel, an eco-friendly luxury global hotel brand by Starwood Capital, will open its doors to the public in 2010, offering guests and residences an unmatched combination of environmentally sustainable architecture, luxurious comfort and impeccable service. “Atlanta has grown up a lot in the last several years and it’s ready for the level of luxury shopping, dining, lodging and living that...

ATLANTA—IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced plans for a 100-room new-build Hotel Indigo in Athens, Ga. Construction is anticipated to begin in the fall of 2007, with an expected opening date of spring 2009. The four-story new-build property will be owned by Rialto Property Partners, LLC, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group, and will be managed by IHG’s Americas operations division, The Hotel Management Group. Rialto will pursue LEED certification for the new hotel. “We are excited to be expanding the Hotel Indigo brand to Athens,”...

SPARTANBURG, S.C.—Milliken & Co. announced it has registered its corporate headquarters, the Roger Milliken Center, in Spartanburg, S.C., and the Milliken Design Center in LaGrange, Ga., with U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Rating System for Existing Buildings 2.0 (LEED EB). The Georgia facility houses global headquarters for Milliken Floor Covering and Milliken Walk Off Mats as well as providing office space for other Milliken businesses. Milliken Contract’s new showroom in the Chicago Merchandise Mart is registered with USGBC’s version 2.0 LEED for Commercial Interiors Rating System and debuted during NeoCon World’s Trade Fair. The...

SANTA MONICA, CALIF.— Syndecrete introduces its renewable, sustainable solid surface material. Less than half the weight of ordinary concrete, Syndecrete has twice the compressive strength and there are no polymers or resins in its make-up. It is an advanced cementitious composite using natural minerals and recycled materials as its primary ingredients. Highly durable and resistant to chipping and cracking, Syndecrete has won numerous awards and has been featured in one of the first LEED platinum certified commercial projects and just recently, the first LEED platinum certified residential project in the nation. In 2006, Eldorado Stone, LLC purchased Syndecrete from...

NEW YORK—Interior designer Joanne De Palma will introduce her line of sustainable carpet, furniture and hardware at the HD Boutique 2007 Exposition & Conference in Miami Beach, Fla., September 18. “From high-end residential and commercial interior design to environmental product design, I made a shift as a traditional designer,” says De Palma. “Given the current conditions we face in the environment, to me the decision was obvious. Not only do I approach my work from a design standpoint, but from one that is socially and environmentally responsible. This perspective is one that is necessary for the hospitality market. It is...

GARFIELD, N.J.—Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills Inc., the makers of Bella-Dura performance fabrics, in conjunction with American Fibers and Yarns Co., has announced a new fabric recycling program for all Bella-Dura fabrics. Fabrics sent to American Fiber and Yarns in Bainbridge, Ga., will be implemented into a recycling stream that will produce a variety of durable and disposable goods. Some of the markets include parts for automotive interiors, geotextiles, horticultural products and filtration fabrics. Energy-saving manufacturing practices are also used during this recycling process to make these re-generated products. In every case, each yard of Bella-Dura fabric brought for recycling is converted into...

BAY SHORE, N.Y.—Duralee Contract introduces Eco-Fabrics that feature 100 percent Eco Intelligent Polyester that is Cradle to Cradle Gold certified by MBDC (McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry). With a current and much-needed social movement towards sustainable products, Duralee Contract has designed the Eco-Fabrics by Duralee Contract collection to fit into the lifestyle of the environmentally conscious without forfeiting fine design. Eco-Fabrics by Duralee Contract makes it possible to match unique patterns and colorways with the satisfaction of taking a step in promoting a healthy planet. To achieve the Gold level, MBDC evaluated Eco Intelligent Polyester material and product ingredients for human...

PORTLAND, ORE.—Almost 100 years old, the historic Meier & Frank department store here is being converted to a 331-room Starwood Luxury Collection hotel called The Nines. The upper nine floors will be the home for the hotel; the lower five floors are being refurbished by Macy’s, Inc. and will open as a Macy’s department store. The Nines, which is being developed by Denver-based Sage Hospitality Resources, has Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification as its goal. The hotel is slated to open in summer 2008. SERA Architects, Inc., Portland, Ore., is the architectural firm on the project...

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, COLO.—Related/WestPac announced that the $2 billion 80-acre Snowmass Village, Colo. mixed-use development will combine groundbreaking environmental stewardship with a first-class resort experience. The development includes residential units, world-class hotels, retail, entertainment, and restaurant amenities surrounding the renowned ski area. The Snowmass development seeks to create a new model in community and resort sustainable development and be one of the first and most ambitious projects to be chosen for the new LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Pilot Neighborhood Development certification program. Related/WestPac will incorporate LEED’s pilot Neighborhood certification program and plans to augment these efforts by extending...