VANCOUVER, WASH.—The Hilton Vancouver, Washington, one of America’s first sustainably-designed hotels, is making history again this month as the first hotel in the world to earn both Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Green Seal certifications. The Green Seal environmental certification accolade comes three years after the hotel became the first major U.S. hotel—and the first Hilton Hotel—to earn LEED certification. “The Hilton Vancouver, Washington is the only hotel in the world to achieve environmental sustainability certification from two top universally accepted and independent analysts,” said Jeff Diskin, senior vice president, brand management—Hilton Hotels & Resorts. “This hotel...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes East Teak Fine Hardwoods, Inc. as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. East Teak is now approved to stock Forest Stewardship Council certified hardwoods; including FSC 100 percent recycled teak lumber and FSC reclaimed rosewood columns. East Teak’s FSC Recycled Teak is 100 percent reclaimed from post-consumer sources such as old structures and is carefully recovered by hand, thereby avoiding the need to fell living teak trees. East Teak FSC Recycled Teak guarantees buyers both a legal and environmentally sustainable supply chain and also ensures compliance with...

STAR ISLAND, BAHAMAS—There have been many changes in the few years since “travel” and “sustainable” first appeared in the same sentence. Emerging technologies coupled with mounting consumer demand have given us thousands of green travel options—from luxury eco-lodges (that make a negligible impact on their ecosystems) to carbon-neutral resorts, tours and airlines. A new leader in this green revolution is Star Island, a private-island destination currently under development in the Out Islands of the Bahamas. It will open its doors in late 2009. “This is a very exciting time in the field of green technology and, by extension, sustainable tourism,”...

VANCOUVER, B.C.—The hospitality industry has a new resource at its disposal. Eden Textile, one of the country’s leading hospitality suppliers, has launched a unique textile-recycling program aimed at reducing vast amounts of the industry’s post-consumer waste. Now Eden Textile’s clients can take advantage of this recycling program while also alleviating the suffering of families in Africa. Through a nonprofit partnership with the organization Africa We Care, textiles will be diverted from the landfill and donated to a worthy cause each year. The donation of products like bedding, towels, pillows, drapes and duvets to Africa We Care will not only...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Cleveland will be among a select handful of cities—including New York, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Washington D.C.—to be home to the 1 Hotel & Residences. The property will be located in the new Flats neighborhood. 1 is setting a standard in global environmentally-conscious luxury living, by combining five-star service and features with the finest sustainable architecture and interior design. The 16-story 1 Hotel & Residences will include approximately 150 guestrooms, high-tech meeting space, a nature-infused spa and an organic-based restaurant, along with exceptional views of the downtown skyline and the waterfront. Flats East Development LLC, a joint...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes down etc as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The San Francisco-based company offers myriad products including pillows, mattress pads, down comforters, duvets, feather beds, spa accessories and other items. The company is currently offering a new organic and natural product line: d.o.e. down on earth, Conscious Luxury: Custom Hotel Collections. The collection is manufactured with authentic, certified organic, green processes. For more information, call (415) 348-0084, e-mail downetc@downetc.com, or go to www.downetc.com.

DUBAI, U.A.E.—Zabeel Properties unveiled details of a new five-star landmark hotel and leisure development for Dubai. The Dubai-based luxury developer also confirmed the appointment of innovative LA-based architecture firm, GRAFT, whose team of design consultants for the project will include the Hollywood actor, Brad Pitt. The actor’s involvement in the design for the resort demonstrates his deep-seated interest in the project. It is set to become a flagship hotel complex for Dubai and a world leader in environmental sustainability. The proposed hotel and resort is striving for a minimum of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold status....

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Lynden Door as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Lynden, Wash.-based Lynden Door is a wood interior door manufacturer. Since 1978, the company has earned a reputation for design leadership, quality and superior service. Its comprehensive product portfolio includes both residential and commercial products. Lynden Door features in-house machining, a UV finish line (no VOCs) and an extensive “GreenDor” line of environmental attributes including no added urea formaldehyde, agfiber cores, and FSC/SFI certification. Call (877) 852-3667, e-mail mitch.toews@lyndendoor.com, or go to www.lyndendoor.com.

NATIONAL REPORT—For many designers, and the clients they represent, interior doors’ value as a design element has slowly diminished in recent years. No more the attention-grabbing “wall furniture” of the classical period and unlike their contemporary hardwood kin in floors and cabinetry, wood doors have been largely commoditized. For many, a door is just a door. But to those in the industry—and for a rapidly growing number of astute practitioners in the design/building community—doors have been rediscovered as a “haute commodity” in interior design. Interior doors are enjoying a significant renaissance as new materials, fabrication technologies and sustainable design invigorate...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has released a study of three green building rating systems (Green Globes, SBTool 07, and LEED NC 2.2). The study assesses their effectiveness in supporting the goals of the AIA sustainability position statement. In late 2007, the initial results were shared with the three groups whose systems were reviewed. After receiving feedback, the study was modified and further refined into the final report. The purpose of this exercise is to offer analysis to both industry and the public as an opportunity to learn how three unique, creative and evolving green building rating systems...